Frequently asked questions

Paragliding

A paraglider is an aircraft constructed only of fabric and ropes with which it is possible to take off and land on foot (without wheels). The bell has the shape of a wing, with the same profile as those of airplanes, and, like those of these, it provides lift from a certain speed. Open, the wing has a surface area of ​​nearly 30 square meters. Folded, you can put it together with the accessories (boots, helmet, coat, etc.) inside a big backpack.

The essential difference is the use for which it is intended: the paraglider is for flying from a mountain, or towed by a cable, and flying as long and as far as possible. The parachute is to open it after a while of free fall and descend as quickly as possible (within limits, of course!) to the landing field to be able to make another jump.
This essential difference in their intended use has meant that, from a common origin, the paraglider and the parachute have evolved to become completely different devices. If we tried to open a paraglider to stop a free fall it would burst. On the other hand, a parachute would not allow us to make the flights that can be made in a paraglider, because just as a paraglider has a planing ratio of 7:1 (it advances seven meters for every meter it falls), parachutes barely reach 3:1.

You hold two rings in your hands that are attached to the back of the wing (the trailing edge). When the left hand is lowered, the left side of the trailing edge is lowered. This causes the left side of the wing to brake and turn to the left. By pulling both rings at the same time you brake, and by raising your hands again you accelerate.
The paraglider has a special property that it does not share with any other aircraft: when you let go of the controls, it immediately straightens up and flies in a straight line. This makes it the easiest aircraft to pilot, as it does not require as much sensitivity to the controls as, for example, a hang glider or a small plane.

In the Pyrenees it is common to fly at an altitude of 3,500 or 4,000 meters. In the Sierra Nevada they have reached 5,500. In some areas of flight in South Africa it is common to reach 6,000 meters.
But the real goal of the pilots, and the reason why they bother to gain these astronomical heights (with the cold weather there!), is to fly far and make great distances. The Catalan distance record is held by Josep Antòn Solís with a flight of 142 km. from Àger (near Balaguer) to Molló (near Camprodon). The world record passes 500 km.
Obviously, to achieve these distances you need skill and experience. Beginner flights, always downhill, hardly exceed the five or six kilometers that can separate departure from landing.

The record for staying over 24 hours, and the International Aeronautical Federation (the body in charge of these affairs) no longer accepts records in this category.
Good pilots fly between two and eight hours every good summer day. Beginner flights usually last no longer than twelve minutes.

It is possible to get out of almost any inclined place free of obstacles. Almost all the peaks of the Pyrenees, for example, are ‘flyable’.
Landing in a paraglider is, due to its low speed, much easier than in a hang glider or glider. A good pilot can easily land in a space of 15×30 meters, as long as there are not too many obstacles around.

Safety in paragliding depends on the good training of the pilot and the suitability of the wing and weather conditions for his level. Flying with insufficient training, with a wing that is too difficult, or in conditions that are beyond you can be very dangerous.
Accidents at school have been practically eliminated in recent years thanks to the professionalization of instructors. School flights, carried out under easy-to-pilot wings and always in calm air conditions, involve minimal danger. The quality of training, and some control of pilots fresh out of school thanks to a qualification system, mean that accidents among beginners have decreased in recent years to very low levels, although the possibility of an accident obviously still exists.
Another thing is the flight preferred by high-level pilots and competitors, in thermal and turbulent conditions. The paraglider does not perform particularly well in these conditions and a lot of experience and expertise is required to control certain situations. Always maintaining a safe height (100 meters or more) will ensure our safety, but flying low in these conditions can be really dangerous. Each year, approximately 2% of active competitors suffer an accident requiring medical assistance. As in other risky sports, such as motorcycling or climbing, the athlete chooses the risk he is willing to take.

On the contrary, it is better not to do too much. A wind of up to 15 km/h helps us get out. Between 15 and 30 km/h can pose some problems for beginners, but it is still possible to fly without a problem. From 30 km/h the departure becomes difficult, and when the wind exceeds the maximum speed of the paraglider (between 35 and 55 Km/h depending on the models), you must think about landing immediately, because the flight can become really dangerous .
It is important that the wind blows us more or less towards the exit. If it blows on the nape of our neck, bad luck, because we will have to run a lot to get the wing to have enough speed to fly. With more than 5 km/h of tail wind it is almost impossible to fly.

At school you will learn to anticipate the arrival of fronts and storms, which can bring sudden changes in wind so strong that you can lose control of the wing. Outside of these situations, sudden changes in wind are perceived as turbulence, which the flexible structure of the paraglider absorbs without problems, apart from an occasional fold.
Folds, which are losses of the shape of the wing caused by turbulence, can become dangerous if we do not know how to control the folded paraglider. That is why it is essential to go through the school and make your first flights under the strict supervision of an instructor, until you gain enough experience in piloting to be able to face a situation of this type alone.
On the other hand, once you know how to control them, creases are no longer a problem. On flights in turbulent conditions, such as those encountered at midday in summer, folds are common, and pilots perfectly control the paraglider as long as they maintain a safe distance from the mountain (100 meters or more).

Like gliders, hang gliders, and vultures, you can gain altitude by flying within updrafts. These air currents can be caused by the wind blowing against a mountain and being forced to climb to overcome it, or by hot air bubbles that rise within a colder ambient air.

The temperature drops approximately one degree for every 300 meters of height. This, together with a flight speed of around 40 km/h, makes it necessary to keep warm even in summer.

Only learning needs a certain fitness, and not too much either. If you can carry a 10kg backpack and run a bit, you can go paragliding.

According to the Catalan Aviation Federation, children under the age of 14 should not fly, as they do not yet have the maturity necessary to assess the risks and make decisions with sufficient prudence. Apart from that, there are paragliders of all ages, even octogenarians.
Paragliding is a sport that does not require strength, and therefore women practice it in total equality with men. In fact, it is common to see women ranked first in international competitions, and two women have been champions of England and France.
Weight and size are no problem either. Very small people (less than 45 Kg) will have fewer options when choosing a paraglider, as most manufacturers do not, for market reasons, make such small paragliders. Very old people (over 110 kg) will have to fly with a two-seater paraglider.

Not really. The law does not require it. In any case, it is irresponsible to fly without a sufficiently good accident and liability insurance. That is why it is advisable to always have the federal license up to date. And if you think it’s expensive, stop and think about what you pay for the compulsory accident insurance of your car. By having the federative license, you also contribute to maintaining the federative structure, which is dedicated to progressing the sport in all its aspects.
Note: this is the current situation in Catalonia. In other countries it may be different (and in fact it usually is).

There is only one answer: go to a school. Paragliding is very easy, but doing it without the necessary knowledge, supervision and assistance can be very dangerous. Remember: aviation is no joke. Require the school to be recognized by your country’s federation. Look for a school with a good club behind it. An active club is not only a guarantee of a good reception once you have finished your course. In addition, it is an indicator of a good school, because usually the clubs have been formed from the students who have left the school.