Is paragliding dangerous? That's the question everyone asks before taking the plunge. Pat Jackson, chief instructor at Summit Paragliding with 15 years of professional experience, answers honestly and with supporting data.
Direct answer: Paragliding is safe — with the right training
Paragliding practiced with certified training, in suitable conditions, and with approved equipment is a relatively safe sport. International statistics show that the rate of serious accidents is comparable to that of many mountain sports like skiing or mountain biking.
The vast majority of paragliding accidents involve pilots who: fly in conditions exceeding their skill level, use poorly maintained equipment, or have not received adequate training. All three of these factors are avoidable.
Tandem flights: the safest option for beginners
Atandem flightwith a certified ACP instructor is the safest paragliding experience there is. You are attached to a professional pilot who fully controls the flight. Your role is simply to enjoy. At Summit Paragliding, all our tandem pilots hold the HPAC instructor certification.
Why HPAC certification is synonymous with safety
The HPAC (Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canadia) imposes rigorous standards for the certification of pilots and instructors. The HPAC training program includes:
- Weather theory and condition reading
- Aerology and air mass behavior
- Flight mechanics and wing behavior
- Emergency procedures and critical situation management
- Canadian aeronautical regulations
- Progressive practical assessment by levels
Pat Jackson's experience: 15 years, 4 countries, thousands of tandem flights, and thousands of hours in the sky
Pat Jackson, founder and chief instructor of Summit Paragliding, has exceptional international experience:
- 15 years of flying and teaching with over 3000 commercial tandem flights
- Trained in Annecy, France — the world capital of paragliding — alongside the best educators in the world
- Certified ACVL/HPAC(Canada), NZHGPA(New Zealand), aligned with the curricula of the FFVL(France) and BHPA(England)
- Experience in the most varied conditions: Alps, New Zealand, Quebec, Africa
This international experience allows him to anticipate and manage situations that less experienced instructors would not recognize.
The equipment: certified and maintained
All the equipment used by Summit Paragliding is:
- Certified EN/LTF (European safety standards for paragliding)
- Inspected and regularly reviewed by certified technicians
- Renewed according to manufacturers' recommendations
- Adapted to the level of each pilot and passenger
Conclusion: Fly with confidence with Summit Paragliding
Paragliding is not without risk — no sport is. But with Summit Paragliding, you are guaranteed to fly with the best: rigorous ACP training, certified equipment, and an instructor with 15 years of international experience. Thousands of passengers and students have flown with us safely.