Hi! New around here, seeking advice

[TomFrench]

Hi everyone,

My name is Thomas Boulier, I am new to the DC area. I arrived from France, my home country, a month ago and I'll be working here for two years at least.
I'm not a pilot yet, but I've been wanting to become one for a while now. And now I should have the time and money to do so
I'm especially interested in learning paragliding. A little while ago in the Pyrenees mountains I did a 3 days class at the end of which I did two solo (radio-guided) flights. It was awesome, and I really want to go further now.

I registered to this forum as a first contact with the DC PG world. So I'd like to ask you guys some questions. I noticed from looking around the internet that the DC area seems a lot more HG oriented than PG. Is this true?
What's the best way to start learning non-motorized PG around here? I didn't find any PG school in the Appalachians.
Is CHGPA, or some of its members, able to teach PG?
Also while I looked for it, I still don't really get the rules for PG here... Do I get a "flying license" upon completing classes, or something similar?

Cheers,
Tom

[markc]

Greetings Thomas, and welcome to the DC area! There is a very active PG community here, with many skilled pilots. Hopefully they will chime in with details about available PG instruction (you are right, it has been difficult to find instructors locally, but I think that may be changing for the better?)

Sounds like you've gotten a taste for free flight..... It only gets better from here!

Cheers,

MarkC

[Dan T]

Hi Tom,

There is a contingent of paraglider pilots in the area. Unfortunately there are currently no nearby instructors, although two people are working on getting their tandem instructor ratings. I was hoping that one of them would get in touch with you, but it appears they were out of town at the time. The nearest PG school that I know of is in Pennsylvania.

The rules for PG (or HG) in the USA are the following:

For most flying sites in the US, you must be a member of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA). When you sign up for instruction with a USHPA registered instructor you will be provided with the paperwork that will make you a 30 day member of the USHPA.

Most flying sites are owned and/or maintained by a local club called a Chapter. Each Chapter maintains a relation with the National Association (the USHPA), that provides some mutual benefits including carrying an insurance policy that protects land owners and to some degree association members from liability in the event an accident causes injury or property damage to individuals who are not members of the flying community. You should join the local Chapter as well as the USHPA. In this area it's the Capitol Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (CHGPA).

Most of our sites require an intermediate rating (P3) or a novice rating (P2) with site assessment assistance from an individual who has been recognized as having the skills and maturity to perform such assistance. Once you obtain your novice rating you won't have any trouble finding these people by simply posting your status on here.

Getting your novice PG rating in this part of the country is going to be difficult to impossible for some time longer. If you are able to get to one of the schools out west such as Point of the Mountain Utah or one of several in California or the one in Pennsylvania that's the way to get to P2 the quickest. If you decide that you want to try hang gliding there are several excellent schools in this area for that.

Dan T

[hang_pilot]

Hi, Tom --

The instructor in Pennsylvania that Dan mentioned in the previous post is Terry Bono: http://www.pennsylvaniaparagliding.com/ ... ssons.html

You may have to travel to get the P2 (Novice) rating. Once you have that, we have some good flying sites here and friendly observers who will help you fly them.

All the best,
Daniel

[Mike Nguyen]

Hi Tom and everyone,

As introduced from Matt, i was able to talk with some people like: Middleton, Peter, MarkC via email few days ago. My account has just been accepted, so i woud like to introduce myselft to all. My Name is Mike, just came from VietNam last year, now living long term with my family in Silver Spring, MD, and work as an IT specialist. I have played PG since 2012, but not much. My kitting, take off skill is good but still need to be improved in landing skill, and i can fly airbone with an observer.

Here is my equipments:
Wing: Paratech- P28(DVH 1-2)
Harness: Ozone- Oxygen2
I am so excited to join our group and hope you all can assist and support me in advance to get the rating and enyoy the flying.

Below is my very first solo and kitting that help you have insight to me a little bit. I will be at DC kite Festival and hope to see all of you. Thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehVSrbI7kPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lojyYuxTxrc

[TomFrench]

Thank you all for your advice, I see clearer now. Too bad PG schools are so scarce... the one in Pennsylvania is 4h away from my place :/

A few more questions:
How long does the P1 and P2 classes usually take?
Is there a way my previous experience with paragliding in France could be seen as P1, so that I could start directly classes at P2 level?
Upon completing P2, do people usually buy their own gear?

If the weather permits I'll see you at the kite festival tomorrow.
Cheers!

[hang_pilot]

Here are my non-authoritative responses to your questions:

How long does the P1 and P2 classes usually take?

That varies tremendously depending on conditions during your lessons, your aptitude, and time that elapses between lessons.

Is there a way my previous experience with paragliding in France could be seen as P1, so that I could start directly classes at P2 level?

There is a process for converting foreign ratings to U.S. domestic ratings but that doesn't really apply in your case as you do not hold a foreign rating. Because of your previous experience, however, you should be able to demonstrate the skills required for the P1 and P2 ratings more quickly than someone without that experience.

Upon completing P2, do people usually buy their own gear?

Yes, because P2 pilots are typically no longer flying under the supervision of their instructors and thus may not have access to school gear.

Best,
Daniel