USHPA works to further free
flight in the United States and provides training and certification programs
for pilots. In accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Tandem Exemption #4721, we are required to provide FAA instructional materials to everyone
taking a hang gliding or paragliding tandem flight.
Please
review the information below, and contact your instructor
with any questions.
Important Resources
Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 103
Hang glider and paraglider operations in the United
States are governed by Federal Aviation Regulation Part 103 for
ultralight vehicles.
According
to FAR part 103, ultralight vehicles, including hang gliders and paragliders, are
not required to meet FAA airworthiness certification standards (although
manufacturers adhere to their own stringent standards). They must be used only
for recreation or sport purposes, may only be operated during daylight hours,
must yield right-of-way to all aircraft, and must stay at least 500 feet or
further from clouds at all times. Please click the link to FAR part 103 above for
the full list of restrictions and requirements.
Tandem Exemption
Another primary restriction of FAR part 103 is that
ultralights can only be flown with a single occupant. To allow tandem flights,
the USHPA has obtained Exemption 4721 from the FAA for tandem operations.
The
exemption states that all tandem flights must be for training purposes only.
This makes you a student pilot! In your flight training, whether it be just one
flight or the beginning of a long hang gliding or paragliding career, the FAA
requires that you understand certain information provided in FAA flight
manuals. These materials are freely available online for review. Please read it
prior to your lesson, and ask your instructor any questions you have before
your flight.
FAA Handbooks for Pilots
All pilots are encouraged
to review the following FAA manuals,
the FAA Pilot's Handbook and the Powered Parachute Handbook.
The FAA maintains these instructional materials as free online
resources to provide essential information for all pilots, and content from
both manuals is integrated into USHPA’s pilot training program as applicable.
FAA Pilot's Handbook -
View Here
Chapters to review:
2: Aeronautical Decision-Making
4: Principles of Flight
12: Weather Theory
15: Airspace
17: Aeromedical Factors
Powered Parachute Handbook -
View Here
Chapters to review:
1: Introduction to the Powered Parachute
8: Airspace Classification and Requirements
Ground School Training Manual
As a student member of USHPA, you are provided access to the Free Flight Pilot Ground School Training Manual (FAA materials consolidated in this document).