Tandem paragliding: what to expect on your first flight and how to choose an operator
TUREFF• •0
A tandem flight is the easiest way to experience paragliding: you fly as a passenger in front of a qualified tandem pilot, who launches, steers and lands. No experience is needed, and many people go on to learn after their first flight. Here is what happens, why flights are cancelled, and how to choose an operator with safety in mind.
What happens on the day
- Meeting and weather check: the pilot checks conditions on the morning or shortly before the flight. Times often shift.
- Briefing: you are shown how to run at launch, how to sit back into the harness once airborne, and how to land, usually by running or by sliding in seated. Listen carefully; your part in take-off matters.
- Equipment: you wear a passenger harness and a helmet. The pilot connects both harnesses to the wing with spreader bars and checks everything.
- Launch: on a hill or mountain, you walk and then run downhill as the wing inflates above you. It lifts you off within a few steps. Keep running until the pilot tells you to sit.
- The flight: the length depends on the site and conditions, from a short descent to a longer soaring flight. Ask before you book what is typical where you are going.
- Landing: the pilot sets up a landing in a field; you prepare to run or to land seated, as briefed.
Some pilots offer gentle turns or more dynamic manoeuvres. If you feel queasy, tell the pilot early. Motion sickness is common and a calmer flight helps.
Weather cancellations
Paragliding depends on weather, and cancellations are part of the sport, not a sign of a poor operator.
- Wind that is too strong, too gusty or from the wrong direction for the launch site.
- Rain, low cloud or poor visibility.
- Thunderstorm risk or strong thermal activity in the middle of the day.
- No wind at all on sites that need some to launch safely.
A good operator cancels when conditions are doubtful. Ask about the cancellation and rebooking policy before you pay, and leave flexible days on your trip if you can. Early morning or late afternoon flights often have calmer air.
How to choose an operator safely
- Qualifications: ask whether the pilot holds a tandem rating from the national association in that country. In the UK that is the BHPA, in the US the USHPA (which also manages tandem rules with the aviation authority), and other countries have their own federations or licensing.
- Insurance: ask what passenger insurance the operator has.
- Experience: ask how long the pilot has flown tandem and how well they know the site.
- Equipment: a reputable operator uses wings certified for tandem use, carries a reserve parachute and provides a passenger helmet.
- Willingness to cancel: an operator who says they fly in all conditions is a red flag.
- Pressure to fly: you should never feel rushed onto a launch you are uneasy about.
- Reviews: read recent reviews, but treat them as one input; they rarely tell you about safety practices.
Be cautious about cheap street sales at tourist spots where you cannot verify credentials.
Limits and health
Operators set weight limits for passengers (both a minimum and a maximum), and some have age limits. Tell them about back, heart or other conditions and about pregnancy. You need to be able to run a few steps for most launches, although some sites suit people with limited mobility with special equipment.
What to wear
- Sturdy shoes with ankle support, never sandals.
- Long trousers and layers; it is colder in the air.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Secure anything loose; a dropped phone falls a long way.
Have you flown tandem, or are you planning a flight? Share where, how it went, or your questions in the comments.