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