paramotor training – foot launch
Paramotor foot launch training. Fly the ultimate portable aircraft.
Your foot launch Paramotor training journey
Be it foot launch or wheelbase every pilot’s Paramotor (also known as Powered Paragliding or PPG) training experience is a unique journey. Every student is an individual who brings different strengths and different physical abilities to training. An individual approach to learning earned from a lifetime of experience.
At Knowsley Airpark we have decided it’s time to change the delivery of PPG (Powered Paragliding) training to suit the individual. Allow each pilot to travel their own path to the sky. To recognising the huge drain 2 weeks of training has, both on the family and working lives of busy people. Our goal is to make the dream of flight not only more achievable but a more holistic and enjoyable experience.
a new approach to paramotor training
It no longer makes sense for us to sign everyone up for the same two-week intensive course. We love to fly, it’s our passion. And we want you to become a pilot that recognises that the completion of training is just the beginning. The start of a lifetime of successful, and safe aviation.
Traditionally Paramotor foot launch training has been delivered in one solid 14-day block. At Knowsley Airpark we have recognised that most powered paraglider pilots don’t want to or ever can’t follow this path. They want to break the training up into less stressful, more enjoyably, time-sensitive, and financially manageable blocks. After running this course for many years we have found that breaking the course up allows students to recover. Both physically and mentally from the demands of training providing beneficial results and a safer progression of learning.
Paramotor foot launch training can be done on a day-to-day basis, weekdays, weekends, whatever suits your needs, and if you really want to go hard you can still book your training straight through.
We’re located in Central Victoria, less than 2hrs drive from Melbourne.
ppg training course requirements
To become a certified Paramotor Pilot the Sport Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) requires you to complete a minimum of 20 hours of airtime and 30 flights over at least 12 individual days during the foot launch training course. With your dedication to the training, making sure you are both mentally and physically prepared and if the weather cooperates, this is achievable. Most pilots though choose to take it at an easier pace.
We concentrate all your time on building skills toward foot launch training and gaining your Paramotor foot launch training qualification. You do not require the ridge soaring or thermaling skills necessary for free-flying. So we do not waste your time” chasing the wind” traveling to different launch sites and Parawaiting for the right conditions to free fly. Our passion is motoring so that’s what we do. We go Paramotoring. If you do however decide you would also like to have your non-motorized Paragliding Certificate, this can be easily achieved in a PPG-PG Conversion course at another time.
the training system
ground handling
Foot launch training starts with ground handling. We have a saying. If you can ground handle, you can fly, simples. In fact, all of your skills start here and the better you get at it the easier everything else is.
We focus very heavily on your canopy skills in the first few days.
Tandem flights
Once your ground handling skills are developing we jump in the tandem for the next phase of your Foot launch training. In the Tandem, you’ll learn all your initial flying skills. Turn entry and exit. Climbs and descents. Circuit positioning. Final glide and flare timing. And even some low level passes just for fun.
towing
Now it’s time to jump on the winch. You know how to ground handle. You know how to fly. Onto the takeoff and landing part of your Foot launch training.
The great thing about a Paragliding tow is the body position, it’s the same as a Paramotor launch. Even though the thrust vector is from the front, the tow line, instead of the back, the prop, it has the same result. Lean back to balance the forces.
Students love the tows and often want to do more than required just for fun.
Solo flights
So far in our PPG training, we have learned canopy control. We have learned how to fly. We have learned how to run into the air. And we have learned how to flare and land. Let’s go SOLO!
By this stage, you have done all the hard yards and have earned the reward. It’s into the air in the Paramotor.
consolidation
Finally, it’s fly, fly, fly. We still have skills to refine and some new ones to learn but from here on it’s all just gravy.
Recent changes to the SAFA syllabus now require students to complete their Pre Solo theory before their first PPG flight. Since we never want to waste good flying air inside we have put the theory component of the course online. You can now complete the theory from the comfort of home with the added benefit of reducing the number of days you need to travel to the school for your certificate. The cost of the online training hasn’t changed the overall cost of your license, it’s now just divided up into a theory and practical component.
Where to from here
You are licensed, and you are flying, but you want to progress your skills. FAI Colibri Proficiency badges may be perfect for you to keep developing your skills as an aviator.
For more info https://knowsleyairpark.com.au/colibri-badges/
Location
Less than 2hrs drive from Melbourne, we’re located in Knowsley, Central Victoria.
ppg training equipment
You can bring your own gear or hire from us for your Paramotor foot launch training. If you do bring your own gear it must be airworthy and of a suitable rating for student use.
The minimum training cost for the PPG Certificate is $4236 for twelve days of training which includes the cost of the theory component, all equipment required for ground handling, towing, and tandem flights but not equipment hired for solo PPG flights.
Paramotors $104.00 per flight hour wet hire.
Paraglider wings $29 per flight hour.
Comms – Helmet and radio $30 per day
A wheel-based version of this course is also available.
Both motor and wing hire is subject to availability and T&C’s apply.