MiniPlane * Top80
Paramotor Flight
Training
What we do, what we don't
Check's been teaching people to fly paramotors since 1994. He's introduced hundreds of students all over the world to the joys of our exciting sport.
Check's teaching syllabus is thorough. After the student learns to handle the wing on the ground, Check is adamant that they get something more before being launched straight into the air with a motor. He insists that they get some time paragliding without the motor first, either on a bunny hill or with a tow machine. Or, at the very least, some time with him in a tandem machine where they can take the controls and learn how to fly the wing without the weight and worry of a machine on their back, and still having the security of an instructor at their fingertips.
Check's teaching syllabus is thorough. After the student learns to handle the wing on the ground, Check is adamant that they get something more before being launched straight into the air with a motor. He insists that they get some time paragliding without the motor first, either on a bunny hill or with a tow machine. Or, at the very least, some time with him in a tandem machine where they can take the controls and learn how to fly the wing without the weight and worry of a machine on their back, and still having the security of an instructor at their fingertips.
When we moved to Iowa in 2009, we settled on Dawn's family farm of about 100 acres and set aside three of those acres as our flying field. That's plenty for pilots who already have a few flights in their logbook, but it's not enough room to tow beginners, and we just don't feel we can justify plowing up any more valuable farmland right now. We've looked around the area for a bunny hill, but, hey this IS Iowa. It's pretty darn flat. So that leaves the third training option, the tandem machine. Check had decided that his next tandem machine have a clutch, but unfortunately he hasn't found any that meet the demands of tandem flight yet.
And so, the result of all this is that we are not able to train beginning students right now. We hope to be able to once a good tandem machine is found, but for right now he is only able to offer advanced and refresher courses. He teaches Instructor courses at one or two fly-ins each year, and we can host anyone here at the farm who would like to take the course. Please contact us if you are interested.
See the USPPA Instructor requirements
Instructor
These requirements are meant to insure flight instructors have the requisite experience and skills necessary to safely instruct. This is for an instructor who is not tandem qualified but does instruction using other means.
The Minimum Training Standards, as well as the Instructor Commitment are meant to help insure students receive safe and effective training. These recommendations come from experienced instructors who have found they minimize the risk during training.
Ground/General Requirements
1.INS:JMD Pilot uses good judgment and has a level of Maturity commensurate with the rating.
2.INS:PPU All witnessed flights must be pre-planned by the pilot and discussed with the examining instructor.
3.INS:CLU Successfully passed USPPA/USUA Instructor Certification Clinic given by an instructor administrator or completed 20 hours of apprenticeship with a USPPA/USUA PPG Instructor administrator. 4.INS:NEU Successfully passed USPPA/USUA Instructor Written Test.
5.INS:AID Successfully completed First Aid and CPR class. Acceptable versions are from the Red Cross, American Heart Association (click here and choose the "Heartsaver First Aid Course") and CPRToday (Enter the BCLS discount code given by your instructor administrator for a 10% discount on the fee).
Experience and Minimums
1.INS:FYL 1 year of flying using a paramotor. 2.INS:FLL 120 flights using a paramotor. 3.INS:FDL 45 flying days using a paramotor. 4.INS:P3L Has had a USPPA PPG3 rating for at least 180 days (may be waived). 5.INS:FHL 50 solo airtime hours.
6.INS:MTS Agrees to apply minimum training standards prior to student instruction, flight and other areas as appropriate. 7.INS:MTT Adheres to "commitment letter" whenever doing instruction for USPPA rating
Instructor
These requirements are meant to insure flight instructors have the requisite experience and skills necessary to safely instruct. This is for an instructor who is not tandem qualified but does instruction using other means.
The Minimum Training Standards, as well as the Instructor Commitment are meant to help insure students receive safe and effective training. These recommendations come from experienced instructors who have found they minimize the risk during training.
Ground/General Requirements
1.INS:JMD Pilot uses good judgment and has a level of Maturity commensurate with the rating.
2.INS:PPU All witnessed flights must be pre-planned by the pilot and discussed with the examining instructor.
3.INS:CLU Successfully passed USPPA/USUA Instructor Certification Clinic given by an instructor administrator or completed 20 hours of apprenticeship with a USPPA/USUA PPG Instructor administrator. 4.INS:NEU Successfully passed USPPA/USUA Instructor Written Test.
5.INS:AID Successfully completed First Aid and CPR class. Acceptable versions are from the Red Cross, American Heart Association (click here and choose the "Heartsaver First Aid Course") and CPRToday (Enter the BCLS discount code given by your instructor administrator for a 10% discount on the fee).
Experience and Minimums
1.INS:FYL 1 year of flying using a paramotor. 2.INS:FLL 120 flights using a paramotor. 3.INS:FDL 45 flying days using a paramotor. 4.INS:P3L Has had a USPPA PPG3 rating for at least 180 days (may be waived). 5.INS:FHL 50 solo airtime hours.
6.INS:MTS Agrees to apply minimum training standards prior to student instruction, flight and other areas as appropriate. 7.INS:MTT Adheres to "commitment letter" whenever doing instruction for USPPA rating
