Home
DUAT Access Granted
"Updates" Archive
Event Reports
Archives
In Memory
What's New
Upcoming Events
Insurance Primer

Member Login
 

Big Changes Coming Feb 13, 2010

This has been a long time coming.

We strongly want to encourage thorough training through the ratings program. The main reason is to help insure pilots get more than a quick course and sent off on their own without being adequately prepared.

The training reimbursement is one method we're using: those pilots who succeed at earning a PPG2 rating get $150 and those who make it to PPG3 get $200. But in addition to that we want prospective students to know which instructors are using the full course all the way through giving ratings. So we are dramatically enhancing our online capabilities.

As always, thanks to Jerry Starbuck who is building the system. It is, in fact, being tested right now and instructors should be getting an email in the next few days describing how they participate in the program. This will eventually streamline our ratings process and automate parts of it but, more importantly, it will provide prospective students with information.

Once the program is fully operational, it will allow listing instructors along with the number of ratings they've given. Further it will honor pilots who achieve the various ratings, something that will also be listed in our magazine coverage just like what USHPA does with it's rating earners.

We struggle in this sport to make it worthwhile for instructors to teach and students to dedicate the breadth of knowledge required to engage in it with reasonable safety. What's worse is that frequently, pilots with inadequate training either give it up altogether, get hurt and quit or just represent a risk to themselves and others.

To the degree that we have an established, meaningful, nationally recognized training program is the degree to which we, as a sport, have options. We collectively relish our freedom and want to keep it that way. Well-trained pilots to a useful standard are a good start.

Hopefully this program will further encourage use of the full training course and syllabus. Thanks so much your support of our mutual goal to improve Paramotor flying in the U.S.!

Instructor Documents Updated Jan 09, 2010

The printable version of the PPG1 written test has been updated to reflect the new online test. Also, the instructor and tandem clinic syllabus has been revised and combined into one document.

Online Tests Improved Sep 6, 2009

The online USPPA tests for PPG1 and PPG2 have been much improved thanks to input from a number of instructors. We very much appreciate that input. Questions have been better clarified and those with ambiguous answers have been changed. Besides instructor suggestions, we have a tool that helps us to track aggregate answers and spot problem questions.

Besides improving the questions, new coverage of charts, with graphics, have been added. These tests are a tool to help instructors prepare new pilots set out on their own and existing pilots advance.

The PPG1 rating is for students who have had their first solo, with the basics of launching, flying and landing but have nowhere near the breadth of knowledge or experience to set out on their own and should only fly under direct supervision. It is like a student pilot license. The PPG 2 rating denotes that the pilot has passed the minimum knowledge, skills and experience to set out on their own. The PPG3 rating (which still only has paper tests) is for advanced pilots who have demonstrated significant skills and knowledge. It is required before becoming an instructor or tandem instructors.

Paper versions of the tests will be updated over the next few months. Online testing is administered through your USPPA instructor. As always, we strongly advise students to seek USPPA certified instructors who use the full USPPA syllabus. Make sure to ask for that.

Thanks, as always, to Jerry Starbuck for his help in setting up the online testing and helping us maintain it.

Website Look Update Oct 30, 2008

Adam Bell, of www.PrizeFlight.com, has offered his hand at helping update the USPPA website. The results are obvious as soon as anyone clicks on the home page. Other changes will be made in printed material as time allows.

Our website's basic look has been largely unchanged for a number of years and Adam brings a new eye to the process with a look that everyone liked.

There are other changes being considered that will make it easier for different people to maintain different areas of the site. Brian Thivierge will be helping in that arena, hopefully within a year.

We look forward to having Adam help make our website even better in more ways than just looks.

Adam Bell before setting up for flight..

Training Committee Chairman Oct 8, 2008

After serving as Training Committee Chairman since the organization started in 2001, Chris Bowles has decided to hand over the reins. We greatly appreciate Chris's service to the powered paragliding community and our organization. He will continue in his position as an officer of the USPPA.

Chad Bastian has agreed to lead the Training Committee. Like Chris, he brings a wealth of experience to the position and will be a large part of improving and maintaining our Tandem program.

Besides being a USPPA Instructor and Tandem Administrator, Chad is an Advanced USHPA Instructor. He is a former competition paraglider pilot, the 2008 #3 ranked Paramotor pilot in the U.S. and very experienced in both wheel launch and foot launch powered paragliding.

We look forward to having him help make our training program even more relevant and helpful to the paramotor community.

Chad Bastian flying backwards at a Santa Barbara, CA, soaring site.

Database Upgrade Oct 8, 2008

Jerry Starbuck, database designer/administrator, has upgraded our four separate membership databases to one SQL database that will translate to more reliability and easier growth.

He has also added the capability required to support tracking of our Tandem Trainees, Tandem Instructors and Tandem Administrators. Of course we still need to have the appropriate paperwork on file to satisfy our FAA requirements, but this will allow us to continue with the highest possible level of automation.

We are very grateful for the work that Jerry has done. It has allowed us to remain an all-volunteer operation in the face of increasing workload. With the advent of Tandem operations, it may be necessary at some point to hire out some administrative functions. We're hoping to work with USUA in whatever ways we can to benefit both organizations.

Being all-volunteer has allowed us to continue offering the training incentive program beyond expectations. At present, we are still well able to fund the program so it will almost certainly continue at least another year.

courtesy HostedSolutions.com

USPPA Granted Tandem Exemption Sept 10, 2008

The USPPA has been granted an exemption to FAR 103(a) that will allow tandem qualified instructors to legally fly foot-launched tandem instructional flights. Qualified Instructors will receive new cards within the next 30 days and must have these new cards in their possession prior to conducting Tandem operations.

Those USPPA instructors who were also qualified under an existing exemption, and had logged foot-launched tandem flights, will be immediately included.

Wheeled tandem operations are not allowed in this program as they fall under the jurisdiction of Sport Pilot.

Like the previous exemptions, it runs for two years at a time and must be renewed every other year. The first renewal is Sept, 2010.

Our website and Training program must be updated slightly to accommodate the new verbiage required of the exemption.

Tandem Instructor Complete Program

Member Services Upgrade May 20, 2008

Our upgrade to a different Member Services vendor is complete. This should improve reliability while increasing bandwidth for the same price. Thanks to Jerry Starbuck for tackling the thorny details of a seamless transition.

Pikes Peak Powered Paragliding May 11, 2008

Thanks for the mention!

The Pikes Peak Powered Paragliding Club has recently completed a ground-up overhaul of their web site and includes resources for the pilot. There is, among other things, a brand new video and photo Gallery, an extensive Weather page, and a comprehensive Resource page. The Weather page is LZ specific and includes weather links for Christmas Florida, the American Flyer PPG field in NM and the primary sites used by the Pikes Peak pilots. If you would like a new LZ added, please let them know.

Send inquiries or suggestions to flyers@wrb.mailman.com or directly to Mathew Wich

World Record Attempt by USPPA Members Apr 23, 2008

On about May 3, 2008, several USPPA members and other pilots will attempt a world record flight from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, following the Panama Canal. Pilot Remy Swaab was the logistics genius that pulled off organizing all the various permissions required. The Flight For Life is a Charity fundraiser.

Jeff Goin, who will be on of the eight pilots, will have coverage on www.FootFlyer.com. Phil Russman, of Lite Touch Films will be both flying and video documenting the attempt. It's not a particularly long flight but some less-than-desirable stretches to cover. Most pilots are flying with 4 gallon gas tanks.

Tandem Exemptions Expired Jan 31, 2008

As of Jan 31, 2008 the exemption to FAR 103 that allowed tandem operations has expired. Powered tandem operations are no longer legal whether wheel launched or foot launched.

We are in communications with the FAA regarding the exemption and have been told there is no intent to disallow tandem operations for those craft not covered by sport pilot. Foot launched tandems are clearly not included in sport pilot as are many powered paraglider units with wheel attachments.

The exemption was held by USUA (who we work with), ASC and EAA. The exemption we are now working is the one we worked out in 2002.