Expectations
About Paragliding Flight Instruction What you can expect from your instructor:
What your
instructor will expect from you:
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)
$850 instruction
fee + about 4 weeks |
Phone or email: Phil Smith (907) 240-8072 or (907) 222-4942
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flydawg@gci.net Midnight Sun Paragliding, LLC Phil G Smith, Instructor 750 West 74th Avenue, Suite #1 Anchorage, AK 99518 |