Tandem Safety Briefing

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Flight Instruction & Commercial Drone Operations.

Tandem Intro Flight Safety Briefing:

Safety First!

So, you've signed up for a Tandem Powered Paraglider Introductory Instructional Flight. Congratulations! You are in for the thrill of a lifetime. And If I do my job right, a new hobby! By regulation, this must be an instructional flight, not a sightseeing flight. There's going to be some learning on your part. But there's no regulation that says you can't enjoy the view and take in the sights while you are learning! In fact, one of the objectives of the intro flight is to orient you to your surroundings in the air, for navigational purposes. Things look different up there. I will point out many landmarks to you so you can start orienting yourself to where exactly on Earth you are. But don't worry, I know the way home!

Don't let any of this information intimidate you. There will be plenty of time to go over what is needed for your intro ride during preflight. The information below is overkill. Fifteen-year-old kids and little old ladies do this all the time. You can too. I have provided tons of information below; way more than you will need to know for the flight. But in the spirit of "instruction" I have provided you with plenty to dig in to.

Now on to the ground school. We'll cover some dos and don'ts, the parts of the powered paraglider, some regulatory information, and emergency procedures. I will give you a one question quiz when we meet, from this information. If you just read through it you will pass the quiz! (I verbally ask you ONE question!)

First some dos and don'ts:

Do wear layered clothing and bring a windbreaker or coat. (If early spring or late fall consult your instructor before coming to your lesson!) Even though it may seem really warm, it doesn't take long to cool off up in the sky.
Don't wear silly shoes! NO OPEN TOE SHOES, heels, or pumps! Tennis shoes, sneakers, or boots are fine.
Do eat a light meal before your flight. Air sickness is rare, but this will help keep it away. Flying on an empty stomach is never a good idea.
Don't eat a big meal or greasy foods before your flight.
It is important that you follow all instructions from your instructor. He is the Pilot In Command. (PIC) It is a federal crime to interfere with his duties at any time, in any way, just like on an airliner!
Do keep your seatbelt on at all times. Your instructor will show you how to put it on and take it off just prior to your flight.
Do bring your phone or camera, but you must have it tethered to your body! No exceptions! A dropped object could easily hurt someone on the ground or go through our propeller, and I assure you, you won't like that very much!
Don't have loose objects in your pockets like keys, phone or coins.
Do keep your feet firmly on the foot pegs at all times, and your hands inside the ride.
Don't press too hard on the foot pegs though... they control the nosewheel steering. The instructor has a different set of pegs with a brake, but you are both connected to the nosewheel. So let him steer.
You will be provided with an adjustable helmet with a noise cancelling headset so you can talk with the instructor. Please keep it on at all times and if you hear him or someone else talking, STOP TALKING AT ONCE! Your instructor will be monitoring other local aircraft and he needs to hear what they are saying.
Please do say something if you see another aircraft, or something dangerous like a tower, power lines, or a pterodactyl.
Please be mindful of rocking your head back to look up. We are seated very close together, so you may just bash me in the face, possibly resulting in you being on your own!
In the event of a catastrophic engine failure, we will glide to the ground and land normally! This machine is first and foremost a glider!
Be sure for all landings, normal or emergency, your feet are firmly on the pegs, and cross your arms in front of you.
Do not exit the glider or try to get up until instructed to do so!
Do not at any time try to grab any lines including the steering toggles.
When the instructor wants you to fly he will take his hands out of the brake toggles and hand them up to you and say "You have the flight controls." You will grab the toggles and state "I have the flight controls."
When you have the controls only light pressure from the weight of your arms should be applied to the brakes unless you are instructed to turn. Thern slowly but firmly pull the brake down in the direction you want to turn. (Never more than about 12 inches.) When you want to stop turning slowly release the brake pressure on that side. Don't worry, I'll be right there with you.
If at any time I say "I have the flight controls." You will immediately and without hesitation (Don't panic, just move purposefully.) let go of the brake toggles without pulling them, and state: "You have the flight controls." (All of this is required by the FAA to ensure a positive exchange of the flight controls, so we always know who is flying and who is riding.)
There will be no smoking, no chewing tobacco, nor eating or drinking in flight.

Rules and Regulations:

Rules of the sky and other info:

A Powered Paraglider (Known as a PPG.) is an "Ultralight" aircraft as defined by the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Part 103 of the FARs cover operation of Ultralights. If you are familiar with the FARs you know how huge the book is! But FAR 103 is about 3 pages long. Why? Because ultralights are not highly regulated by the FAA. They are however regulated.

THERE IS NO INSURANCE POLICY THAT COVERS ANY PART OF POWERED PARAGLIDING! YOU ARE NOT COVERED! FLYING WITH US IS COMPLETELY AT YOUR OWN RISK! Powered paragliding, while generally safe has elements of risk that may include serious bodily injury or DEATH!
Powered paragliders are not certified by the FAA. Anyone can build a flying machine in their garage and fly it under the ultralight rules! (Our trike is a commercially built product.)
Ultralight/PPG pilots are not certified by the FAA. In fact there is no regulation that requires training to fly one! But instructors must be rated to fly tandems through an FAA approved national organization that sets up their own training programs. My Instructor training, rating, and exemption are through Aero Sports Connection.
Tandem instructors must have an exemption from the FAA in their possession when flying tandems.
ANYONE OFFERING TO GIVE YOU A TANDEM WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SHOW YOU AN EXEMPTION IS FLYING ILLEGALLY. PERIOD! ALWAYS ASK TO SEE THEIR EXEMPTION. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO FLY WITH SOMEONE WHO REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE RULES?
The FAA does not certify mechanics or parts for ultralights, including PPGs.
Powered paragliders are limited to single person occupancy. They can't even have an extra seat. The exception is an authorized instructor with a valid FAA exemption through a national organization as mentioned above.
PPGs are limited to 5 gallons of fuel.
PPGs are not allowed to fly in most controlled airspace
A PPG may not fly over congested areas of houses or buildings, and may not fly over an open-air assembly of people.
PPGs are allowed to conduct serious aerobatics even close to the ground, but may not operate so as to create a hazard to persons or property on the ground.
Ultralights, which include powered paragliders, powered parachutes, hang gliders, non-powered paragliders, and any contraption you build in your garage that meets the standards above, must give the right of way to ALL other types of aircraft.

To summarize:

The FAA does not certify ultralight aircraft, pilots, mechanics, or parts.
Only tandem rated instructors with a current exemption in their possession may legally give tandem instructional flights.
ALL tandem flights must be instructional.

Parts of the Powered Paraglider:

The "Trike": (Tricycle)

The trike we use for our tandems is a Fly Products Eco 2 Light. The trike is manufactured by the Fly Products company in Italy. It is the absolute best of the best! It has two seats, with the pilot in the back and passenger in the front. The instructor's legs will be on each side of you. The trike carries 5 gallons of gasoline mixed with oil for engine lubrication. The engine is a 49.8 horsepower RMZ-500 2-stroke engine. (Don't worry there is no quiz on this! ;) It has electric start and pull start as a back-up, that can be pulled by the pilot in flight. There is an instrument panel viewable only to the pilot that gives engine and flight information.

The trike has a pilot activated ballistic parachute for emergencies. When activated, the parachute is propelled from a cylinder behind the pilot's seat, by compressed air, but very much like a cannon. It can guide the trike to the ground safely and is rated for over 1000 pounds! I limit front seat passenger weight to 250 lbs so we will be way under this limit. (Trike=253 lbs, Pilot=200 lbs, full fuel=30 lbs, front seat passenger max=250 lbs, emergency gear 30 lbs= 763 pounds max.)

The trike is steerable on the ground by foot pegs that are attached to the front wheel. Either the pilot or passenger may steer. If you don't mind, I'll do the steering on the ground. You WILL have the opportunity to steer (fly) the glider in flight however!

This trike has cruise control and can be flown hands off to enjoy the ride. But most of the time it is suggested the pilot keep the weight of their arms on the brakes to give the glider stability, in case of unexpected turbulence. But we only fly in the smoothest air and conditions. Turbulence is very rare but does happen. It's nothing to worry about.