P2 (Novice)
This certification program builds on the skills of the P1 certification to the point that you are a capable and qualified pilot. The Torrey Pines P2 program will teach you the fundamentals of flight and provide you with the skills, knowledge and ability to make decisions as the Pilot in Command. The 15-20 day program will provide you with beginner and intermediate training in launching, landing, soaring flights, thermal flights, basic cross country skills, and tandem flights with more experienced instructors. The training curriculum is approximately 160 hours and includes:
- 30 hours of classroom theory on topics such as:
- Basic & advanced meteorology, aerodynamics, site analysis, flight planning, equipment, risk management, flight maneuvers & dynamics, ridge soaring, thermal flight, cross country flights, and many more.
- 80 hours of field instruction include:
- Basic & advanced launch techniques, landing techniques, reserve usage & deployments, advanced ground handling, speed control, turning, etc.
- 10-20 hours of flight instruction include:
- Turning
- Basic and advanced flight maneuvers
- Flights in wind, ridge soaring, and dynamic lift, mountain flights in thermals, beginner cross country training
- Flights on the coast, in the mountains, over flatlands & deserts, and from tow winches weather permitting
- 35-45 flights from up to 12 different flying sites
- Guided instruction that simulates in flight canopy malfunctions (asymmetric deflation, symmetric deflation and rear riser steering)
- Descent techniques (big ears, whip stalls, crabbing, accelerated flights)