Expectations About Paragliding Flight Instruction
Midnight Sun Paragliding, LLC

What you can expect from your instructor:

• Your textbook and written training materials will be provided when you sign up for training
• Lessons are normally limited to Tue, Wed, & Thur evenings and Saturdays and typically last about 3-4 hours.
• You will begin with flat-ground inflations and equipment familiarization
• Each lesson will include three key points and various associated tasks and weather discussion
• Each lesson will include some textbook review and reading homework, though often may be postponed until the weather does not accommodate flying.
  Your instructor will ensure you have proper equipment and progress you at a suitable pace.
  

What your instructor will expect from you:
Paragliding is an exciting and unique activity that requires little physical strength or dexterity. Nevertheless, your training will demand a certain amount of hiking, running, and lifting and spatial awareness. If any physical limitations may inhibit your ability to perform any of these let your instructor know immediately.

• You will be expected to call your instructor to arrange for each lesson and be available for most flying days.
• Arrange at least a day in advance before each lesson and confirm a few hours before heading the session.
• Bring with you to each lesson:
• Comfortable hiking boots
• Suitable (warm) clothing
• Textbook, training record, and flight log book
• Food and water

You are entering the training program with the expectation that you will thoroughly enjoy paragliding and want to continue your education through the Novice, or P2, USHGA rating. This rating allows you to fly most sites without the direct supervision of an instructor. After receiving your USHGA rating you should continue practicing and developing your skills on a regular basis (average at least 1 or 2 flights per week) and seek additional training such as over-the-water safety training offered each summer.

Occasionally beginner pilots decide that paragliding is not, after all, an activity they wish to pursue after having flown their initial few flights. The beginner, or P1, rating is a checkpoint where you can decide to continue before investing a great deal of time and money. During your beginner instruction you will be provided with school equipment as part of the course fee.

At the time of completing the P1 and signing up for the P2 your instruction will continue only with top quality, new equipment; you will be expected to order the equipment with your instructor. The objective is to begin the familiarization process with your own equipment as soon as possible and it may takes weeks for your paraglider and/or harness to arrive after ordering. There will be only 2-3 suitable paragliders and harnesses and your instructor will provide you the choices. Used equipment is almost always someone else’s junk so save your money (don’t bargain shop for aircraft or open-heart surgery!). Apart from color, the differences between the paragliders that your instructor recommends will be too subtle for all but the most experienced pilot to notice. If you choose to order equipment sometime after you sign up for your P2 instruction you may rent a school wing and harness for $50/day.

Beginner Rating:

$550 instruction fee + 2 weeks (weather and scheduling dependant)
$59 annual USHGA membership
$15 USHGA rating fee
$20 Arctic Air Walkers Membership
3-6 lessons including flat-ground inflation practice
4 training hill flights minimum

Novice Rating:

$850 instruction fee + about 4 weeks
$15 USHGA rating fee
6-10 lessons
25 total flights minimum
Approximate Costs: Paraglider $3200
(Mandatory equipment) Harness $ 750
Reserve $ 550