PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS

"In over 28 years of flying foot launched aircraft, I have investigated many accidents. Time and time again the same patterns emerge. Every single one of them  was caused by PILOT ERROR."

Tony Delaney CFI

PILOT ERROR

This falls into 3 categories:

  • Carelessness

  • Ignorance (lack of knowledge)

  • Stupidity

There is no other cause.

Eliminate pilot error at take off by following this procedure, every single time you take off or attempt to take off.

This is the LAST thing that you do before taking to the air. It had better be right. If its wrong you either get hurt, scared or you get dead!

S. H. O. W. E. R 

This is potentially the most important decision making process that you will ever make in paragliding. After building your wall and you think you have checked everything - you are about to take off. STOP! Run through this list, in this order. It will take you less than 30 seconds with practice. It will save you hours in the long run.

S  covers 3 items - sail, (that's what holds you up!) Check that the sail is lying symmetrically on the ground and there is no reason why it should not launch straight up. When ever possible prepare the glider by inflating and lowering the glider down. Make sure all the cells are open. suspension lines: These should be untangled and untwisted and includes the braking suspension lines, every suspension line, check for debris that might be stuck in them or for damage.
straps that fix you into the machine. You are checking for twists or tangles, that you are connected correctly

H - This is your helmet, make sure its on and fitted correctly. Beware of putting a hat underneath in case it slides down over your eyes.

O - This is observations, clear to take off. Look out for other aircraft, both on the ground and in the air. Consider all the possible things you could hit or that could hit you. Make sure that you are not going to cause a nuisance, for example if horse riders are passing, wait until they are well out of the way. The act of launching could spook the horse and throw the rider.

W - Wind and weather check direction of the wind is correct, make sure it is not too strong or gusty have a look at wind indicators such as other gliders in the air, smoke from chimneys, ripples on reservoirs or lakes, cloud shadow movement, windsock etc

E - Electronics - This becomes more important the more experienced you become. You may carry a GPS and almost certainly will carry and altimeter and variometer. Check they are working, correctly set up with plenty of battery life. You may not think this a life saver, but I was witness to a pilot who suffered a broke back because he did not fit an instrument correctly. Well, actually this was just one thing in a whole string of carelessness, stupidity and ignorance, but the fact is he tried to make a top landing in an ill advised area in order to fix a problem that he should have fixed during his SHOWER checks.

R - Radio - check it transmits and receives and the volume is set correctly.