10
Section 2
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
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 sound assessment of the
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 conditions 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
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.
Be aware of the special responsibility you
have as the pilot in a tandem flight and bear
in mind the particular features of tandem
flying when you are making decisions before
and during the flight.
Familiarise yourself with any applicable
regional and national laws and regulations
before you fly.
This Manual must be passed on to any new
owner of the glider. It forms part of the
certification and belongs with the glider.
The TWIN RS was developed and tested
solely for use as a paraglider for foot-launch
and for 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.
