8
Section 02
Safety
02
Safety
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 TWIN RS 2, Types of Use and
Dangerous Situations and Extreme Flying.
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. 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 TWIN RS 2 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 circumstances
use the paraglider as a parachute. Acrobatics
are not permitted.
Observe the other specific safety advice in the
various sections of this Manual.
Safety notices
Safety notices are issued when defects arise
during use of a paraglider which could possibly
also affect other gliders of the same model.
The notices contain instructions on how to
inspect the gliders concerned for possible faults
and the steps required to rectify any faults.
SWING publishes on its website any technical
safety notices and airworthiness instructions
which are issued in respect of SWING products.
WARNING
The paraglider owner is responsible for
carrying out the action required by the safety
notice.
Safety notices are released by the certification
agencies and are also published on the relevant
websites. You should therefore visit the safety
pages of the certification agencies on a regular
basis and keep up-to-date with new safety
notices which cover any products relating to
paragliding (refer to Appendix for addresses).
