| The good news is, it's safer than it's Extreme Sports | | | | quickly, some novices can start to think that they know |
| image would have you think. Of all the so-called | | | | a lot more about flying than they really do. This can |
| Extreme Sports, paragliding has perhaps the widest | | | | lead to over-confidence and increased risk-taking. The |
| range of participants. In Japan, you will find old people | | | | only way to get really good and fly safely in more |
| serenely gliding across dormant volcano slopes. | | | | challenging conditions is to fly frequently, over a long |
| Through the Alps in France, you might spot daring | | | | period of time. |
| young men pushing the limits of their skills and their | | | | For some reason, people who have a passing interest |
| paragliders while flying cross-country in challenging | | | | in paragliding also have an interest in the statistics of |
| conditions. | | | | the sport. Particularly the fatalities count. Fair enough, I |
| Have you never flown in a paraglider, either alone or in | | | | guess we all instinctively try to assess our risk of dying |
| a tandem wing? Are you hankering to just 'give it a try', | | | | when trying something new and exciting! So let's get |
| but not yet sure whether you actually want to take it | | | | the death-and-gloom out of the way first. The figures |
| up as a sport? If the answer to both questions is 'yes', | | | | are actually quite reassuring, given the many, many |
| then this article is for you. | | | | thousands of people flying and the flight hours they are |
| The advertisers of paragliding adventure holidays take | | | | accumulating. |
| advantage of the sport's currently good safety record. | | | | The stats for horse-riding and paragliding make for an |
| You might see lines such as this: | | | | interesting comparison. And... you guessed it, more |
| "Bali Adventure Paragliding is safe, secure and is a | | | | people die from being thrown off a horse than |
| totally new experience not to be missed." | | | | crashing a paraglider! |
| Well, the second bit is totally true, the first bit might be | | | | In a similar vein, I came across an insurance report that |
| glossing over the occasional twisted ankle or bruise | | | | listed paragliding fatalities per participant to be less than |
| from beginners attempting their very first landings. But | | | | motorcycle riding. Now that doesn't surprise me, I've |
| under ideal tourist-flying conditions, yes, it's pretty safe | | | | never trusted those things! ;-) Motorbikes that is. |
| and secure! And of course, you can't go wrong if you | | | | Another outdoor activity which compares with |
| are under a tandem wing with an instructor doing all | | | | paragliding in terms of injury rate per participant is |
| the flying. | | | | snowmobiling. Of which I know nothing, coming from |
| Now of course, every sport has its risks. Also, aviation | | | | The Great Dry Flat Land, Australia. :-) |
| in general has it's risks. So Paragliding, being both an | | | | Despite there being quite a few thousand active |
| adventure sport and a form of aviation, also has a | | | | paraglider pilots in the U.S. during 2005, only 3 people |
| degree of risk. When it comes to safety though, the | | | | died in paraglider accidents. This continued a trend |
| aviation side of paragliding is all-important. All pilots are | | | | towards fewer paragliding fatalities each year in the |
| trained to operate their aircraft safely, by minimizing | | | | U.S. |
| potential risks. In some cases it's a matter of pure | | | | Now, to be accurate and truthful, the situation in |
| judgement such as during an approach and landing. Or | | | | Europe has been much worse in recent years, in |
| it might mean sticking rigidly to a check list while | | | | terms of total fatalities. But in Europe, there are many |
| preparing to leave the ground. The joy of flying, year | | | | times as many active pilots as there are in the U.S. |
| after year after year, is the reward for doing it right. | | | | And a big percentage of them are 'pushing the |
| It has been said that paragliding is as safe or as | | | | envelope' by flying in challenging weather over very |
| dangerous as the pilot makes it. There's a lot of truth in | | | | challenging terrain. The Alps, no less! As a beginner, |
| this, from at least a couple of angles. Firstly, pilot's | | | | you will not fit that category, hence those particular |
| choose what conditions to fly in. Secondly, they | | | | stats need not worry you. |
| choose how far to stretch their piloting skills. Let's | | | | Enough of death and dying, I'll just touch on a couple of |
| make an analogy with driving a motor vehicle now. | | | | U.S. stats now. In 2005, only 50 accident reports |
| A learner driver can choose to drive around the back | | | | relating to paragliding were received, which was a 5 |
| blocks for a while, or head straight out onto the | | | | year low. Also in 2005 in the U.S., 32 pilots or |
| freeway at rush hour. That's choosing driving | | | | passengers suffered paragliding injuries. 15 of these |
| conditions. | | | | people required an overnight stay in hospital. |
| Secondly, he or she can choose to observe the speed | | | | Browsing through some material the other day I came |
| limits and traffic signs, or push the pedal to the metal | | | | across a tandem pilot who has flown many |
| while running red lights and overtaking everyone in the | | | | passengers over the years. In all his 350+ hours of |
| way. That's choosing how far driving skills are pushed! | | | | tandem flying, he has never had a passenger injured. |
| Just for a moment, let's consider what the most | | | | This should give you a good feeling, since a great way |
| dangerous thing about paragliding might be. Many | | | | to 'just try' paragliding is to go for a flight in a tandem |
| years of experience have led some instructors to | | | | paraglider! The pilot is behind, the passenger hangs in |
| believe that this is in fact the ease with which people | | | | front. Air in your hair, and views to die for.. ooops.. I |
| can learn paragliding! After picking up the basics quite | | | | mean really really great views! |