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Recently, I've realized that many pilots don’t
understand the purpose of all our briefings and rules,
and that by going to a flying center, they won’t
be flying just for themselves but in a group. They will
have to understand that the sites are regulated and that
we don’t
want to see pilots ending up in hospital and
that even if a pilot is very experienced, he will have
to deal with other customers who might not be so
experienced.
Here are the rules you must accept by coming to Flying-Paradise
You may be very
surprised by some of these rules, as they might be more
than obvious to you. Well, we thought this too!
- radio, reserve, speed bar and an assurance
(third part, personal accident and repatriation)
are mandatory. (We have reserves for rental, speed
bar for free, insurance for 95 € year).
- You
can’t take off if there is not one of
our guides with mobile phone, radio and
minibus on launch. Why? Three of the injured pilots
in the last 11 years have had internal bleeding.
The 40 minutes saved with the minibus and the right
phone call can make the difference between life and
death!
- We might suspend the launch at any
time because of weather condition or wind. It’s
very exceptional that we actually close a launch.
- If there are low airtime pilots in the air, you
must leave them a very comfortable margin when
passing them, not like at Annecy!
- In no
case can you do wing-overs
near the launch area, at low altitude or near a
landing approach. This is to avoid scaring
pilots taking off and keep the
launch clear for top landings. However you've
got all the space you want over the sea for
your S.A.T, loops, etc!
- You can’t top land if there is not an
area clear of pilots.
- You can’t take off from
a non official launch (except in emergency)!
BUT you just come to enjoy free flying aren’t
you?
Do you think that what you
sometime see on crowded sites:
- Take off in the lee or
under a storm
- incompetent pilot for the conditions
- non respect of
priorities
- pilots walking over others gliders
is actually
paragliding?
For me it’s not, and I will make sure that
this won’t
happen at Flying-Paradise.
When I created
Flying-Paradise 12 years ago, I thought that
all pilots where sensible.
Well, I had to change
my mind about that. Many pilots are not, they are just
focused on getting in the air as soon as possible.
Should
I, just because they are adult and licensed
pilot, let’s them fly in conditions that I
know, are not safe?
Well, the problem is that the next day, while they are in hospital, I will
have to ask myself : “Why didn’t you stop them? ”
I just want
to keep a NORMAL safety
level by telling people off as little as possible!
Many pilots, thanks me for the way I run this center
(even if they sometime add that it takes them 1 or 2
days to get used to it) whereas I sometime learn, indirectly
usually, that for some others I am just a pain in the
ass stopping them from getting in the air by 35 km/h
wind (on a site where we already pick up two guys behind
with a broken back).
It is true that a very good pilot could have
launched, feet on the speed bar right after launch and
for most of the flight, while the other 10s would
have waited for him instead of having a drink or looking
for an other site!
Sure, it’s not always easy for a very 45 years
old experienced pilot, with a strong personality to listen
to a guide – sometime half his age, telling
him that he cannot take off and that we are going somewhere
else!
But please, trust us, and remember
that not all pilots are comp pilots. Also that we know
our area very well and that we are maybe going to surprise
you!
We are always open to discussion. So even if we are
on the move don’t hesitate to
ask what’s happening and why.
We don’t pretend to have the universal knowledge.
We are just looking for the best decisions for everyone and
to make you fly as much as possible.
Christophe Dubois
Flying-Paradise manager.
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