10
Section 2
Safety
02 Safety
WARNING
The safety advice given below must be
followed under 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
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.
Paragliders are not designed to be flown in
turbulent weather. 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 many
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, paramotor wings are subject to
the relevant civil aviation laws on aerial
sports equipment exempt from testing (see
in particular German Air Traffic Licensing
Ordinance (LuftVZO) sec. 1(4) and German
Ordinance on Aircraft and Aeronautical
Products (LuftGerPV) sec.10a. The Scorpio
is intended solely for motorised use and
should only be flown with a valid certification
and in combination with a motor unit which
has been tested for compatibility. Any
independent experimentation is extremely
dangerous.
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 glider in
ideal conditions and at a site with which you
are familiar. For this flight and for all other
flights, you must wear an approved helmet,
gloves, firm shoes with ankle-support and
suitable clothing. Only fly from approved
flying areas and if the wind direction, wind
speed and current and forecasted weather
conditions guarantee a safe flight.
The Manual must be passed on to the new
owner if the paraglider is sold. It is part of
the certification and belongs with the
paraglider.
Any use other than as intended is not
permitted.
A paramotor wing should be used only for
that purpose. It should only be used for free
flying as well if it also has type certification
under the provisions of the rules for the
operation of paragliders. Do not under any
circumstances use it as a parachute.
Acrobatics are not permitted.
Observe the other specific safety advice in
the various sections of this Manual.
