Paragliding Club and School. Adrenalins.lv

Is this meant for you?

Anyone will be able to answer the question whether it is worth starting to fly a paraglider, whether it is the right hobby for you, after a tandem flight with an instructor at the Aerodrome of Rumbula. This is a simple soaring flight. Pilots and passengers are pulled up into the air by means of a special winch at the altitude of 450 meters. The instructor will unhitch pareaglider from the cable and you will start gliding down slowly. Once up in the air, you will be able to see the entire Riga, the surroundings nearest to you, and the sea. If you are looking for some thrill, the pilot may do a few acrobatic feats – a rush of adrenaline to the blood is guaranteed! If one flight is not enough, you are welcome to fly for the second and the third time. And if you realise during this that you want to learn to fly on your own, you may sign up for the School courses right there and then.

When does the training take place?

The training takes place from early April till late September at the Aerodrome of Rumbula, normally from 5:00 p.m. till it gets dark, weather permitting. From October till late March the training takes place only on week-ends or during the day in case of an individual approach (as an exception if the student is only able to train during weekdays).

Where does the training (theory and practice) take place?

Practical training takes place on weekdays, weather permitting (there is no rain and the wind speed is less than 5 m/s), at one of the ends of the Aerodrome of Rumbula, depending on the direction of the wind.

Theoretical lectures are held remotely.

How is the training done?

The training is split into two courses. Practical training only takes place in the presence of an instructor at the Airport of Rumbula.

Course 1: theory lessons + practical field training (working with the wing) + a tandem flight with the instructor + 12 solo flights. The purpose of Course 1 is to learn elementary skills: launching correctly, descending, steering the paraglider without the steering toggles (brakes), mid-air turns, and simulation of reserve parachute deployment.

Upon completion of Course 1 a student will have already formed his opinion about this type of sport and will have to decide whether or not to continue the training. If the answer is ‘Yes, I like it’, the student will start Course 2. The student must also bear in mind that he or she will have to purchase equipment of his own to fly upon completion of the training.

Course 2: theory (meteorology, aerodynamics, Latvian airspace usage procedures) + 20 solo flights. Exercises: take-off and wing braking (pecking), spiral, wingovers, precision landing, ‘big ears’, landing with ears, use of the accelerator.

School equipment is used during all practical training, and there are NO additional costs to pay. A student is entitled to a training discount in case he has equipment of his own.

During the solo flights, a student does not just learn to fly but also performs and masters different manoeuvring techniques which will enable him or her to fly safely in the future. Radio communication is provided during the flights (the instructor guides the student by means of a walkie-talkie). Upon completion of the training a student takes an examination given by a representative of the Latvian Paragliding Federation (the LPF) and gets an international pilot proficiency information (IPPI) card.

How do I know if there are any training lessons today?

Students are notified about school activities through the WhatsApp platform.

How long will the training take?

The training process takes 3–4 months if the student attends classes regularly. With irregular attendance, the effectiveness decreases, and the training period may extend to 6–12 months.

What altitude does the winch take to? What is the duration of a flight?

In Rumbula, the flight altitude can reach up to 450 meters, but flying higher is not allowed according to the airspace regulations of the Republic of Latvia. A training flight lasts around 8–10 minutes. In other areas of Latvia, it is possible to fly higher, up to 2900 meters. The club flies in these areas on weekends, and under favorable conditions, a pilot can stay in the air for several hours. The current Latvian record is 6 hours and 50 minutes, with a distance of 251 km.

Does one hit the ground hard on landing?

If you brake the wing correctly before the landing it is similar to stepping on the floor when getting out of the bed. But this is an ideal situation; most often the sensation is similar to jumping off a stool.

Is a pilot equipped with a reserve parachute during the flight?

Always! Taking off by a winch without a reserve parachute is FORBIDDEN!

Has the reserve parachute been ever deployed?

Yes, in Latvia, the reserve parachute has been used several times, but only during acrobatic trick training. In regular flights in Latvia, it has never been necessary. When flying in mountains outside Latvia, the parachute has been deployed several times, mainly due to inaccurate weather assessments or unsuccessful acrobatic maneuvers. Deploying the reserve parachute is also one of the tasks in the SIV (simulation incident en vol) course, which is performed over water in safe conditions to ensure pilot safety.

How do we take to the air?

Since there are no mountains in Latvia one can take to the air by means of a special winch (passive or active). The passive winch operates as follows: a winch with a 1000 m cable and an adjustable braking system has been installed on the roof of a car, and the paraglider is towed up upwind like a kite. When the altitude is sufficient the pilot unhooks himself and starts a free flight. A small parachute is attached to the end of the cable to prevent it from falling down too quickly; the parachute slows down its fall and the winch operator pulls the cable in before it falls down on the ground. In the case of the active winch, the cable has been unrolled from the start and lies on the ground. The winch is stationary and tows the pilot. The unhooking and the cable winding is the same as for a passive winch.

Where can one fly in Latvia without a winch?

In Latvia one can fly without a winch at the locations of dynamic wind compression (in dynamic air flows): on a hill slope, from a hill or bluff. There are three great places in Latvia for different wind directions: Jurkalne, Saulkrasti and Skriveri. The flight altitude is not grate (no more than 30 m) but one can fly for a very long time. If the wind speed and direction is right one can fly all day long. Jurkalne is an ideal place. The location in Skriveri is rather narrow and is more suitable for pilots with some experience. Saulkrasti Baltā kāpa White ciff is more sutable for very experienced pilots with excelent ground handling skills for there is narro lounching space with some obsticles.

For how long can one fly without the engine running?

In thermal weather conditions all depends on the pilot’s mastery. The duration of a flight may be starting from 10 minutes to as long as 5 to 6 hours. One can also fly in dynamic air flows (e.g. at Jurkalne) for hours on end.

For how long can one fly with the engine running?

Using an engine one can fly 2 to 4 hours. It depends on the capacity of the fuel tank.

Are there any age limits?

A paraglider pilot licence may be obtained from the age of 12 (twelve) years (height not less than 1.50m and weight not less than 45kg). Applicants under 18 (eighteen) years of age wishing to obtain a paraglider licence must provide the staff of the selected paraglider school with written permission from both parents (or legal representatives), a certificate from the family doctor stating that there are no restrictions for the person to
paragliding.

Can I buy second-hand paragliding equipment?

Yes, you can, provided you know for how long and how it has been used by its previous owner. You should consult an instructor in any case, however.

What happens upon completion of the training?

Once you have completed the training course you may take a theory examination (50 questions) and a practical examination given by a representative of the Latvian Paragliding Federation (LPF) and obtain an IPPI card. Then you have to choose one of the following options:

(a) Join any club and fly using club winch;

(b) Buy an paramotor and learn to fly with it so as to be independent from the clubs;

(c) Become an independent pilot (an eagle) and fly either at Jurkalne or Skriveri, or using a club winch, paying for each tow.

How does the powered paragliding training take place?

To learn paramotor flying, you will need to purchase your own paramotor, paraglider, motor helmet, and reserve parachute. The instructor will provide the necessary theoretical knowledge, and once you’ve mastered the basics on the ground, you will fly and complete tasks in the air under the instructor’s guidance.

Do young women learn to fly too?

Yes, of course! Girls often progress in skills even faster than boys!

Is there a risk of injury?

Injuries happen in any type of sport.

What clothing should I choose for practical training?

You should wear sports shoes with a firm sole and ankle support, as well as a jacket or long-sleeved shirt.

Are there any additional courses?

Thermal and route flying courses are organized during trips to the mountains, including lectures and practical flight exercises. Almost every year, we go to the Italian Alps and, less frequently, to the Indian Himalayas.

SIV qualification courses are held in the summer in Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia over a lake or reservoir. In these courses, pilots practice simulating and handling various dangerous flight conditions and wing collapses, deploying the parachute, and learning some aerobatic maneuvers over water.

What is the club?

The club is a community where all pilots have equal rights and opportunities. Club pilots collectively decide where and when club flights will take place and plan trips to the mountains, including destinations and duration. The club has its own traditions, rules, and an annual membership fee.