Powered Paragliding / Paramotoring

Fly a Powered Paraglider ( PPG ) - "Realize" Your Fantasies of Flight

PPG Instruction

Click Here for Contact Information for Powered ParaSports

FAA, EAA, and ASC Certified Instruction-
Powered ParaSports’ professional instructor, Steve Clyatt, has been a FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certified pilot for over 35 years (since 1971) and he has accumulated over 12,000 hours of flight time. Steve:

utilizes a multichapter, 300+ page, written, illustrated, bound, training syllabus that is tailored for powered paragliding in the United States in providing his students PPG training,

maintains a current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certified Flight Instructor (CFII) rating,

is a current Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Ultralight Flight Instructor (UFI) for Powered Paragliding (PPG),

is a current Aero Sports Connection (ASC) Basic Flight Instructor (BFI) for PPG, and;

has a P-3 rating for paragliding from the United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA),

has over 34 years of experience in providing safe, certified, flight instruction. Furthermore Steve maintains a current FAA Airline Transport Pilot rating (ATP) for multi-engine aircraft (including a Boeing 777 type rating), and a current FAA Commercial rating for single engine aircraft.

With a vast experience in general, military, corporate, and airline aviation, Steve entered ultralight aviation through flying paragliders. He chose paragliders, and subsequently powered paragliders, over other ultralight aircraft, because of their exceptional portability and slow operational speed that significantly contributes to their safety.

Steve has a passion for powered paragliding and enjoys it to a greater extent than any other form of aviation that he has been involved with.

Steve enthusiastically, yet patiently shares his knowledge and experience to make learning to fly an enjoyable experience. He is committed to giving you professional instruction and long-term support. He is considerate of other's time and maintains a flexible schedule to accommodate the schedules of others.

Powered ParaSports Overall “Ground Rules”

& PPG Training Curriculum and Chronology

1) Safety shall always be the prevailing consideration in all aspects of the Powered ParaSports training curriculum.

2) Because it is very important to be familiar with the equipment that you will be utilizing for your powered paragliding following the completion of your training, it is recommended that student pilots purchase equipment or have their own equipment prior to the commencement of the training program. In the unlikely event that after purchasing equipment from Powered ParaSports, you decide that you are no longer interested in pursuing powered paragliding, Powered ParaSports offers a "buy back" program for used equipment in good condition. Please see the Equipment Re-sales page for details.

3) The chronology of the Powered ParaSports training curriculum is as follows:

a) a general introduction to PPG equipment, PPG terminology, and PPG flight characteristics;

b) a comprehensive ground school utilizing a 300+ page written training syllabus to develop a working knowledge of flight safety considerations, PPG equipment, aerodynamics, airmanship, procedures, regulations, and weather;

c) instruction, utilizing video recording analysis, to develop proficiency in safe ground handling motor skills including reverse and forward inflations;

d) if feasible, instruction in un-motorized paraglider flight to develop flight control, in flight judgment, and landing skills, and finally;

e) instruction in solo motorized flight to develop a solid basis from which the student pilot can independently proceed safely in the never ending process of learning and improving his/her PPG knowledge and skills. Upon completion of the Powered ParaSports training curriculum the student pilot shall assume the sole and full responsibility for his/her safety, for the use of his/her PPG equipment, for compliance with any and all applicable statutes or regulations, and for any impact of his/her activities upon other persons or other person’s property.

4) The efficiency and ultimate overall benefit of the training program is highly contingent upon the attitude of the student pilot and his/her commitment of effort and time to the continuity of the program. Inasmuch as prolonged intervals between training sessions results in a loss of training continuity and subsequently requiring an inordinate amount of training time being consumed in review, it is expected that the instructor and the student pilot shall meet at least once per week for training purposes. Exclusive of extenuating circumstances, if this minimum standard of training continuity of cannot be maintained, the continuation of the training program will be postponed until such time that the desired level of training continuity can be maintained. Conversely, in consideration of the need of the student pilot to review, absorb, and practice that which is presented in each training session, except in rare instances, the student pilot and instructor will not meet for the purposes of formal training more than three times per week. In consideration of the effects of physical and mental fatigue, except in rare situations, training sessions will be planned to last for no more than six hours.

5) Exceptional physical condition is not required, but due to the physical nature of the activity, good physical condition and stamina are assets to the training process. Once a student pilot learns how to work with the PPG equipment the associated physical demands of operating the equipment diminish considerably. Some mechanical aptitude or an ability to comprehend the workings of machinery is desirable. In learning the unique concepts and skills associated with PPG, although previous aeronautical experience may be an asset, such experience is by no means required or as important as an open mind and a very strong motivation to continuously learn. Regardless of any ratings, certificates, or experience of the student pilot, the instructor will not approve of any student pilot enrolled in the Powered ParaSports training program to perform solo PPG flight until the student pilot has demonstrated, a practical understanding of specific academic material, an adequate level proficiency in ground handling skills and procedures, a working knowledge and understanding of non-normal procedures, and an ability to exercise good judgment. Furthermore, the student pilot will not be encouraged by the instructor to perform solo PPG flight until the student pilot is confident in his/her ability to safely initiate, conduct and conclude the flight.

6) The student pilot is encouraged to review and study all information presented by the instructor and, under appropriate conditions, to practice all the ground handling procedures and techniques presented by the instructor, however; until the student pilot has completed the training curriculum, the student pilot will only perform flights under the direct supervision of the instructor. To facilitate direct supervision of training flights, training flights will only be conducted when radio communication can be maintained between the student pilot and the instructor and/or the student pilot and the instructor can maintain visual contact with each other so that they can communicate by means of prearranged visual signals.

Please see question 10 How do I learn to fly a powered paraglider? on the FAQ page for more information about PPG training with Powered ParaSports.

Choose to pursue your fantasies of flight !

Powered ParaSports Training Options

Powered ParaSports offers a discount on the price of the comprehensive PPG pilot training course if the student pilot purchases the necessary PPG equipment new through Powered ParaSports prior to commencement of the training course. Thus the resulting cost for the Powered ParaSports Comprehensive PPG pilot training course can be as low as $695.

For persons that come to Powered ParaSports for the comprehensive PPG pilot training course but have purchased their equipment elsewhere the cost of the course is $1595.

Powered ParaSports' PPG Equipment "Buy Back" Program

Although it is unlikely that once you have experienced powered paragliding that you will change your mind and decide that it is not something that you wish to participate in any longer, for your peace of mind, Powered ParaSports offers a program to cover that unlikely possibility. The program is simple. Within three months following your purchase of new PPG equipment from Powered ParaSports, should you opt to get out of the sport, provided that you have kept the equipment in good condition, Powered ParaSports will offer to buy it back from you at 80% of our cost.

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