Para Pro 3 (Novice Course)

Hill Pilot Training Programme

Phase 6 – Pre-soaring

Objective: The student should be ready to attempt soaring flight.

Exercise 21 – Theory: The student should gain a refreshed and expanded understanding of site assessment (including hazards, turbulence and rotor) – weather assessment (including wind strength measurement, wind gradients and the Venturi effect) – flight planning (including the importance of building in options) – Rules of the Air, ridge protocols – airflow around ridges – lift bands – soaring patterns – all turns away from the hill – the need to keep a good lookout.

Exercise 22 - 180° turns – further development: The student should continue and reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at flights involving unassisted launches and controlled turns of up to and beyond 180°. Instructor supervision to be advisory in nature (briefings and de-briefings.)

Exercise 23 – Planned approaches: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at planning flights and landing approaches by making at least four controlled landing within 10m / 33ft of a designated target. Techniques should include the ‘constant aspect approach’ and ‘S’ turns. Instructor supervision to be advisory in nature (briefings and de-briefings.)

Phase 6 – Pre-soaring
has been completed successfully.

Instructor’s Signature Date

Phase 7 – Soaring

Objective: The student should demonstrate a reasonable and consistent level of competence at ridge soaring and top landing.

Exercise 24 – Soaring flight: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at utilising ridge lift to maintain good height. This will include flying beats in a controlled manner while maintaining a good lookout. A minimum of three flights of approximately 10 minutes (or equivalent) must be completed, at least one of which must be completed either on a separate site or on a separate day.

Exercise 25 – Top landings: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at top landing, demonstrating good airspeed control, good flight planning, accurate approaches and good canopy control after touchdown. A minimum of four top landings must be completed, at least one of which must be completed either on a separate site or on a separate day.

Exercise 26 – Flying with others: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at flying with others, showing good awareness of other craft and their characteristics. This exercise must be strictly controlled with the new elements and aircraft introduced gradually. The briefing must include checking the student’s level of understanding of collision avoidance rules and wake vortices.

Phase 7 – Soaring has been completed successfully.

Phase 8 – Improving Skills

Objective: The student should be competent and confident at using the paraglider’s normally used speed range. They should also understand the hazards associated with fast flight and slow flight, and be familiar with recognising the symptoms of a stall. The student should also have a basic understanding of the speed-to-fly concept. Approaching the stall point and deliberate stalls should be avoided (other than in ground handling.)

Exercise 27 – Exploring the speed range: The student should be competent and confident at using the paraglider’s normally used speed range. They should also understand the hazards associated with fast and slow flight, and be familiar with recognising the symptoms of a stall. The student should have a basic understanding of the ‘speed-to-fly’ concept. Approaching the stall and deliberate stalls must be avoided (other than during ground handling.)

Exercise 28 – Accelerator (speed-bar) system: The student should understand the uses and limitations of the accelerator (speed-bar) systems (and trim setting devices) and be proficient and confident at using an accelerator (speed-bar) system. This exercise should include a warning about the inappropriate use of the accelerators to attempt to fly in strong wind conditions and a risk warning covering the effects of turbulence on accelerated wings.

Exercise 29 – Forward launching: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at forward launch techniques, with good control throughout.

Exercise 30 – Reverse launching: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at reverse launch techniques, with good control throughout.

Exercise 31 – Weight-shift and pitch-roll coordination in turns: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at using weight-shift and pitch-roll coordination in turns.

Exercise 32 – Cross-wind and slope landings: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at cross-wind and slope landings; should understand the problems and hazards associated with these manoeuvres, and know when and how they might be used.

New Exercise - 360° turns: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at flights involving unassisted launches and controlled turns of up to and beyond 180°. Instructor supervision to be advisory in nature (briefings and de-briefings.)

Phase 8 – Improving Skills

has been completed successfully.

Instructor’s Signature Date

Phase 9 – Instability and Emergencies

Objective: The student should understand techniques to recover controlled flight and be aware of techniques and procedures used during emergencies.

Exercise 33 – Theory: Emergencies: The student should understand water and tree landing procedures – PLFs – use of the emergency parachute systems – use and limitations of alternative control techniques such as weight shift and read riser steering in the event of control line failure. Instability: The student should understand recovery techniques for collapses, stalls, spins and spirals – paraglider certification – IHPA recommendations on pilot skill level requirements.

Exercise 34 – Active flying: The student should demonstrate a good understanding of the concepts of active flying and coping with turbulence. Minor pitch oscillations should be induced and then stabilised. This exercise must be carried out at an appropriate altitude, in smooth conditions and with effective communication.

Exercise 35 – Rapid descent techniques: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at using the ‘big-ears’ rapid descent technique and should understand its uses and limitations. This should include closing the tip cells on one side at a time, weight shift steering whilst in the big-ears mode, and safe exiting – no pumping! This exercise must be carried out at an appropriate altitude, in smooth conditions and with effective communication.

Exercise 36 – Dealing with an asymmetric tuck: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at dealing with and recovering from an asymmetric tuck of more than 15% and less than 35%. This size of tuck is effectively one ‘big-ears’ and the exercise should be conducted on that basis. Initial training should be first carried out on the ground before practising it at an appropriate altitude in smooth conditions and with effective communication.

Phase 9 – Instability and Emergencies has been completed successfully.

Phase 10: Theory and Examination

Objective: Through Lectures, lessons, talks and personal study the student should reach the Para Pro 3 (Novice) level of understanding in thee following subject areas.

Exercise 37 – Meteorology.

Exercise 38 – Principles of flight.

Exercise 39 – Rules of the Air and air law.

Exercise 40 – General airmanship knowledge: The hazards of flying alone – human factors (drugs, alcohol, fatigue, stress, lack of currency, etc.) – flying abroad – repairs and periodic inspections of the canopy and equipment – the need for regular parachute repacking – the coaching system – the need to maintain IHPA membership – the limitations of the Safe Pro 3 (Novice) pilot - the IHPA Pilot Rating Scheme – progressing beyond Para Pro 3.

Exercise 41 – Para Pro 3 (Novice) theory examination: After you have completed your exam paper the instructor will go through each of the questions so that incorrect answers can be discussed and your knowledge / understanding corrected.

Phase 10 – Theory and Examination has been completed successfully.

Final assessment for Para Pro 3 (Novice) Pilot Rating

Exercise 42 - Instructor’s Declaration: I have checked that the training exercises detailed above have been successfully completed. I confirm that, to the best of my judgement and knowledge, this student has the right attitude to flying and has reached the standard of airmanship required to continue training in this discipline.

Para Pro 3 (Novice) Exam Study Guide

Air Law:

Know the Rules of the Air - failure on any of these questions results in automatic failure of the whole exam.
Know the Low-flying rules.
Understand the way airspace in Ireland is divided.
Understand the process for notifying ATC for flying sites inside controlled airspace.
Know the legal definitions of sunset, night and sunrise, and the relevant restrictions relating to them.
Meteorology:

Be able to link basic cloud types and their associated weather.
Be able to recognise the key symbols on a synoptic weather chart and understand their meaning.
Understand the basics of hill, thermal and wave lift.
Know how to obtain a forecast and how to measure the wind on site.
Be able to identify deteriorating weather conditions.
Airmanship and Navigation:

Understand the need to keep a flight logbook.
Understand the purpose of a red ribbon on a HG or PG.
Be familiar with the demands of flying in company with your fellow pilots, both on the ridge and thermalling.
Be familiar with aeronautical charts (air maps.)
Understand how a hang glider or paraglider is able to gain height.
Be able to name the symptoms of an impending stall.
PGs - Differentiate between symmetric and asymmetric canopy tucks - how they are caused and how to use the controls to effect a recovery.
PGs - State what action to take in the event of a towline-release failure.
PGs - Know how to deal with hazardous (tree / water / obstacle) landings.


Principles of Flight:

Be able to define the terms - Stall, Lift, Centre of Pressure, Drag (in its various forms) Aspect Ratio, etc.
Understand the relationship between airspeed, lift, drag; know how lift is created and proportioned between the top and bottom wing surfaces, and describe the forces acting on a glider in steady flight.
Be able to work examples of air-speed, wind-speed, ground-speed and height loss/gain (given minimum-sink rates and airmass ascent rates.)
Understand terms such as Angle of Attack, L/D Ratio, Glide Ratio and Wing Loading, and be able to assess the effect that pilot weight changes have on paraglider performance.
Understand the purpose and effect of trim tabs and the factors affecting canopy stability.

Apply to the IHPA for your
Para Pro 3 (Novice) Pilot Rating

Congratulations on completing your novice pilot training! You should now, without fail, fill in the Para Pro 3 (Novice) Pilot Rating application form in the centre of this booklet and have your instructor sign it, and return it to the IHPA Training & Flight Safety Officer.

Please take the time to fill in the course feedback questionnaire also. The IHPA, and your instructor, are constantly trying to improve the Pilot Training Programme and the teaching / learning experience for the student pilot. Your comments about your training course and experiences while learning to fly are a valuable resource to us!