FAQs

We do not take reservations for  instructional tandem flights.

You can purchase an instructional tandem flight at the Gliderport in person, or use the Torrey Pines Gift Certificate to purchase one for yourself or someone else. This purchase provides you with a printable voucher that you can bring with you to redeem your instructional tandem flight at any time you wish (weather permitting). 

The Gliderport is an non-powered flight park. As such, we operate on a best efforts basis meaning, we need the wind to cooperate in order to make flight possible. We cannot make reservations on the wind. We can predict the weather with very high accuracy, but nobody is 100%. We operate on a first come first serve policy.

But please do know that even when it is flyable, depending on the pilot, wind conditions and passenger weight, we may shuffle the order a bit to ensure that everyone has a safe, and fun flight. Many people come down, sign-up and then have lunch or a snack at the cafe. Torrey Pines Gliderport is located atop the beautiful Torrey Pines sea cliffs.

Even our own pilots who have been flying for years know that sometimes you just have to wait for the weather – it’s all part of the sport. You can call for wind conditions prior to coming to the Gliderport. You can check our local weather station here – this page will link you to our weather page and tell you how to read it.

We do fly over 300 days per year, so it’s very likely we’ll be able to fly when you are available.

There is NO age limit! Anyone of any age can take a tandem ride. Minors just need a parent or guardian to sign a legal waiver for them. We’ve had customers as young as 13 months and as old as 104 years old at Torrey Pines Gliderport. As for learning the sport of Paragliding; Paragliding is more about finesse than strength. The instructors at Torrey Pines have a joke about the “Zen of Paragliding”, which is making yourself one with the wing and the air. Mr. Fred Jenkins will give you the honest answer. As one of our longtime students he took up paragliding at the young age of 86 years. He will attest, the only restrictions to paraglide are those that are self-induced. Paragliding does not require a large amount of physical strength, but does require situational awareness and mental alertness. Many pilots enjoy this sport far into their golden years.

There is no weight limit for paragliding tandems, as long as we have enough wind. To date, we have taken passengers as heavy as 350 lbs. Hang gliding tandems work a little differently, so typically passengers are restricted to 175 lbs (80 kgs, 12 stone) or less. It’s generally a good idea to call before coming down and ask if it’s flyable and if so, what the recommendation is for passenger weight. On most days, we are able to fly passengers comfortably up to about 225-235 lbs. If you have any concerns or questions, just ask us.

Generally, if you are able to walk, sit and stand, you can take a tandem paragliding flight. There is always a slight chance that the weather might require us to land below the cliffs on the beach, in which case it’s a 20 minute hike back to the Gliderport at the top. If you have any concerns about making this hike, mention it to our staff and we’ll factor that into our decision when choosing a pilot and screening the current weather conditions.

For all other special considerations, please tell us when you sign-up, and we can discuss with the pilot whether the weather and wind conditions are appropriate for you. We are honored to have flown several people with disabilities, who needed assistance out of their wheel chairs so they could experience the freedom of flight. We have also flow with members of the Wounded Warrior Project – all had a safe and exhilarating flight.

All the tandem pilots at Torrey Pines are professional pilots, who are USHPA-certified, and have Tandem Instructor certifications. The Gliderport is home to some of the finest tandem pilots in the world. This can be proven based on our incredible safety record. We are the largest tandem operation, but nearly 100 times safer than the second closest operator. The goal of our pilots, is for everyone to have a safe, enjoyable flight, so that you may experience the freedom of foot launched aviation. If you have any concerns, feel free to speak to the pilots directly! For more information on USHPA, click here. To read bios of the pilots, click here.

It’s really simple and only takes about 15-20 minutes to get into the air, depending on the wait of course. First you sign a legal waiver. That takes about 10 minutes. Then you do a 30 second video waiver on camera. Finally, you fill out a 1-page temporary flight permit so you can fly with one of our USHPA-licensed professionals. You hand us payment or a gift certificate and that’s it.

Depending on how many people are ahead of you, you might have to wait 20-30 minutes before we call your name. A lot of people sit outside and have a snack while they wait. Once we call you, you walk out to meet your pilot, who gives you a brief orientation on what to expect, and some important instruction launching, landing, and basic flight… essentially, how the glider works. Then you’re off!

Come in comfortable clothing, but anything is generally fine. Bring athletic footwear like sneakers or hiking boots. Some people do fly barefoot, but it’s not recommended in case you have to land on uneven ground. Generally, flying on the coast is very pleasant, but if you come on a cloudy or foggy day, it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or shell. We have some in the shop, but not in all sizes. Note that in the Fall and Winter, it can be sunny and warm inland, but a little cloudy and cooler on the coast. If you’re unsure, check the weather forecast here at the site, or simply call us. 

Usually, there is only a short wait, about 15-30 minutes. The Gliderport has 10 full time instructors, so it’s rare that you would ever have to wait more than an hour. If we get extremely busy we have another 4-5 instructors we can call to assist. If you find yourself earthbound for a few minutes waiting for your turn to soar the skies, visit the Cliff Hanger Cafe right in front of the launch area and enjoy a sandwich, soup, salad, or a snack.

Generally, tandem flights for both paragliding and hang gliding are 20-25 minutes long. It’s important to remember, that the pilots are doing their best to give you a good flight and keep you up. Because the weather is the biggest single factor in our ability to fly, sometimes flights may be cut short if there is a shift in wind direction or wind speed. Keeping pilot and passenger safe and the flight a wonderful experience, is our primary concern.

The instructors have a very good understanding of the weather, so they will tell you if they don’t think the conditions are conducive for a longer flight. The entire Gliderport staff does there best to provide you the most pleasurable experience in the air and otherwise. But remember, we can’t control the weather and sometimes the weather just changes. In that case, if you feel the flight was too short and you didn’t get enough airtime there are a number of different options available including additional flights, partial or full refunds and more. Just speak with the Flight Director or office manager and they’ll make sure you’re taken care of.