Instructor Administrator
Rating Information
Instructor Administrators run clinics/training courses designed to help experienced PPG pilots to become Instructors and/or Tandem Instructors. They use the Instructor syllabus and Tandem Instructor syllabus as tools to help ensure that all USPPA instructors are teaching the same key topics and skills.
Instructor Administrators are expected to be able to take on their role without allowing personal or business interests and biases to get in the way of accomplishing the overall goals and mission of the USPPA. While administrators should screen potential instructor candidates for skills and knowledge they should never discriminate against a candidate simply based on business practices (For example, "I won't give you an instructor rating because then you'll be my competitor.")
Instructor Administrators are responsible for selecting competent Instructor Candidates who:
- Support the mission of the USPPA
- Are willing to work with the PPG community and share their skills and knowledge,
- Operate first and foremost in the best interest of their students,
- Are good ambassadors of the sport and reflect well on the USPPA.
Instructor Administrators are expected to offer at least 1 instructor clinic per year that accepts any qualified applicant regardless of brand or school relationship.
- There should be a need for an Instructor Administrator in your geographic area or a need for your specific skills.*¹
- You must have a minimum of 3 years of experience actively teaching as a USPPA instructor.
- You have been the primary instructor*² to a minimum of 50 total students (and issued ratings).
- You have issued a minimum of 15 ratings*3 within the previous 12 months.
- You must commit to giving at least 1 instructor clinic per year that accepts any qualified applicant regardless of brand or school relationship.
- You must be recommended by 1 USPPA instructor Administrator and 1 USPPA instructor.
- You must co-teach an instructor clinic with a current Instructor Administrator.
- Submit an application to the USPPA training committee.
- The USPPA training committee will review each application for final approval*4.
*¹ Is there already an Instructor Administrator in your area? Is there a current need that is not being met? For example, you hope to offer Wheel Launch Instructor training because no one else is offering that in your area. That would be an example of filling a need.
*² Primary instructor means giving at least 90% of all the instruction to each student, including their first solo flight and testing for the PPG2 rating.
*³ Ratings can be USPPA, USHPA, or ratings from an equivalent organization (subject to approval by the training committee).
*4 Approval is not automatic, regardless of meeting the requirements. Read the following section "Are applications automatically approved?" to learn more
In addition to the requirements above, Instructor Administrators are also required to sign a commitment letter. You can see the commitment letter by clicking the link below...
All USPPA Instructor Administrators sign the following commitment letter.
I understand that the Instructor Administrator rating is the most important rating the USPPA offers. I recognize that Instructor Administrators are expected to be exemplary ambassadors for the sport and the USPPA.
As an Instructor Administrator, I commit to the following:
- I commit to understanding and following USPPA training directives, training standards, and guidelines as detailed, updated, and communicated by the USPPA training committee.
- I commit to participating in the Semiannual Instructor Administrator Roundtable (Required to attend a minimum of once every two years).
- I commit to giving at least 1 instructor clinic per year that accepts any qualified applicant regardless of brand or school affiliation.
- I commit to remaining active as an instructor by issuing a minimum of 15 ratings (PPG, PG, etc) per year (may be waived by the training committee for extenuating circumstances).
- I commit to maintaining a high level of expertise in the industry by staying up to date with industry trends and news.
- I commit to sharing information about PPG incidents and other safety-related subjects. I will share relevant information on the USPPA incident database or with the accident investigation team.
- I commit to maintaining a positive reputation in the industry for my professional conduct, honesty, integrity, and safety.
- I commit to being an effective Instructor Administrator without allowing my personal biases and/or business interests to get in the way of accomplishing the overall responsibilities of this role.
- I commit to being actively engaged with the Training Committee and with other Instructor Administrators to share my skills and knowledge and provide relevant feedback.
- I commit to only giving instructor/tandem ratings to individuals that are fully qualified and have met, or exceeded, all of the minimum requirements.
- I commit to conducting my personal flying, training programs, and business operations in a manner that does not attract unfavorable publicity or a negative reputation for myself, the USPPA, or powered paragliding in general.
- I understand that this rating is subject to annual review by the USPPA training committee. If I fail to act in accordance with these commitments or if there are complaints or instances of noncompliance, this may result in a warning letter, temporary suspension, or revocation of the rating(s) according to Article VII, Section 6 of the USPPA bylaws.
No. Approval is not automatic.
Even if a candidate meets all the requirements, there is still a possibility that the application may not receive final approval. The USPPA training committee considers several factors before issuing an Instructor Administrator rating. Criteria such as geographic location, proximity to other admins, specific skills, knowledge, qualifications, and candidate reputation are all taken into account along with other things.
Once an application has gone through the approval process, the candidate will be informed of whether or not the rating is approved. Whether approved or not, it's possible that no further explanation or reasoning will be provided by the committee.
If an application is not approved, the candidate is welcome to reapply after two years.
- Assess the need for an Instructor Administrator in your area. Will you be able to fill a need that is not currently met?
- Talk to a current Instructor Administrator to get a feel for what the role entails. If you both feel that you would be a good fit, ask if they would be willing to recommend you.
- Talk to a current USPPA Instructor and express your interest in becoming an Administrator. Ask if they would be willing to recommend you.
- Once you have 1 Instructor Administrator and 1 USPPA Instructor willing to recommend you, and you've met all the requirements listed above, you can submit an application.
- Applicants are required to co-teach an instructor clinic with a current Instructor Administrator before submitting an application. Contact a current Administrator to coordinate this step.
- Submit an application (linked below).
- The training committee will review your application and a committee member may reach out with additional questions or ask for a quick interview.
- The training committee will evaluate your application and will reach out to you with a decision (the evaluation may take several weeks). Approval is not automatic.