Dangerous situations and extreme flying
Dangerous situations
Pilot error, extreme wind conditions or turbulence which goes unnoticed by the pilot for too long may
leave the wing in an unusual flying position, requiring special reaction and skills on the part of the
pilot. The best way to learn how to react calmly and correctly in a serious situation is to attend safety
training, where you will learn how to manage extreme situations under the guidance of a professional.
Ground-training is another safe and e
ff
ective method of familiarising yourself with your glider’s
reactions. Launch can be practised, as can small flying manoeuvres, such as stall, asymmetric
collapse, front stall etc.
Any pilot who flies in turbulent conditions or who makes an error in handling the glider is at risk of
getting into an extreme situation. All of the extreme flight figures and flight attitudes described here
are dangerous if they are carried out with inadequate knowledge, without the right safety altitude or
without training.
Always keep within the recommended limits. Avoid aerobatics and extreme loading such as spirals
and big ears. This will prevent accidents and avoid overloading the glider.
In turbulent conditions, always keep enough distance from rock faces and other obstacles. Time and
su
ffi
cient altitude are needed to recover from extreme situations.
WARNING: Deploy your reserve if the corrective manoeuvres described in the following
sections do not return the glider to a controllable flying position or if there is not enough
altitude for correction.
SIV / Safety training
Due to the advanced design features of the paraglider, collapses incorrectly induced by the pilot may
have more significant consequences than collapses which may occur in the course of normal flight
(due to turbulence etc.).
Taking part in safety training is in principle advisable in order to familiarise yourself with your glider
and the correct reactions in extreme situations. However, safety training also subjects your equipment
to extreme loads.
Material stress
During a safety training course, avoid subjecting the materials of your paraglider to excessive stress.
Uncontrolled flight positions may occur which are outside the manufacturer limits of the paraglider.
This may cause premature ageing, or even structural failure.
Stretching of the lines and/or canopy material after safety training can lead to a general
deterioration in flight characteristics.
Damage as a result of safety training is not covered by the warranty.
WARNING: Be sure to perform any simulated collapses correctly. In particular, full speed
asymmetric collapses performed incorrectly may result in unpredictable collapse behaviour
and impulsive re-opening. This behaviour may require considerable pilot skill to manage
safely.
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