P1 (Beginner)
This program takes you from your first day of learning to the point where you can launch and land a paraglider with confidence in simple soaring conditions. The program provides emphasis:
- Ground Handling Skills (kiting, canopy control, cross wind, light wind, and strong winds, inflation and deflation techniques)
- Launching (Forward and Reverse)
- Landing (Aircraft style approaches, Figure 8’s, S-turns)
- Flying Skills (flat turns, banked turns, flight at trim speed, minimum sink, best glide)
- Understanding of:
- Preflight Checklists
- Aerodynamics
- Meteorology
- Equipment maintenance & care
- Risk Management
- Site Analysis & Flight Planning
- Flying in lift, sink, thermals, turbulence
The program provides a great introduction to most aspects of paragliding flight, with a strong emphasis on ground handling, confident and controlled launches, and smooth landings on your feet! The P1 program is perfect for the new pilot that has a couple of days and wants to get their feet wet. The program is designed as the stepping stone to the P2 (Novice) certification and provides, 100% of the knowledge and skills to take the next step.
 Warning
The P1 program provides just enough knowledge and skill to be dangerous if unsupervised. Please do not attend a P1 training program and assume you are a competent pilot upon completion. The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) require all P1 rated pilots to fly under constant instructor supervision!