Special Skills
How to use this Syllabus
Below are resources and references to help you learn the skills and knowledge needed to qualify for your Special Skills qualifications. Book references are from “Paragliding The Beginner’s Guide” (PTBG).
Download a Google Sheets Flight Log with P3 Requirements so you can check off your progress.
For Special Skills please refer to USHPA’s SOP 12-02.18 Paragliding Special Skill Endorsements.
All skills can be signed off if you provide an IGC file, a video or it is witnessed by the endorsing instructor. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the theoretical requirements will need to be discussed in person with the endorsing instructor.
CAUTION: Many of these skills require the correct meteorological conditions and the correct terrain. Not all of these skills can be achieved safely at every site. Please discuss this with your instructor before attempting.
For restricted landings endorsement you must provide at least 3 IGC files, videos or multiple landings must be witnessed by the endorsing instructor showing consistency. The requirements are:
- Demonstrates a landing using a downwind leg, base-leg, and a final leg approach where the entire base-leg, final, and landing occur within a 100′ square.
- Demonstrates the ability to plan and execute consistent and controlled side hill landings on various slopes.
- Demonstrates the ability to plan and execute consistent and controlled top landings from various approaches.
This type of approach is called the “Constant Aspect Approach” or “Landing Circuits” The following document explains this. This landing approach is required at some sites in the UK and many sites in France where the sites host upwards of 100 pilots on any good flying day. They need to manage the air traffic landing approaches. This approach offers safe landings for busy sites.
- Downwind, Base, Final
- Constant Aspect Approach.pdf
- Please read “Landing Circuits in PTBG pg 109 – 110.
- Examples of landing approaches at different European sites.
- Example DBF approach at Boulder LZ. Please do not attempt this at Boulder without first gaining altitude above the ridge. This landing approach should not be attempted on a sledder (top to bottom flight) and should be supervised by an instructor.
If you’ve flown ridge soaring sites like Ottos or coastal soaring sites you can be signed off for ridge soaring. You must provide an IGC file, a video or it must be witnessed by the endorsing instructor. You must also exhibit adherence to proper right of way rules. This is easiest to verify in person or with a video. If submitting an IGC file it must include other pilots IGC flights. The requirements are:
- Demonstrates the ability to kite and launch safely on a slope producing sustainable ridge lift
- Demonstrates the ability to fly a standard traffic pattern in both isolated and traffic conditions, illustrating the ability to communicate properly with other pilots in the pattern.
- Demonstrates the ability to soar in a crosswind without stalling on downwind legs, and demonstrates the ability to fly at minimum sink without stalling in turns.
- Demonstrates the ability to perform consistent and safe top landings.
- Read “Ridge Soaring” PTBG pg. 101, 192
- Take a quiz on Right of Way Rules.
Top Landings can be signed off if you provide an IGC file, a video or it is witnessed by the endorsing instructor. They must be into wind with a safe approach path and landing on your feet.
Please read: PTBG pg. 111
Top landings or slope landings should not be practiced at Boulder. Top landings can be attempted at Ottos with a full understanding of the conditions needed (non-thermic) and the proper approach.
Ottos also qualifies for a cliff launch. This can be signed off if you provide an IGC file, a video or it is witnessed by the endorsing instructor. The requirements are:
- Demonstrates the ability to launch safely from a shallow slope ramp or non-abrupt or overhung cliff top, where running room is severely restricted, drop off is steep, and wind is 5 m.p.h. or less, such that positive attitude control and strong, committed sprinting starts are required.
- Stalled, falling/diving launches are not acceptable demonstrations, even if flight is achieved.
Read PTBG “Rotor on a Cliff” pg. 189
Turbulence can be signed off if you provide an IGC file, a video or it is witnessed by the endorsing instructor. The requirements are:
- Demonstrates controlled and un-panicked flight in conditions requiring quick, deliberate, substantial, and correct control application to reduce pendulum motion.
- Demonstrates proper directional control and correction of full (i.e., 50% of the wing span) asymmetric collapses.
- Demonstrates sustained flight in moderate thermal conditions without the aid of ridge lift.
- Demonstrates smooth and correctly timed surge control.
- Must have logged five 30-minute thermal flights without sustaining ridge lift.
Read PTBG pg. 188, 189
Skynomad has an excellent article on Turbulence.
The High Altitude Launch requirements are:
- Demonstrates the ability to launch unassisted with strong, running forward-inflation launches in winds less than 5 m.p.h.
- Demonstrates launches from sites with density altitude of 6000′ or higher.
- Demonstrates understanding of high altitude conditions (e.g., air density, cloud suck, anabatic and katabatic conditions, hypoxia, hypothermia).
How High Can You Go? In the USA you must stay under 18,000′. You must understand the consequences and dangers of flying at high altitudes.
Pressure Altitude vs Density Altitude
Anabatic and Katabatic Winds – PTBG pg. 186
Hypoxia, Hypothermia – PTBG pg. 244
To be signed off for the Cross Country skill you must hold the Restricted Landing and Turbulence endorsements. The Cross Country Requirements are:
- Demonstrates ability to recognize a safe landing area from the air and determine and execute a safe approach and landing, accounting for wind direction, rotors,
obstacles, power lines, ground slope, vegetation, etc. - Demonstrates significant altitude gains (1000′ or greater) above launch.
- Demonstrates flight at a site where the landing area is not visible from launch, is not the normal landing area, and cannot be reached in a glide. The flight must demonstrate the pilot’s ability to locate and link thermals to reach a destination.
- Demonstrates knowledge applicable to cross-country flight (e.g., downwind rotors,
cloud streets, detecting wires and other obstructions from the air, advancing storm
fronts, convergences and shears, etc.).
Landing Out
Rotor; Met Office Rotor; Read PTBG pg. 188
Identifying Storm Fronts, Convergence (Read PTBG pg. 191), and Shear (Read PTBG pg. 191)
Mock Exams & info to practice (these are all UK based, but they are relevant).
Club pilot mock example / Airlaw – Fly Sussex
Pilot Exam | Kernow Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association | Free-Flying in Cornwall