Paragliding and powered paragliding training in Ontario

• Are you jumping off a cliff?

  No!

  When paramotoring, we launch and land on flat meadows. The field has to be without obstacles and it has to be 200 feet long to take off and land safely. We use an engine mounted on shoulder harnesses to climb into the air.

  When paragliding, we take off from the top of a mountain or via a towing device called a winch using rising columns of air (thermals). Paragliding is free flight - meaning there is no engine involved. It’s all about the learned ability to use the forces of nature to fly - exactly the same way it’s done by soaring birds.

• How high can you get?

  When flying paramotor, our cruising altitude most often varies between 750 and 2200 feet. Altitude is limited by airspace regulations in the area where flight is taking place.

  When paragliding, altitude changes all the time as we follow terrain shape (hills and valleys). We climb in thermals and descend in sinks. Perfectly normal flight can reach heights of 5000 feet. Altitude is limited by airspace regulations and by cloud base.

• How long can you stay up?

  In paramotoring, flight time is limited by meteorological conditions and the amount of fuel we have. Usually it’s enough for 3 to 4 hours of flight, which is enough to cover 120 to 150km distance.

  Flight time in paragliding is limited by meteorological conditions and the pilot’s ability to stay up using thermals. Since we don’t have engines when paragliding, it’s all about the experience, strategy and goals that pilots set for themselves. The current world record in distance flight was set in South Africa on a flight over 500 km long. Flight time in this exceptional case was 11 hours.

• Can I learn this on my own?

  You can choose to learn on your own. But doing so means putting your personal safety at risk. Training is extremely important because you get expert guidance to avoid the mistakes beginners can make. It is smarter and safer to go through professional training.

  You will also need a Basic Ultralight licence, issued by Transport Canada, to fly your paramotor legally, buy insurance, go to fly-ins, etc. You will need to write ULTRA exam and obtain letter of recommendation from a Canadian instructor that has a current certification from TC to get your license. Even if you were trained in the US, you will still need to do all these steps in order to fly legally in Canada.

  In paragliding, if you have foreign licence (backed by IPPI card), we can help you get the license transferred over so you keep your rating!

• Para... what?!

  Paragliding is an adventure sport where pilots fly for recreation and compete in various ways. It’s all about learning how to use forces of nature to stay in flight.

  Paramotoring, also called powered paragliding, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a motor (called a paramotor) on their back, which provides the necessary thrust to take off and stay airborne. Paramotor pilots fly cross-country and compete in speed flying (slalom racing), economy (ability to staying flight longest with a limited supply of fuel), navigation (flying through given points on maps) and in many other ways.

  In both cases, pilots can pack their aircrafts into backpacks, takeoff and land pretty much anywhere. You can store your gear in your basement, closet or even under your bed :)
  All this makes paragliding and paramotoring the most accessible form of aviation.

• Is this safe?

  Absolutely! However, you have to remember that both paragliding and paramotoring are considered to be extreme sports. Like every sport, paragliding and paramotoring can be fatal if performed under influence of drugs or alcohol. When safety rules and air regulations are followed, meteorological conditions are properly assessed and the pilot follows proper training protocol, safety is maintained.

  Safety is a major part of our training and all these factors are covered by our ground school.

• How long is the training?

  Powered paragliding and paragliding are weather dependant sports. It’s not possible to fly when it’s raining, snowing or when the wind is too strong.

  The first part of training is 2 days of ground school where students learn the theory of flight and everything else they need to know to fly safely.

  The second part of training is practical training. Students usually need around 15 - 20 hours of ground handling (wing control) training to get ready for their first flight. Flights are supervised by our instructors to ensure that students are operating their aircrafts in a safe way. Radio communication is maintained at all times.

• How expensive is it?

  You should instead ask how fun it is! Since fun is priceless, it doesn’t really matter how expensive the gear and training are. It’s all about adrenaline and fun, the best drugs for stress and a busy life!

  To start paragliding, you will need around $6000 to buy entry level gear. To start paramotoring you will need around $8000. Training starts at $400 and depends on the type of training you require. Use these prices as a reference because lots of stuff in paragliding and paramotoring are regulated by their “cool factor”. The cooler you want to be, the more it will cost you :)

  PG / PPG training when compared to the cost of getting a recreational pilot's licence is almost 10 times cheaper. Renting a plane can cost thousands and you are always tied to airports. PG/PPG you can take off and land pretty much anywhere.

We will be sending information about trips, training, gear promotions, tips, safety notices and paragliding news.