The Truth About SAFETY MARGINS in Paragliding

In the last episode we talked about the hidden risk in paragliding and practicing the right responses. Today we’re talking SAFETY MARGINS and we’ll discover how to push harder with less danger.
For a more in-depth lesson about risk management, watch HOW TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, available in the free trial on
flywithgreg.com/programs/avoi...
┌──────────────┐
FOLLOW ME
└──────────────┘
Subscribe ■ bit.ly/flywithgreg
Follow ■ / flywithgreg
Join ■ flywithgreg.com
┌───────────────────────┐
RECOMMENDED READING
└───────────────────────┘
The Best Flying Sites of the ALPS ■ bestflyingsites.com/
Paragliding Beginner's Guide ■ bit.ly/PGmanual
Fifty Ways to Fly Better ■ bit.ly/50waysfly
Mastering Paragliding ■ bit.ly/masteringPG
Understanding the Sky ■ bit.ly/understandsky
NOVELS BY GREG
Beyond The Invisible ■ smarturl.it/bigskylife
The Riddler's Gift ■ smarturl.it/TRG
Second Sight ■ smarturl.it/2S
┌───────────────────┐
MY FILMING GEAR
└───────────────────┘
My amazing 'chase' cam ■ bit.ly/INSTAONER
Alternative for beginners ■ bit.ly/INSTAONEX
My main camera ■ amzn.to/33YEqTM
Shorty tripod ■ bit.ly/shortyT
Backup power ■ amzn.to/3iXkl6e
In-flight microphone ■ amzn.to/2MUlfSV
Voice Recorder ■ amzn.to/3625Hr2
Music from Soundstripe ■ bit.ly/sstripe20
Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro ■ bit.ly/premierePRO
┌───────────────────┐
MY FLYING GEAR
└───────────────────┘
Harness: Supair Strike
Wing: Advance Omega X-Alps 3.22
Helmet: Supair School
Reserve: High Adventure Beamer 3 Light S
Backpack: Kortel Kolibri
Karabiners: Grivel NUT
Mini compass ■ amzn.to/3mFKd9f
Hook Knife ■ ebay.to/3clHtJm
Garmin Inreach Mini ■ amzn.to/3cpkjBK
Windsock ■ bit.ly/xcsock
For long cold XC flights ■ bit.ly/xcpeek
* AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
Some of the links used in the description will direct you to websites where I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Along with the adverts displayed by KZbin these help to fund future productions.
#paragliding #greghamerton #flywithgreg

[@lutzchoco1]

I have been paragliding for 25 years ! Never had the slighthiest wing fail because my marging are only fly between 1 an 8 knts winds and early morning or late afternoon

[@SkywalkerPaul]

Here in Germany we learn in flight school to begin with landing as we get down to 200m above ground. No scratching no looking for lift. Next flight!

[@FlyWithGreg]

That would make most flights in the UK 'setting up for landing' :-)

[@martinb6958]

So you call 300 m a low save :)

[@radeksplichal3602]

I think it is not that bad idea. As a biginner pilot, shortly after course, its better if your safety margin is higher than lower. You have much more important things to learn first than scratching terrain. And as you progress, gain some skills and become a better pilot, you can start lowering your safety margin. Of course it depends...there are situations like costal flying(laminar airflow) where there is still safe(and necessary) to scratch the cliff in order to stay in the air and have a decent flight.

[@AMJB100000000]

Yeah you guys have huge mountains lol most don’t so it makes it a little hard, It’s good advise for a beginner though that way they won’t end up hitting obstacles when they’re just starting out..

[@SkywalkerPaul]

@@AMJB100000000 these days I do low safes too ✌️

[@micinvit]

True and good suggestion. If you really want/have to "risk it", at least make sure that you're over trees. Been there, done that :-(

[@CloudsurfParagliding]

This is a good video with good thoughts on managing your safety margin

[@mattklingler673]

Thanks for helping me increase my safety margin with all the additional insights that I can turn into action! I'm loving all these great videos Greg! Keep it up please.

[@FlyWithRhys]

This is great work!

[@kiteora]

Always great tips. Thanks Greg.

[@ChrisJewell7333]

Thanks again for great advice Greg.

[@Dyegoch]

Thanks Greg, nice speech.

[@crimsonraen]

Hey Greg, thanks so much as always! Definitely a great lesson!

[@rioforforeigners]

Excellent material. Thanks

[@jerryvikla3925]

I just paid for lessons for my wife and I. These videos are great. I once worked at a nuclear power plant and safety was #1. You would fit in great at a nuke plant...I just hope my wife and I can be safe pilots. Thank you so much!

[@benjienys3543]

Thank you so much Greg, you bring me a real help

[@shawneby2079]

Thanks so much! Very wise man.

[@paraworth]

Nice Greg. Clear and simple ideas to asses your margins and stay improving safely. 🤩

[@nikolainikolov7369]

Amin

[@ralphvanthoff]

Thanks Greg, pretty much sums up my 11 years of flying.

[@antiyachtsailing6112]

awesome video Greg!

[@Hemersonr]

great philosophical concepts... great tips... it's a huge exercise to practice this kind of mindset... I think that It was shown in that dust devil video... sometimes we forgot the safety margin... I'd got some incidents and in every one of them, I pushed the limit a little bit far away of my safety limit... To be able to recognize and avoid this situation is a huge challenge... great content as aways... thanks for sharing!!!!

[@0000oko]

Thanks Greg for the tips and tricks that can makes this sport much safer!:)

[@WesleySmith1920]

Thanks!

[@hekikuu]

Besides the obvious take-aways that you made so tangible, I was pleasantly surprised about you “leaning away from the mountain”. Never thought about that, but if it happens, you gained some vital milliseconds. In my training course I was in a thermal which was very strong in the center with a “hard edge”. I flew straight through the middle and flew active, so no issues. But as I tried to center, my right wing half went through that strong lift. I made the mistake to force the wing into the turn, trying to avoid being pushed out. I braked even more, until all of a sudden the wing was almost in front of me. I saw the right side not flying anymore, I leaned to the left and let go of my brakes. Before I knew it I was going face down and felt the wind starting to rush. All I thought was to regain control and gave a strong brake input. I was underneath the wing again without overshoot. Thanks to pitching and collapse exercises this school gives (couple of times in a training week), I didn’t swing forwards and backwards at all, neither did I turn much. It all happened so fast and I didn’t think, just did. I recall my instructor telling me over the radio I was going negative and to release the brakes, at the same time I already put my hands up. On the ground I realized what happened but I debriefed with him to check if how I remember what happened, actually happened and he confirmed I solved it well. But to avoid I should have leaned more and not brake extra and “let the wing be pushed out”. I guess it’s still from my time as a glider pilot. But to relate to this video, I remember I was thermalling near the mountain but before “choosing” the thermal, I clearly made myself conscious of the distance to the mountain and got myself plenty spacing. Side and down. I don’t recall how much height I lost but I remember having plenty left. I’m glad this happened during the course and I’m glad the school is on point with exercises and creating space for yourself. 50 flights, about 5 hours and I was flying an EN-A Swing Miura

[@paolocutilli]

Thanks Greg. Keep on speaking clearly so I can understand your talks. That said, this is another good lesson about safety & better flying practice. Very good!

[@patrickaubichon]

very informative. I learned life saving information here thanks Greg

[@YankeeinSC1]

As a life long gambler, the "7" is as reference to how the game of craps works. not a 7th face on the die. Gambles with risk are not inevitable. Aviation risks are something to be recognized and mitigated not gambled with.

[@natural9743]

You have taken this way out of context

[@carniv0rous]

Golden words my friend.

[@lioubine]

This is brilliant Greg, thanks! I am just starting to learn to paraglide (under the instruction of Alistair from Crickhowell) and coming from a skydiving background, where this kind of altitude ‘safety margin’ was drilled into you from ground school. Eg opening height, altitude awareness whilst clearing a mal, hard deck for reserve etc It’s definitely something I aim to carry with me as I begin to fly again 🤙🏻

[@ronaldjanhenny]

As a new pilot at age.....i really like your insights

[@Mmarash]

Greg, thanks so much. This is very helpful video/ lesson You are great pilot and very good man ! Thanks for your video !

[@izzetun7618]

You re a fantastic teacher man. I did nt realize those risks with my beginner skills and experience but more i watch your videos i realize my mistakes. But greatest mistake of mine was not knowing my mistakes and never take action to correct them. Thank you, u ll save a lot of lives.

[@ThomasDoubting5]

I seen a video of a chap had the asymmetric collapse although I didn't know this was till watching your videos , scratching close to the terrain fell 90ft bust himself up good a proper...great pre paragliding videos .

[@peterphil9686]

One the best...

[@milospejkovic5606]

Hi. I am learning very much from your video's. Thanks.

[@Parakitedude]

Thanks Greg for all the good instrucion movies. I consieder me being a beginner more or less and I only fly in the red zone when flying the coastal hangs in Kåseberga, Sweden (search KZbin and you will see many movies from the site). I belive there will not be any time for throwing a resque soaring at 20-30m. So whats is your advice for that kind of flying? Continue flying the wing? Throw reserve anyway?

[@carlosleon7683]

Excellent advice, Greg. Thank you so much for raising awareness about safety. I feel a much safer pilot only from watching this video.

[@FlyWithGreg]

You're welcome Carlos! It's very simple stuff, but we don't always remember to stop and think about what we are doing.

[@Hemersonr]

my safety margin is 300 meters... ever... with this height I can judge the landing spots, check power lines and after that try to locate some lift... It works most of the time... One question that I have for you... when you decide to abort the flight??? give up and land... this is the worst thing for me... and aa second question What makes you abort a flight in the launch site??? sometimes It's better to don't open the backpack and go home... this hurts a lot... but it's a huge lesson...

[@FlyWithGreg]

Hey Hemersonr I will make a video about Fear and Flying soon, to answer the second question. As for when to abort the flight? When I don't understand what is happening. When I am unhappy in the air. Flying is too precious to do it with a bad attitude or bad feeling.

[@niconico3907]

A backwind will make me abort a flight at launch site. I fly sometimes at a site good for early afternoon, if you get there too late the valley wind gets stronger , goes above the mountain, and the other side if the mountain is heated by the sun, so the launch side becomes on the lee side of the mountain.

[@Hemersonr]

@@FlyWithGreg thnaks for your great work

[@grantcrossingham1774]

As a hang glider pilot in the region below 300ft we are already on high alert as landing is a major task. Flying paragliders this region feels safer because they are so easy to land. So I think this excellent advice but I wonder how many pilot actually think about this?

[@FlyWithGreg]

Good point Grant, I hope everyone who watches will think about it, and be safer than those who don't :-)

[@PhilippeLarcher]

If I'm low and it's not very calm, I think that I should be able to throw a reserve (and decide to do so) very fast

[@MikkelsenR]

Thank you Greg, this is so important, I especially liked unfixable cravatted collapse situation what do you do ??? I pictured it in my head what I would do, and luckily it was the same response as you said. And hopefully I’ll be able to execute it the same, should said situation occur in real life.

[@niconico3907]

To know if youll be able to execute correctly the reserve throw, you should go to SIV school and practice at least once throwing the reserve.

[@ferelo9538]

Greg in the general aviation instruments like the Garmin 1000 warn you of the proximity of the terrain. It should be relatively easy to implement in modern flight instruments an alarm that warns those 100 meters above the ground and even that according to the rate of descent is capable of launching an alarm to launch the parachute if the situation is becoming critical

[@FlyWithGreg]

Great idea! most of our flying is done in that danger zone, scratching around, sinking fast at times. But yes, it would be possible for any of the instrument makers to put in a 'terrain' reminder and a 'deploy' alarm at a sink rate of -6m/s (perhaps) below 100m AGL. Not perfect, but better than nothing. I'll suggest it to Skytraxx and see what they say.

[@ferelo9538]

@@FlyWithGreg 👍🏻

[@CoIoneIPanic]

@@FlyWithGreg i mean Paragliding could be changed as a sport so that it is illegal to land by wing and only by the reserve. That would make it safer. Lets do that.

[@RodrigoTomassoVfx]

What about if you do beach cliff soaring (laminar) and you only flight a few times a year?

[@2001dag]

Very interesting and helpful approach. Is there any way to compare paragliding to private aviation in say Cessna's where the mortality rate is roughly 1 for 100,000 hours flown?

[@jasras5003]

man you made this comment a year ago, and he cessnas thing about it?

[@leoclub]

Hi Greg. Nice video. Can I know the name of sea place ? It would great come to fly there

[@FlyWithGreg]

That's Newhaven on the south coast of England. A lot of the British coast looks like this.

[@flyshacker]

I have really enjoyed your flying videos and for about a year have toyed with the idea of trying paragliding. As a previous private pilot student and sailplane student, I know there is a lot I would love about paragliding. But I think this video of yours has now sobered me to the risks that I am unwilling to take. I’ll continue to enjoy your videos, but I have finally pretty much decided that paragliding is not for me. Thanks and best wishes.

[@niconico3907]

He is talking about competitive paraglider flying and risk taking. You choose how much risk you are willing to take. Beginner wings are much safer than expert wings, you wont believe how much difference there is between the 2.

[@SkyHikerMike]

Hey, love your videos, I take much away. But I’m a paramotor pilot and I’m curious what your take is on the safety differences?

[@niconico3907]

Advanced Paraglider pilots look for the highest thermal activity weather and places to climb fast, go high and go far. Paramotor pilots look for the least bumpy weather. Paragliders pilots want to fly high performance, high aspect ratio wings that are more likely to collapse and cravate.

[@FlyWithGreg]

Paramotor stats are much more unreliable as I suspect there are many more rogue/self-taught/unreported pilots/unwitnessed incidents happening in random farm fields. I've never been comfortable with the idea of strapping an internal combustion engine and a fuel bomb on my back. I understand the appeal of powered flight, but the engine itself is a major hazard, and with an engine out, a major landing impact hazard. So it demands a higher level of attention and vigilance. Advanced Paramotor pilots look for the smallest, fastest wings and fly low level to get the rush of foot-dragging, slaloming, whipping over treetops ... it's at least as risky as paragliding. Remember, bad weather risk is only a slice of the risk pizza - most of it relates to piloting decisions. Some PPG pilots think they don't need to complete paragliding training and SIV because you'll 'only fly in safe conditions' .. but you're doing so without the experience to be able to judge that conditions / your route / your safety margin is enough ... because the motor can take you there.

[@SkyHikerMike]

Fly With Greg thank you much for the response!! I appreciate the perspective and your expertise! Your right about the lack of statistics on paramotor incidents. Only thing I will nit pick is the engine out thing, turning the engine off is standard practice before landing. But, to be fair, a foot drag engine out would be a bad time! Also, I never understood the push for faster paramotor wings, to me it’s all about how slow can I fly! Thanks again and I hope to SIV soon!

[@danielazoppo9986]

Sei grande

[@bulentkamali]

Why do some pilots have 2 reserves in their harness and other 1? The examples I have seen so far are such that one reserve is likely to tangle with the paraglider. Having the 2nd one makes sense, but I don't see it that often

[@griffith500tvr]

Are there no paraglider models with a wing spar? A collapsed wing seems to be the biggest risk.

[@lorifilho3112]

Topic off: please, do a video how to install the ball compass on carabiner. Pleaseeee

[@FlyWithGreg]

It's a cheap fluid-filled ball compass from amazon. Take out the horrid metal pin (cut it) and push a piece of paraglider line through the base. Tie it around your riser. Job done. But be sure to test that the metal in your carabiners doesn't affect the compass heading. Softlinks are best, or put it on your shoulder strap, or pod.

[@OffSurfaceAdventures]

Considering all the risks, would you still recommend someone this amazing sport? (Thinking about it to start in this or next year) At least there are some statistics, unlike my other hobby (caving) with even less participants and almost no database. To some degree it's like no risk, no fun but most of the risk can be controlled by the pilot. Edit: After 2 years: Local pilots count me to the pilots who take more risk (fly in stronger conditions) I've changed from A to high B quite early and am still happy about it (did my first SIV directly after the buy). Looking back to all the situations, the best thing you can do is to experience as many different conditions as possible and practice all year long. The stongest skill is to say no and not to start or land earlier before it gets nasty and to judge the conditions appropriate. To be honest I should scrape of a bit risk here and there. As always there are pilots with a lower or higher safety margin. It's up to you what you are doing or not. In doubt wait and observe.

[@steveg8522]

like any ´amazing´ sport... build a solid foundation (get the best training, build understanding of the environment/weather, get to know your kit) then, develop and strengthen that foundation - sign up for a safety training (in Germany, we call it a sicherheitstraining) - these are really great... you get to exercise situations under expert guidance, build a strong rapport with your wing and harness and, get to experience flying in other regions. Most of all - be safe and simply enjoy

[@andrewgray2216]

Great video Greg - a lot of food for thought here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge so clearly on your channel, I have learnt a great deal! As a caver in the process of learning paragliding, I find the differences in safety culture quite stark (with paragliding having a far more diligent attitude). Many times myself and friends have been caving in a physical or mental state I would never dream of flying in (but in which it is still considered safe and responsible to cave). Whether the risks and environment are different enough that it can't be compared, or the safety culture from flying could do well to be encouraged in other sports is hard to tell... I wonder what your thoughts are on this, Tobias?

[@cabanford]

It tends to be people's way of thinking about risk, than the actual risk itself. Paragliding is considered very risky, but the same people would never put driving a car into the same category. The drive to launch is probably the riskiest part of paragliding 😳😉

[@pentachronic]

Not even close. How many hours do you drive a car without incident ?

[@cabanford]

@@pentachronic You're using your feelings here. Imagine you're driving to work in Delhi (or Portugal even).

[@pentachronic]

@@cabanford I’m using western statistics. We have a lot of data on driving and paragliding. You can look up the data yourself objectively.

[@sandrainthesky1011]

Driving in a big city (IMHO) is more dangerous because the control factor is way lower.

[@xistsixt]

What does this 2% incident rating mean? Is it based on 2% of the flying pilots or 2% of the total flown flights? I guess it is the first option... As always, much love for your great videos!

[@FlyWithGreg]

yes, at least 2% of the participants in the sport will have some kind of incident in this calendar year - a very rough figure, but I don't want to be too specific because there are so many variables that affect your particular flight risk. And you can do better...

[@xistsixt]

@@FlyWithGreg thank you for the info Greg. Yeah that's reasonable, small incidents included. The swiss Federal accident insurance labeled paragliding not as a high risk activity. But mountain biking, skiing/snowboarding, climbing, mountaineering, kiting are

[@andersborum9267]

@@FlyWithGreg thanks for the info; could you elaborate a bit on what really defines an incident? I'm planning on starting PG next spring (couldn't find an open slot before that time) and have given the statistics quite a bit of thought - as well as how to mentally progress towards being comfortable at heights while strapped in (i.e. "knowing" that flaring is going to keep you from coming in hot etc.).

[@Hughahugha361]

@@xistsixtwhere did you get this info? defenetly not correct. Skiing high risk in Switzerland? Not really...maybe under certain circumstances, when you ignore every lawine-risk. Mountainbiking as example is only labeled as high risk during a race. Climbing is not if you know what you do, but "Klettersteig" is. Every sport accident can become a "high risk" status if you ignore general rules like flying in föhn-condition etc.

[@xistsixt]

@@Hughahugha361 according to suva guidelines. You're right. But sometimes they tend to classify fast. If you make accident on a big-air, skiing already gets complicated, as well as skitouring or freeride. Back few years I was downhill biker, even without racing it can get complicated as I have unfortunately seen with some friends... Just by riding a downhill bike in full gear on a official track with some drops/ jumps... There's much grey zone

[@Daveparapente]

All theTimes WE are in a red zone ,

[@jamesallcock4219]

Once again - ace

[@Mike-wn2zi]

Towards the end (10:07) looks like northen Italy ?? 😁🪂🪂🪂