The ATIS has good passive stability, but it is not a beginner glider.
More often than not, it will return to normal flight in most situations if the pilot goes
“hands-up“ (raise the brakes to top of their travel), but not necessarily in the original direction! Expect
altitude loss and a deviation from your original course of up to 180 degrees.
2.4.6 Landing
The ATIS lands easily. As with all paragliders, land into the wind. However, landing is a situation requiring care and planning. Flight close to the ground
does not leave room to recover from errors, so be especially careful to avoid making them by planning your approach. Be aware of obstacles in or near the landing
zone that can generate turbulence. Make your approach with some brake to increase the stability of the glider. Approximately 15 meters off the ground, slowly allow the
brakes to go all of the way up, increasing speed and gaining energy for your flare. Begin slowing the glider about 2 meters off the ground. At about 1/2 a meter the brakes should
be all of the way down in a “flare“. The glider may gain altitude if flared hard or into a wind. Always hold the flare, even if you find yourself rising higher than expected, be prepared to land
hard with a roll (a parachute-landing-fall) but DO NOT RELEASE THE BRAKES FROM FLARE UNTIL YOU ARE ON THE GROUND. A head wind will require a less aggressive flare. No wind will
require a deeper flare.
2.5 ADVANCED FLIGHT
These manoeuvres are common in paragliding. Experienced and intelligent pilots on an unfamiliar wing begin these carefully and slowly. New pilots should try them first under the direction of an instructor, high up, over
water, equipped with a reserve parachute and wearing a life jacket and helmet.
2.5.1 Wingover
From trim speed, alternating between left and right turns of 180 degrees will result in a pattern of steep climbing and diving turns. By combining the rolling (pendular) motion of the pilot, and the yawing (turning) of the wing you
will experience a swinging motion below the wing. This is good practice for coping with wing motions that can occur when exiting a thermal or encountering turbulence.
Some may also find it enjoyable. However, a poorly timed control input or weight shift can result in problems. An asymmetric (section 2.6.6) collapse can occur if the turn is not timed correctly, or if adequate pressure is not
maintained on the controls. If you feel you are losing control of the ATIS in these manoeuvres, let up on both controls when not in the turning component of the wingover. A slight braking of the wing will be required when
returning to level flight since the energy built-up in the wingovers can convert to a “surge“ in the wing (a rapid forward movement ahead of the pilot).
2.5.2 Losing Altitude – Big Ears
A deliberate and sometimes rapid loss of altitude may be required when lift is taking a pilot higher than desired. Either into clouds, above established maximum altitude for the
area, or when the flying day is over. Under these conditions, the pilot will want to increase the descent rate of the glider in a controlled manner.
“Big Ears“ is the term given to folding under the wingtips in a symmetrical pattern to reduce wing area, increase wing loading, and thereby
increase the descent rate of the glider. On the ATIS, this will result in a descent rate of about 3 meters a second.
First, take the brake toggles and slide them over your wrists. To accomplish “Big Ears“, grasp the
