Is Paragliding Safe?
Statistically paragliding is safer than riding a motorcycle, horseback riding, or even driving a car.
How long does it take to learn paragliding?
The USHPA requires 35 flight and 7 training day as a minimum to receive your P2 rating which allows you to fly on your own. Realistically though it usually takes anywhere from two weeks to a month for students to complete their training.
Do I need any training or experience to fly?
Absolutely not. You need no experience to fly tandem. On the day of your flight you will go through a short preflight briefing then you will be clipped into a tandem harness with one of our fully USHPA qualified flight instructors run a few steps then sit back and enjoy the flight.
What should I wear?
On the day of your flight simply wear comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes such as tennis shoes or hiking shoes, it’s also a good idea to bring a light jacket or windbreaker.
What do I need to take?
We’ll provide everything you need for your flight.
How long do flights last?
The typical flight last around 20 to 30 minutes but that’s not a hard time limit the most important thing for us is that you have a great time so we will usually fly until you are ready to land!
Is there a weight restriction to fly?
We have an upper weight limit for passengers of 280 lbs there is no lower weight limit.
What is the minimum – maximum age to fly?
There is no minimum age requirement and here at Paragliding San Francisco we have flown passengers from 4 to 97 years old, however passengers under 18 will need to have a liability release signed by a parent or legal guardian.
What time of day do we fly?
It depends on weather conditions but most flights are done in the afternoon since here in the San Francisco the wind usually gets good for flying around noon and stays good until sunset.
Where will we meet?
We have a number of flying locations in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. Based on the weather conditions we will choose which one is best to fly at for the day you come out. All of the sites have beautiful ocean and city views.
How does a Paraglider work?
Glad you asked 🙂 Here is a infographic which describes the basics of how modern paragliders work.
What is launching like do I have to run off a cliff?
Launching is a very easy procedure, here is a page which describes in depth how the launch process works.
Is paragliding the same as parasailing?
No paragliding is a completely different sport than parasailing. For those interested we have put together this page explaining the differences between the two.