Sport Pilot: Powered Paragliding & Paramotor Pilots

As of Sept. 2008, the USPPA has a new tandem exemption for training with Foot Launch tandems. That's certainly cool but note that it doesn't include typical wheeled craft. Nor does the ASC's exemption which they obtained shortly after USPPA's.

The USPPA applied for this in 2002, using a model based on USHPA's (then USHGA) but it wasn't awarded because the existing exemptions covered paramotors. Those exemptions went away Jan 31, 2008 and the new one is now in place.

I worked with the FAA for countless hours and iterations in an effort to get something that was both realistic and useful. We all know that it's easier and safer to launch a tandem with wheels but that, in the FAA's thinking, made it a sport pilot machine. Fair enough.

They weren't interested in approving anything until we made it clear the exemption wouldn't apply to typical wheeled craft. They did understand my concern about carrying a motor powerful enough for two, a difficulty that prevents many instructors from participating. So they allowed verbiage that lets the wheels support the motor's weight as long as the instructor/student support their full weight during launch and landing. That provides a lot of flexibility. No such craft has been built, but it's not hard to imagine.

2010-Jan-07 I've heard of an interpretation that it's ok to launch tandem with wheels (starting from a seated position) as long as the craft is foot launchable. That is definitely not the case and doing so puts the exemptions (both USPPA's and ASC's) at risk.

Our reality is that it's illegal under either exemption to launch tandem with wheels bearing any of the student or pilot's weight.

It *IS* true that the USPPA exemption allows wheels if they only support the motor's weight. That is, the pilot and student support their own weight by running during launch and landing but wheels support the weight of the motor at least until the wing starts lifting. I worked long and for this capability and would hate to see it die. The whole purpose is to give professional flight instructors a legal path for tandem training. Abuse it and lose it. And to be honest, if instructors think so little of it they want to risk that, I'll have little sympathy if it's not renewed. Please help us protect the capability.

It was my hope with this wording that someone would develop a craft that would support the weight of the motor with wheels while allowing the occupants to run. That would allow even smaller instructors to perform tandems with larger students. Such a machine had, in fact, been created, in Eastern Europe I believe, when the verbiage was put together. No such craft has been produced in the U.S. although one is in testing.

Grant wording of the USPPA Exemption: A powered paraglider is "any ultralight vehicle where the powerplant is attached to the pilot and the pilot/student supports at least their own weight on foot during launch and landing until the wing begins generating lift."

We've been given the opportunity to govern our own tandem operations but most do so carefully. If we want to maintain it as a training tool then we must honor its purpose as such.

Here is the USPPA tandem program. Here is the USPPA FAA Tandem Exemption #9751 (now extended to 2012 as #9751A).

There are currently about 8 USPPA Tandem admins able to give tandem ratings. Yes, you have to be an experienced PPG pilot with demonstrable skills and earn the instructor rating. But it's only fair to your prospective students passengers to meet such a requirement. The USPPA doesn't charge anything and, in fact, will pay YOU to become tandem rated under its program. The payment is actually to those who are able to earn the PPG 3 rating. Membership is $34 per year but you'll get paid $200 for earning the PPG 3 rating. Try THAT with another org!