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Website Upgrades coming
Added Sept 30, 2011

It's been long overdue. The USPPA website is improving, a change that starts with new hosting that will allow better maintenance in the short term and significant upgrades in the future. Namely, we'll be moving to a far more modern, easily updated, content management system. This will allow much easier maintenance and dramatically more functionality. Plus, it will allow different parts to be maintained by different people, if needed. And if you're reading this now, it means that phase 1 was completed successfully!

Our member services site will not be affected although some new capabilities are planned there as well, namely in the ability to acknowledge students who achieve ratings and list instructors that are actively training to ratings standards.

Updates: Puerto Rico
Added Aug 3, 2011

In deference to a thriving paramotor contingent in Puerto Rico, we have updated our data entry fields to accept "PR" like a state. We appreciate the support and look forward to seeing more from these pilots in the future. Now when joining, or filling out forms that require states, it should accept PR.

Instructor Symposium Sponsored by USPPA
Happening May 5 @ 7:30pm, added Apr 21, 2011

USPPA Instructors and those interested in Teaching: Join Chris Santacroce as he shares his well-earned wisdom for both teaching techniques and business practices for paramotor trainers. It's all about instructing--tips that will help you, the sport, and the products of your instruction. This is about excellence in teaching and all that goes with it.

It's at 7:30pm during Beach Blast at a location to be determined. Information on location will be at the registration table out on the pool deck. Food and soda will be provided by USPPA. There is no charge.

If you're interested in the practice of quality instruction, this is for you.

There will be a period of questions and answers--a time to share information about instruction. Afterwards, Jeff Goin will go over the process of using our online system to administer ratings to qualified pilots. It will cover the process and technical detail using a project to enter ratings online. As always, our most important mission is to turn out quality pilots who an instructor would want to show off. This will clarify the steps to get them rated.

Ratings Clinics At Beach Blast And Endless Footdrag Mar 20, 2011

USPPA Instructor Bud Wruck is offering ratings for experienced pilots attending Beach Blast 2011. This is for those who only need to demonstrate skills and go through the ground school material. Contact Bud at parafreedom.com for more information. Pilots who earn the PPG2 rating would be eligible for the training reimbursement of $100. He is also offering prizes from Chris Santacroce's SuperFly for anyone earning a rating.

Free For USPPA Members

Another event, the Endless FootDrag, starting May 27, is free to USPPA members. And it's the perfect place to earn your PPG2 or higher rating.

Britton Shaw is offering ratings clinics for pilots attending the Endless Footdrag. A rating is required due to landowner requirements. Pilots who do not have a rating can fly as long as they're participating in the ratings clinic. It's a great opportunity to learn about many aspects of paramotoring while improving skills, learning and earning the ratings. For more information visit www.rvPPG.com.

Website For Social PPGers Mar 11, 2011

Pilots can sign in, join up with friends, look for nearby fellow pilots, and have a subject-based discussion group. There is other functionality with more being added. It's called PPG Hub, the Premier Powered Paragliding Community.

New U.S. Paramotor Distance Record Dec 7, 2010

Kudos to one of our Training Committee members, Chris Santacroce of SuperFly Inc., who just made a new U.S. record Distance in a Straight Line With Limited Fuel:122.31 mi.

The nearly six hour flight was done mid-day using thermals as much as the motor which is how he was able to achieve such good distance. The paramotor was powered by a fairly efficient Radne 120 on a Gin Boomerang 7. Hopefully we'll get a full report of the flight in an upcoming Magazine.

USPPA Instructor Paul Lundquist was the official observer.

Tandem Exemption Extended Two Years Sept 2, 2010

USPPA's FAA Tandem Exemption 9751 has been extended for two additional years. As always, there is no charge to USPPA Tandem Instructors. Tandem pilots must carry both 9751 and 9751A and present this paperwork, if requested, to an FAA official.

As before, all tandem operations must "Foot launched" as per the exemption. It does allow that pilot and student must carry at least their own weight during launch and landing. That means that wheels cannot be used except to carry the weight of the motor.

The extension, granted in March, 2010, extends our authorization to conduct tandem training until Sept 30, 2012. As of this date we have 42 tandem instructors.

Database Updates Incidents & Ratings July 30, 2010

Jerry Starbuck has updated the database search and handling so that pilot ratings can now be quickly viewed and selected.

Thanks to Instructors who are going the extra mile to provide thorough training, and to students who are taking the time to achieve their ratings. We have seen an increase in the number of mostly PPG2 ratings given. Although a PPG2 rating is required for insurance, the primary reason for it is to have some confidence that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to go out on your own.

Another change was made to the Incident database so that Water Immersion could be included in the Incident type. We have gone back and updated some of the records, changing their types from "Other" to "Water Immersion". This reflects our relatively new (within the past few years) that water is among the most common form of death in powered paragliding, possibly more than low steep maneuvering and way more than those due to turbulence.

Ratings Clinic July 15-18, 2010 In Indiana June 13, 2010

PPG ratings will be offered at a clinic to be given by Administrator Chris Bowles during a fly-in in North Central Indiana. The cost is $150 for a completed PPG2 rating but the USPPA training reimbursement program means that the pilot can get the entire cost back. Other ratings will be available to those who qualify.

This is an opportunity to stretch yourself, improve skills and/or see where you could improve as a pilot.

Chris Bowles is an Instructor and Tandem administrator so all ratings will be available but you must work it out in advance since there is limited accommodation. For more information contact Chris Bowles using info@southernSkies.net..

New Training Committee Member May 13, 2010

Chris Santacroce has accepted a position as Training Committee member, one of three that helps design and implement USPPA's training program. He brings a wealth of experience along with passion and the desire to see realistic improvements to paramotor pilot training.

He Joins Chad Bastian and Eric Dufour in working towards making our program relevant, effective and attractive so new pilots will value training and aspire to excellence.

He wants to help maintain our sport's unregulated status while improving the level of training, the desire for pilots to excel, and the value of earning ratings to acknowledge accomplishment.

Chris has been an Instructor Administrator for a number of years and will continue in that role as well.

Acclaimed acro pilot Chris Santacroce briefing pilots at Beach Blast 2010.

New Instructor Capabilities Online March 28, 2010

We've moved up to the next level of automation for instructors and students. Instructors will now be able to complete student ratings of entirely online.

When an instructor logs in, he will be presented with a few extra menu items including, "Add Student Rating." Going there allows adding new ratings to their students whose name can be found in a dropdown box. The instructor enters the appropriate information and submits it. The rating application is looked over by our membership administrator and, once approved, the rating is added.

The student must already be a member, which has always been required, but now they must complete the step before the instructor can issue their rating. Overall this will save time for the instructor since the member information is already filled in by our database. Plus there's no mailing paperwork required although we'll still accept the paper forms.

Applications will still be verified so that we can be insure the syllabus was used but even that can be done online. The instructor scans (or takes a picture of) the first syllabus' page showing student and instructor initials for the rating being given. There is a place on the online rating form to upload that image.  If the instructor has no way to upload an image, then a fax or mail copy can be sent in although that will obviously delay processing.

The PPG2 is our most common rating which, given that testing is online, makes the process much easier for both instructor and student. Starting with about the July Powered Sport Flying Magazine, and running bimonthly afterwards, we will recognize new ratings given.

Instructor Administrators have yet another menu selection that allows them to add instructor ratings.

More improvements are likely now that we have the information. Eventually we will have a list of USPPA instructors and what ratings they can administer based on our database. The existing list, on the Schools page, is manually updated which means it will not likely be as current or accurate. This new system will be up to the minute.

Thanks again to Jerry Starbuck for his genius of programming to get this system up and running.

When an instructor logs in, he sees additional menu selections that allow him to add new ratings and to manage ratings that he's given.

Plus, he can update the new Instructor Profile section.

Big Changes Coming Feb 13, 2010

This has been a long time coming.

We strongly want to encourage thorough training through the ratings program. The main reason is to help insure pilots get more than a quick course and sent off on their own without being adequately prepared.

The training reimbursement is one method we're using: those pilots who succeed at earning a PPG2 rating get $150 and those who make it to PPG3 get $200. But in addition to that we want prospective students to know which instructors are using the full course all the way through giving ratings. So we are dramatically enhancing our online capabilities.

As always, thanks to Jerry Starbuck who is building the system. It is, in fact, being tested right now and instructors should be getting an email in the next few days describing how they participate in the program. This will eventually streamline our ratings process and automate parts of it but, more importantly, it will provide prospective students with information.

Once the program is fully operational, it will allow listing instructors along with the number of ratings they've given. Further it will honor pilots who achieve the various ratings, something that will also be listed in our magazine coverage just like what USHPA does with it's rating earners.

We struggle in this sport to make it worthwhile for instructors to teach and students to dedicate the breadth of knowledge required to engage in it with reasonable safety. What's worse is that frequently, pilots with inadequate training either give it up altogether, get hurt and quit or just represent a risk to themselves and others.

To the degree that we have an established, meaningful, nationally recognized training program is the degree to which we, as a sport, have options. We collectively relish our freedom and want to keep it that way. Well-trained pilots to a useful standard are a good start.

Hopefully this program will further encourage use of the full training course and syllabus. Thanks so much your support of our mutual goal to improve Paramotor flying in the U.S.!

Instructor Documents Updated Jan 09, 2010

The printable version of the PPG1 written test has been updated to reflect the new online test. Also, the instructor and tandem clinic syllabus has been revised and combined into one document.

Online Tests Improved Sep 6, 2009

The online USPPA tests for PPG1 and PPG2 have been much improved thanks to input from a number of instructors. We very much appreciate that input. Questions have been better clarified and those with ambiguous answers have been changed. Besides instructor suggestions, we have a tool that helps us to track aggregate answers and spot problem questions.

Besides improving the questions, new coverage of charts, with graphics, have been added. These tests are a tool to help instructors prepare new pilots set out on their own and existing pilots advance.

The PPG1 rating is for students who have had their first solo, with the basics of launching, flying and landing but have nowhere near the breadth of knowledge or experience to set out on their own and should only fly under direct supervision. It is like a student pilot license. The PPG 2 rating denotes that the pilot has passed the minimum knowledge, skills and experience to set out on their own. The PPG3 rating (which still only has paper tests) is for advanced pilots who have demonstrated significant skills and knowledge. It is required before becoming an instructor or tandem instructors.

Paper versions of the tests will be updated over the next few months. Online testing is administered through your USPPA instructor. As always, we strongly advise students to seek USPPA certified instructors who use the full USPPA syllabus. Make sure to ask for that.

Thanks, as always, to Jerry Starbuck for his help in setting up the online testing and helping us maintain it.

Website Look Update Oct 30, 2008

Adam Bell, of www.PrizeFlight.com, has offered his hand at helping update the USPPA website. The results are obvious as soon as anyone clicks on the home page. Other changes will be made in printed material as time allows.

Our website's basic look has been largely unchanged for a number of years and Adam brings a new eye to the process with a look that everyone liked.

There are other changes being considered that will make it easier for different people to maintain different areas of the site. Brian Thivierge will be helping in that arena, hopefully within a year.

We look forward to having Adam help make our website even better in more ways than just looks.

Adam Bell before setting up for flight..

Training Committee Chairman Oct 8, 2008

After serving as Training Committee Chairman since the organization started in 2001, Chris Bowles has decided to hand over the reins. We greatly appreciate Chris's service to the powered paragliding community and our organization. He will continue in his position as an officer of the USPPA.

Chad Bastian has agreed to lead the Training Committee. Like Chris, he brings a wealth of experience to the position and will be a large part of improving and maintaining our Tandem program.

Besides being a USPPA Instructor and Tandem Administrator, Chad is an Advanced USHPA Instructor. He is a former competition paraglider pilot, the 2008 #3 ranked Paramotor pilot in the U.S. and very experienced in both wheel launch and foot launch powered paragliding.

We look forward to having him help make our training program even more relevant and helpful to the paramotor community.

Chad Bastian flying backwards at a Santa Barbara, CA, soaring site.

Database Upgrade Oct 8, 2008

Jerry Starbuck, database designer/administrator, has upgraded our four separate membership databases to one SQL database that will translate to more reliability and easier growth.

He has also added the capability required to support tracking of our Tandem Trainees, Tandem Instructors and Tandem Administrators. Of course we still need to have the appropriate paperwork on file to satisfy our FAA requirements, but this will allow us to continue with the highest possible level of automation.

We are very grateful for the work that Jerry has done. It has allowed us to remain an all-volunteer operation in the face of increasing workload. With the advent of Tandem operations, it may be necessary at some point to hire out some administrative functions. We're hoping to work with USUA in whatever ways we can to benefit both organizations.

Being all-volunteer has allowed us to continue offering the training incentive program beyond expectations. At present, we are still well able to fund the program so it will almost certainly continue at least another year.

courtesy HostedSolutions.com

USPPA Granted Tandem Exemption Sept 10, 2008

The USPPA has been granted an exemption to FAR 103(a) that will allow tandem qualified instructors to legally fly foot-launched tandem instructional flights. Qualified Instructors will receive new cards within the next 30 days and must have these new cards in their possession prior to conducting Tandem operations.

Those USPPA instructors who were also qualified under an existing exemption, and had logged foot-launched tandem flights, will be immediately included.

Wheeled tandem operations are not allowed in this program as they fall under the jurisdiction of Sport Pilot.

Like the previous exemptions, it runs for two years at a time and must be renewed every other year. The first renewal is Sept, 2010.

Our website and Training program must be updated slightly to accommodate the new verbiage required of the exemption.

Tandem Instructor Complete Program

Member Services Upgrade May 20, 2008

Our upgrade to a different Member Services vendor is complete. This should improve reliability while increasing bandwidth for the same price. Thanks to Jerry Starbuck for tackling the thorny details of a seamless transition.

Pikes Peak Powered Paragliding May 11, 2008

Thanks for the mention!

The Pikes Peak Powered Paragliding Club has recently completed a ground-up overhaul of their web site and includes resources for the pilot. There is, among other things, a brand new video and photo Gallery, an extensive Weather page, and a comprehensive Resource page. The Weather page is LZ specific and includes weather links for Christmas Florida, the American Flyer PPG field in NM and the primary sites used by the Pikes Peak pilots. If you would like a new LZ added, please let them know.

Send inquiries or suggestions to flyers@wrb.mailman.com or directly to Mathew Wich

World Record Attempt by USPPA Members Apr 23, 2008

On about May 3, 2008, several USPPA members and other pilots will attempt a world record flight from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, following the Panama Canal. Pilot Remy Swaab was the logistics genius that pulled off organizing all the various permissions required. The Flight For Life is a Charity fundraiser.

Jeff Goin, who will be on of the eight pilots, will have coverage on www.FootFlyer.com. Phil Russman, of Lite Touch Films will be both flying and video documenting the attempt. It's not a particularly long flight but some less-than-desirable stretches to cover. Most pilots are flying with 4 gallon gas tanks.

Tandem Exemptions Expired Jan 31, 2008

As of Jan 31, 2008 the exemption to FAR 103 that allowed tandem operations has expired. Powered tandem operations are no longer legal whether wheel launched or foot launched.

We are in communications with the FAA regarding the exemption and have been told there is no intent to disallow tandem operations for those craft not covered by sport pilot. Foot launched tandems are clearly not included in sport pilot as are many powered paraglider units with wheel attachments.

The exemption was held by USUA (who we work with), ASC and EAA. The exemption we are now working is the one we worked out in 2002.