Controlling The Paraglider During Tandem Flights

Paragliding requires the skill of being in-charge of the glider with extensive knowledge of equipment, weather and wind currents. Pilots must understand what are the feasible conditions for conducting successful tandem paragliding flights. It is the trait of pilots to take complete advantage of different types of wind currents and drafts for a successful tandem flight.

In this article, we explore the methods to control the paraglider under varied circumstances during tandem flights.

Role of Equipment

The equipment plays a key role in letting the pilot control the flight and its trajectory. The lines connecting the paragliding wing to the pilot’s harness lets them steer the wing left or right. As per the course of the flight, pilots can control the direction of the flight using those lines. There are risers that form a connection between the lines and the harness. These risers can be used to control the flight as well. In addition to it, brakes are there that enable pilots to change the speed and direction of flight. Pilots must note that in any case when brakes malfunction, the risers connecting to the rear of the wing can be used to steer and slow the tandem paragliding flight.

Role of Launch Spots

The topography of the launching sites is important in determining the launch technique that must be used to embark on the tandem paragliding flight journey. For instance, on flat terrain, a standard launch is made by moving forward. Here, the pilot lays out the paraglider wing so that it is perpendicular to the direction of the wind. Before going for the launch, the regular drill of ensuring all the pieces of equipment are intact is carried out. All the lines, carabiners, electronic devices, and helmet security are monitored after which the pilot moves forward. With the pilot’s forward movement, the wing inflates due to the generation of air pressure.

Also read: How do High and Low Pressures Impact Paragliding In Tenerife

Other Techniques

The following techniques are practiced by expert pilots by using the above methods of controlling the paraglider under varied conditions:

Coring

In paragliding, coring refers to the core of a thermal air column. It occurs when a flyer enters a thermal and circles around it with the paraglider. Depending upon the lift, the turn in circles vary. When the lift is great, the paraglider turns in big circles and turns get tighter when the lift decreases. All this while, the paraglider stays centered around the core of the thermal column. After using a thermal column to reach high altitudes, a paraglider can drift towards another thermal, and, by doing this continually, the flyer can cross-country paraglide over great distances.

Ridge Soaring

A risky paragliding technique that involves flying along the ridge of a mountain or a hill. It requires a careful approach as any mistake can result in a mishap. The updraft created due to the geological formation enables the paraglider to stay in the air. Wind conditions are important for ridge soaring to be practiced safely as the rough terrain of ridges can be dangerous if the wind is not enough to keep the pilot airborne.

Landing

As the paraglider approaches the land surface, pilots can choose to make either the classic aircraft approach or the figure-8 approach. Depending upon the landing spot, pilots can make a suitable choice for landing.

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I always love outdoor extreme sports. Paragliding is the sports that give you the freedom of flying