Air Activities
Complete the requirements in one of the alternatives:
Alternative A - paragliding
Alternative B - gliding
Alternative A - paragliding
- Know the rules relating to access to airfields as laid down in Policy, Organisation and Rules.
- Understand and discuss the factors involved in selecting the launch point on the field and demonstrate this to the assessor.
- Successfully complete the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association's paragliding ground training, including landing rolls and inflation and collapse of canopy by wing-tip holders and paragliders.
- Carry out the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association's course of training in controlled descents and self-released flights up to the standard of 360-degree stable turns.
- Carry out canopy control practice on the ground and have a basic knowledge of the flight and steering principles of the canopy.
- Understand and perform the duties of wing-tip holder, lookout and tensiometer reader, and understand the function of the launch marshal.
- Discuss the care, packing and storage of equipment.
Alternative B - gliding
- Know the rules relating to access to airfields as laid down in Policy, Organisation and Rules.
- Understand and discuss the safety aspects of gliding.
- Act as a member of a ground crew and take part in the launch and retrieval of a glider.
- Demonstrate the signals for a glider launch and transmit them to a winch operator or towing party.
- List the forces acting on a glider and explain how soaring flight is obtained (thermals, wave lift and ridge lift).
- Take part in a gliding course. The aim should be to gain at least five hours' flying time, and ten launches over a period.
- Understand the safety aspects of parachuting.
- Understand the operation of a parachute.
- Understand and demonstrate landing procedures.
- Take part in three parachute jumps from an aircraft.