Are we well positioned to respond as paragliding instructors?
- subjective?
- too involved?
- judges and parties?
- blinded by passion,
- unaware of the risks we take?
Be assured, these questions, we ask ourselves. As teachers, as parents.
Is it taboo ? I do not believe. Between us, when we hear of an accident, we try to learn more in order to analyze, to learn, to become better, to draw the consequences for ourselves and to communicate them to the paraglider pilots.
Paragliding is not dangerous, a car is not dangerous, the man or woman who drives it is dangerous.
- the environment:
Obviously, by practicing an outdoor sport, subject to different elements, we are more exposed.
In an indoor sport, the environment does not change. I did not say that the environment was unpredictable but that the environment (land, snow, water, air) could vary; Thus becoming a low-risk to very risky (avalanche risk is a good example). The management and therefore the knowledge of this environment is therefore paramount in terms of safety.
In paragliding, I usually say (or I always have in mind) that there is no inevitability, nothing unpredictable. But I try to have no certainty about a particular weather phenomenon. Let us remain open. Pilots who have certainties about weather or aerology are worrying.
The aerology can go from very calm, without any movement, therefore adapted to the level of a beginner who will only have the piloting of his paraglider to manage to very strong.
These data are subjective, depending on the situation, the site, the pilot. The framework is therefore difficult to ask and to judge.
70 km / h of wind at 3000 m / ground in the middle of a plain can be acceptable.
50 km / h of wind at landing can also be acceptable, if the terrain is suitable, that an assistant is present so that the pilot, who flies backward because his sail flies at 40 km / h, is not dragged on the ground.
Each one has to set his own limit or frame according to his level, his desires and the level of risk he agrees to take. That said, the risks that one accepts to take must not be reckless because contrary to what one believes, they never engage "only" ourselves. There are always other people involved, family, rescuers, friends .....
So you can not take risks in a selfish way. Still less in tandem when the person involved is directly with us.
- the machine:
A paraglider, in its framework of use is very safe, solid, well designed.
Provided that the technical level of the pilot is in adequacy with the level required by his pilot, little risk. On the other hand put me on the handlebars of the bike of Valentino Rossi and yes the bike and I are dangerous.
- the human:
We come to the crucial point. It is said that error is human, but error is only human and the danger is only human.
There are a lot of criteria, regardless of whether you're putting yourself in danger or not.
The level of learning or the technical, theoretical or analytical skill level will guide our choices (to steal or not to steal for example).
The group effect, in which there may be more competent pilots that one will follow. If they go there why not me. If he flies three hours, why should I go to land after an hour?
General fitness, coordination, reflexes. (In some situations, I think that a driver in good physical shape will be better than a driver, very old, less flexible, with slower, obese reflexes.
The shape of the day. If I did the laugh the night before, when I put myself on the roof, I put myself at night. Inevitably the next day, in flight I am more in danger than a day when I am well rested.
It is a bit long, of course, but by being aware of all this, putting everything into action; No paragliding is not a dangerous sport, it involves risks, measured, reduced. Life is a risk, fly makes it more beautiful that's why we do it and we propose you to try to fly in tandem paragliding above Lake Annecy