Login  Join!      Schools/Clubs  Incidents  Safety  Regs     Used-Gear  Events  News      Resources  PPG-Info

Paramotor Tandems & Wheels

A quick note. None of this applies to solo ultralight operations on wheels or otherwise.

Our exemption only applies to foot launched tandem instruction. Please help us by honoring this requirement. Flying a wheeled tandem is in violation of the sport pilot regulation, not our exemption, and carries significant fines. Plus, if anything happens and your passenger sues, you would probably lose outright by virtue of operating illegally. Even if you merely have a disagreement with the passenger, they would be able to make your life unpleasant.

However, the FAA was willing to acknowledge the benefit of using wheels to support some of the motor's weight. They saw how a tandem pilot flying a motor big enough for two creates increased risk. So they allowed us wording that lets us put wheels on the motor as long as it supports no more weight than the motor unit and harness itself.

No existing units have been built this way, but they could be. Even solo pilots of heavy gear might use this idea for single place flying to make carrying the motor easier. They could have the wheels slide onto the frame and clip in.

Flying tandems with any non-certified wheeled craft
is a violation of the Sport Pilot Rule!

If you see anyone operating illegally, help get the word out.
Let them know what's at stake and that they risk
a valuable training tool for all, let alone the consequence of a violation.

Typical Tandem Setup & Notes

Illustrations courtesy www.FootFlyer.com.

There are many varieties of the typical tandem setup but all incorporate similar aspects. They must do several things.

1. They must separate the student from the instructor and give the wing a place to hang from. Connections should never rely on any single point so, if any part fails, the student and instructor remain hanging and be able to control the craft.

2. Must provide a way for adjusting the hang point so, during takeoff and landing, the student leaves the ground before the instructor. This can be done in several ways but must be able to be fixed sufficiently securely that it cannot move in flight. The illustration shows holes in a cross brace which would obviously be fixed.

3. Provide a way of handling thrust so it does not push awkwardly against the instructor or student.

4. Provide a way of corralling the student during launch. This is typically done with a U-shaped push bar as shown.

5. Consider only giving students only partial control over brakes. For example, an extra set of brake toggles on that operate through bungee material. That way, a panicking student doesn't have enough authority to cause an accident. At least one serious accident happened when a panicking student pulled the brakes all the way down and held them there until the two pilots crashed.

Once they've had a few flights, then replace the bungee add-ons with either normal brake extensions or just hand them the regular toggles.

Tandem Setup with Wheeled Support

Any addition of wheels must never support more than the motor and harness's weight. The illustration at left is one idea. There could be others, of course, but be leery of trying to get around the rule. The instructor and student must always support at least their own weight during the entire launch.

It is incumbent on us collectively to operate within the rule. If we don't, if we're seen as trying to "get around" it for the purpose of recreation, than the ability of instructors to legally give tandem training will be rescinded.

All Contents Copyright © 2007 USPPA