Powered paragliding


Powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring or PPG, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a back-mounted motor which provides enough thrust to take off using a paraglider. It can be launched in still air, and on level ground, by the pilot alone — no assistance is required.
In many countries, including the United States, powered paragliding is minimally regulated and requires no licence. The ability to fly both low and slow safely, the 'open' feel, the minimal equipment and maintenance costs, and the portability are claimed to be this type of flying's greatest merits.
Powered paragliders usually fly between at altitudes from 'foot-dragging on the water' up about to or more with certain permission although most flying is done under AGL.
Due to the paramotor's slow forward speed and nature of a soft wing, it is not safe in high winds, turbulence, or intense thermal activity.
The paramotor, weighing from is supported by the pilot during takeoff. After a brief run the wing lifts the motor and its harnessed pilot off the ground. After takeoff, the pilot gets into the seat and sits suspended beneath the inflated paraglider wing like a pendulum. Control is available using brake toggles for roll and a hand-held throttle for pitch.
Prices for a complete new package vary from approximately US$8,000 to $15,000.

Uses

The uses for paragliders may vary, but it is most commonly used for personal and recreational use.

Military

Powered paragliding has seen a large growth in the military including insertion of special forces soldiers and also Border Patrol in many governments. The Lebanese Airborne regiment adopted this technique in 2008. Currently, the US Army, and Egyptian Army have used Paramotor Inc FX Series units for many years, and still under production.

Civilian

Powered paragliders are useful as replacements for terrestrial vehicles in difficult terrain. In some areas during the spring when the sea or lakes are still frozen but the ice has begun melting, the waters cannot be walked, skied, or driven on and cannot be navigated by boat. Hydrocopters, hovercraft, and aircraft are the only ways to travel in such conditions. Furthermore, if the landscape is fractured by small and shallow lakes and bays, as in swamplands, it may be difficult to navigate even in good conditions. Observation and counting of protected species, e.g. Saimaa ringed seal, in such conditions has been conducted using a powered paraglider.
Another use that has been demonstrated is the herding of reindeer. Although the tundra is open terrain, there are no roads and the terrain is still uneven. A powered parachute can be used instead of a snowmobile or a motorcycle.

Safety and regulations

Research estimates that the activity is slightly safer than riding motorcycles and more dangerous than riding in cars. The most likely cause of serious injury is body contact with a spinning propeller. The next most likely cause of injury is flying into something other than the landing zone. Some countries run detailed statistics on accidents, e.g. in Germany 2018 about 36.000 paragliding pilots registered 232 accidents, where 109 caused serious injury and 9 were fatal.
Some pilots carry a reserve parachute designed to open in as little as. While reserve parachutes are designed to open fast, they have a system length between 13.3 ft and 21.9 ft and usually need at least to slow down a pilot to a safe sink rate. With enough height over ground many potential issues with the canopy can be resolved without applying the reserve parachute. The required skills can be acquired in SIV trainings, which improve the over all safety of flying by providing a better understand on the system limitations and practical training of extreme situations.
The lack of established design criteria for these aircraft led the British Air Accidents Investigation Branch to conclude in 2007 that "Only when precise reserve factors have been established for individual harness/wing combinations carrying realistic suspended masses, at load factors appropriate to the maneuvers to be carried out, can these aircraft be considered to be structurally safe"

Noise

Paramotor noise relative to an observer depends on distance, loudness, frequency and timbre of the power unit. Most noise comes from the propeller and slow rpm is perceived as the quietest. Pilots mitigate their sound impact by leaving a noise-sensitive area at low power, keeping the farthest practical distance away, and reducing time spent near the area.

License and training

Neither a license nor specific training is required in the U.S., U.K. or many other countries. Where there is no specific regulation, paramotor flying is tolerated provided the pilots cooperate with local officials when appropriate. In countries where specific regulation exists, such as Canada, France, Italy, and South Africa, pilots must be trained, both in flying theory and practice, by licensed instructors. Some countries that require formal certification frequently do so through non-government ultralight aviation organizations.
Regardless of regulations, powered paragliding can be dangerous when practiced without proper training.
For a pilot to get through most organizations' full pilot syllabus requires between 5 and 15 days which, due to weather, may include far more calendar time. A number of techniques are employed for teaching, although most include getting the student familiar with handling the wing either on the ground, via towing, small hills, or on tandem flights.
With special gear it is possible to take a passenger, but most countries, including the U.S., require some form of certification to do so.

Regulations

In most countries, paramotor pilots operate under simple rules that spare them certification requirements for pilot and gear. Those laws, however, limit where they can fly—specifying that pilots avoid congested areas and larger airports to minimize risk to other people or aircraft. U.S. pilots operate under Federal Aviation Administration regulation Part 103.

Associations

In the U.S., the sport is represented primarily by the US Powered Paragliding Association which also holds an exemption allowing two-place training by appropriately certified tandem instructors. The US Ultralight Association and Aero Sports Connections also offer some support.
Instructors in the U.S. are primarily represented and certified by the United States Powered Paragliding Association. Other organizations include the Professional Association of Powered Paragliding Instructors.
In Britain the sport is represented by the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and unofficially by the Paramotor Club.

Trikes and powered parachutes

Lightweight carts or "trikes" can also be mounted on powered paragliders for those who prefer not to, or are unable to, foot launch. Some are permanent units.
In the United States, if the aircraft meets the ultralight definitions, no license is required. In the UK, trike-mounted paramotors are still classified as 'self-propelled hang-gliders' if the "performance of the aircraft
remains equivalent to one that can be foot-launched.". However, even in these countries, if the machine has two seats it is no longer an ultralight. In the US such a craft would be governed under the Sport Pilot rules and regulated as a light sport aircraft powered parachute which requires an aircraft N-number and pilots must be licensed.
A powered paraglider differs from a powered parachute primarily in size, power, control method, and number of occupants. Powered paragliders are smaller, use more efficient paraglider wings, and steer with brake toggles like sport parachutists. Powered parachutes typically use easier-to-manage but less efficient wings, have larger engines, are steered by foot and may be able to take along passengers. There are exceptions; a growing number of powered parachutes use elliptical wings, some use hand controls, and many are light single seat aircraft that meet FAA Part 103 requirements.

World records

Determined by the FAI, RPF1 category.
Determined by Guinness World Records