USHPA P3 Prerequisites and Operating Limitations
Prerequisites
- P2 or equivalent rating/experience
- Minimum of 20 hours of solo air time
- Minimum of 30 flying days
- Minimum of 90 flights
Operating Limitations
- Maximum base wind of 15 m.p.h.
- Maximum peak gusts to 18 m.p.h.
- Maximum gust rate of 5 m.p.h. in 5 seconds.
- Avoid steep turns close to the ground.
- Avoid application of either brake beyond 3/4 of the way from full off to stall position.
- Limit turns to bank angles recommended by the manufacturer, limit speed in turns to 2 times the straight line, brakes off, cruise speed, and smoothly exit any spiral turn that shows a tendency to steepen or accelerate.
- Should initiate downwind turns only with 300' of clearance outward from the hill or ridge in winds above 15 m.p.h., and 200' of clearance in winds above 10 m.p.h.
- Should not fly in thermals where peak climb rates exceed 500 fpm or where significant vertical cloud development exists.
- Upon mastering the above skills, an Intermediate Paragliding Pilot should pursue new maneuvers, sites, and conditions with the guidance of a USHPA Certified Advanced Paragliding Instructor or Observer.
Study Topics
Airspace Regulations
- Sectional charts
Piloting Skills
- Speed to fly
- Recognize and recover from Deep Stall
- Asymmetric Deflation Recovery
- Spin Recovery
- Understand Wind Gradient
- Recognize and recover from a full stall
- Understand the increased risk associated with speed bar use especially close to the ground
Risk Management
- Reserve deployment
- Hypoxia
- Chest strap setting
Aerodynamics
- Chord Line
- Wing Loading
- Aspect Ratio
- How a wing creates Lift
Weather
- Density Altitude
- Atmospheric Pressure
- Lenticular Clouds
- Cumulus Clouds
- Cloud types that precede warm and cold fronts
- What part of the atmosphere do we fly in
- Dewpoint
- Virga