12
Section 02
Safety
02
Safety
WARNING
The safety advice given below must
be followed in all circumstances.
Failure to do so renders invalid the
certification and/or results in loss of
insurance cover, and could lead to
serious injuries or even death.
Safety advice
WARNING
It is imperative that the instructions
contained in this Manual are
followed at all times.
Failure to do so renders invalid the
glider’
s certification and/or results in
loss of insurance cover. Furthermore,
it could lead to serious injuries or
even death.
This applies in particular, but not
only, to the instructions given in the
sections Safety, Flying the MIURA RS,
Types of Use and Dangerous
Situations and Extreme Flying.
All forms of aerial sport involve certain
risks. When compared with other types
of aerial sport, paragliding has the
lowest number of fatal accidents
measured according to the number of
licensed pilots.
However, few other sports demand
such a high level of individual
responsibility as paragliding. Prudence
and risk-awareness are basic
requirements for the safe practice of
the sport, for the very reason that it is
so easy to learn and practically anyone
can do so. Carelessness and
overestimating
one’s own abilities can
quickly lead to critical situations. A
reliable assessment of conditions for
flying is particularly important. Most
serious paraglider accidents are caused
by pilots misjudging the weather for
flying.
Paragliders themselves are extremely
safe. In the type certification tests, all
component parts of a paraglider must
withstand eight times the load of
normal flight. There is a three-fold
safety margin compared to the
maximum extreme load occurring in
flight. This is higher than the two-fold
margin usual in aviation. Accidents
caused by material failure are therefore
practically unheard of in paragliding.
In Germany, paragliders are subject to
the guidelines for air sports equipment
and must not under any circumstances
be flown without a valid certification.
Independent experimentation is
strictly prohibited. This Manual does
not replace the need to attend training
at a paragliding school.
A specialist must test-fly and inspect
the paraglider before your first flight.
The test-flight must be recorded on the
paraglider information label.
Carry out your first flight with the
paraglider on a training slope. For this
flight and for all other flights, you must
wear an approved harness, reserve
parachute, harness, helmet, gloves,
firm shoes with ankle-support and
suitable clothing. Only fly if the wind
direction, wind speed and current and
forecasted weather conditions
guarantee a safe flight.
The Manual must be passed on to any
new owner if the paraglider is sold. It is
part of the certification and belongs
with the paraglider.
The MIURA RS was developed and
tested solely for use as a paraglider for
foot-launch and winch-towing. Any use
other than as intended is not
permitted. Do not under any
