Paragliding Pilot Training Syllabus
You work your way through a series of exercises a book of your training is kept by the school with each excercise signed by you and your instructor. Any large gaps in training means you have to refresh your training before progressing.

The book is still a guide in certain circumstances enviromental constraints may make it impossibe to progressively increase height / turns exactly as indicated in the text. In such situations the instructor may exercise reasonabe judgement in accordance with the advice contained in the Instructors notes.


ELEMENTARY PILOT TASKS

Phase 1: Ground Training
Objective: The student should have a basic understanding of the sport and its risks, a basic understanding of the equipment and the site enviroment and understand how to avoid/minimise injury as a result of mishap. The student must also complete the mandatory administration steps.
1. Introductory talk School and Instructors - risk warning- students health/medical conditions clothing footwear -the bhpa the pilot rating scheme
2. Site assessment briefing Site and any site hazards- airflow and airflow hazards - weather assesment
3. Introduction to canpoy and equipment Parts and functions of canopy, harness, helmet- how an aerofoil creates lift- daily inspections explained, demonstrated, practised and understood.
4.Avoiding/minimising injury Safety techiniques discussed, including parachute landing falls (PLFs) When and how to use them, demonstrated and practised to a good degree of competence.
Phase 2: Ground Handling
Objective: Through ground-based activity the student should achieve a reasonable and consistent level of competence preparing the equipment for flight, inflating the canopy, running with it whilst looking ahead, maintaining direction, flaring and collapsing the canopy.
5. Briefing Pre flight checks - importance of taking off and landing into wind - airspeed control -flare/stall
6. Preperation Putting on the helmet and harness - canopy layout- preflight checks
7. Inflation Take offs practised to stage of running with an inflated canopy (forward/reverse inflation method as appropriate to the conditions) looking ahead - flare - collapsing the canopy- post flight control and moving of the canopy.
8. Directional control How the controls work for directional control- initiating turns - lookout and looking ahead.
Phase 3: First Hops
objective: The student should combine the skills practised in phase 2 to make straight ground-skimming flights (typically less than 5m/15ft ground clearance)
Getting airborne: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at taking - off maintaining the correct in flight control position for good airspeed, the landing flare/landing and post-landing control of the canopy
Phase 4: Flight exercises
Objective; The student should be capable of acting as pilot-in-command at the Elementary level
10. Eventualities briefing The need to prepare before takeoff plans to deal with the unexpected.
11. Commands and communications briefing This must include signal bats, radio, etc as appropriate
12. Responsibilities briefing From this point the student becomes the "Pilot in Command" and will be in a position to determine the course of the flight. The student muyst claerly understand their level of responsibility for the safe conduct of any flight and be confident of their ability to undertake this step.
13. Flights Maintaining course and airspeed. The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence and confidence flying at a increased ground clearance( max 15m 50 feet) and in making the directional control corrections required to maintain a straight course. At least four successful flights must be achieved. Direct communication from an instructor must be available.
14. Introducing turns The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence and confidence whilst flying with a greater ground clearance (max 30m/100ft) maintaining good airspeed control and making gentle turns. The student should be briefed on turns, the need to avoid low turns and the need for lookout. The turns should be no more than 90 degrees (ie less than 45degree from directly into wind) Direct communication from the instructor should be available at least 4 successful flights must be made.
15. Completing simple flight plans The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence and confidence when making flights with a further increased ground clearance. Flights should involve unassisted launches, turns of 90 degree or more with ggod lookout, good airspeed control and controlled landings within a defined area. The student should be briefed on turns and the need for lookout. At least 4 successful flights must be made. Any increases in altitude must be progressive.
Phase 5: Theory and examination
Objective: Through lectures, lessons, talks and personal study the student should achive the required knowledge level in theses subject areas.

16. Meteorology

17. Principles of flight

18. Rules of the air and air law

19. Elementary stage examination. Completed and incorrect answers de-briefed and discussed.

Final Assessment of Elementary Stage 20. I have checked that the training detailed above has been completed and confirm that to the best of my knowledge this student has the right attitude to flying and has reached the standard of airmanship required to continue training in this discipline.