10 Ways to FLY BEFORE YOU BUY a Paramotor With BlackHawk!

We understand that getting into the sport is a BIG investment for most people. We’ve seen quite a few posts on Social Media lately from people expressing their frustration with being “required to invest thousands into something they haven’t even tried yet.” Purchasing an entire Paramotor Package before getting the chance to explore the sport is (and should be) a concern for potential Pilots. At BlackHawk, we want to make sure that everyone can experience this life-changing form of flight without the “pressure to buy now.” We’ve even seen Dealers offer “free lessons,” while the price of training just gets rolled into the cost of purchasing gear (which is “required” to get the “free” lessons). This just isn’t the way BlackHawk does business. In fact, here’s 10 examples of ways people can get into the sport on their own terms:

1. Day Rate Lessons: If someone wants to just take lessons for a day, we have day-rates available and supply all the equipment at our Headquarters. Then, if someone decides to continue the class, we can just apply the day-rate funds into a full course. It’s a good way to get your feet wet and explore the sport before you commit.

2. Tandem Introductory Flights: If anyone wants to go for a ride to ensure they are comfortable before they invest, we can take care of them. Any money they spend on a Tandem flight will be credited towards the purchase of lessons or equipment if they think the sport is right for them.

3. We provide all the equipment during lessons! We know that not all of our Dealers have the equipment or facilities to provide this, but at our Headquarters or larger Training Centers, BlackHawk provides all the gear needed to train – included in the price of lessons. This means people don’t need to buy equipment prior to learning – OR, they don’t even need to by a BlackHawk if they want something else. As long as they are flying and safe, that’s all we care about =)

4. We offer huge Training Specials throughout the year. The discount is often large enough to cover airfare from anywhere in the Continental US! We can’t offer that all the time out of respect for our Dealers who have set Training prices and who rely on Training as a big part of their livelihood.

5. It’s FREE to stay at the BlackHawk Ranch… We have many students who will bring an RV, or just camp out at our California facility. There’s still a Hotel in town (that offers discounts to our students) in case people want that, but a lot of people will just stay right on the Flight Field.

6. Yes, we offer a large discount on lessons if the student purchases gear, but they don’t have to buy everything BEFORE they train. In fact, as long as a student buys gear within a few months of taking lessons, we still apply that discount to their equipment! This is again to ensure that people can take their time deciding, trying out gear, or saving up. Additionally, we have many students who will start out by purchasing a Paraglider, a Kiting Harness, and lessons so they can practice their ground-handling skills at home before they invest in a motor. Again, as long as they purchase the rest of the equipment in a reasonable time, we can still apply the discount given to those who purchase a Package Deal and lessons at the same time!

7. Supply and demand: The sport is still growing, and fast. As it grows, more Dealerships (of all brands) are starting to build up enough inventory to provide gear for lessons. We know it’s a huge investment for a startup Dealer to get several Foot-Launch units to accommodate all Pilot sizes, several gliders and sizes for people to demo, a Quad setup, a Trike setup, and a 4-Stroke for larger / tandem applications. Dealers could be looking at a $50,000+ investment on just gear to provide it to students during lessons. This is why we still see a lot of Dealers (of all brands) who still require students to purchase their equipment prior to Training. As a Manufacturer, we have a big advantage here, but we are seeing Dealers every day who invest in their business – taking things to the next level. The sport is growing exponentially, so we’re confident more people will provide what we already do =)

8. Breaking up the lessons into several trips… We know that a lot of people can’t take a whole week off of work to do this. We also allow Students to come and go until they complete the course. If they can only train on the weekends, or once a month, we can work that out… As long as it’s a “reasonable” amount of time in between lessons (for example, we don’t want students waiting 6 months or a year in between a day of lessons because they can forget things / get rusty).

9. BlackHawk does have financing available if people want to go that route, and here’s a great article that talks about some “creative ways to pay for a Paramotor” if people are interested: http://blackhawkparamotor.com/6697-2/

10. We also offer discounts to Military, Law Enforcement, Life Savers, or groups that want to take lessons together. BlackHawk Instructors can even travel to another country to train groups of students (which we’ve done many times), if the group is large enough to cover travel costs. We really do everything we can to bring people together in the name of Aviation, and to make this form of flight more accessible to everyone.

I hope this addresses some of the concerns you (and many other people getting into the sport) have. We are very easy-going at BlackHawk and just want people to fly. If you or anyone has suggestions that could make the Industry better, we’d LOVE to hear them. You can comment through Facebook or YouTube, call our office, email us, etc. We can all work together to help more people realize their lifelong dream of flight. It’s “all about the flying”… Nothing more, nothing less. We know some people have lost sight of that, but we really try to make it as easy as possible for our customers to experience the world of PPG =)

-Rob Whittaker, Team BlackHawk

OFFICE: (209) 786-7899
SALES: (209) 481-0493
LESSONS: (707) 688-1100
EMAIL: Team@BlackHawkParamotor.com

(209) 786-7899

FREE Paramotor Training or Lessons Are NOT Always FREE…

Most things that appear “to good to be true,” are usually just that! There’s a reason why the saying “you get what you pay for” exists. If a used car salesman offered you “free drivers training with the purchase of a car,” would you expect a NASCAR expert to show up and teach you? Probably not. If you were concerned about your personal safety and wanted to be the best driver possible, do you feel like a free volunteer would be qualified OR MOTIVATED to teach you something so important? What if the Instructor then decided to charge you for gas, made you pay for ALL their meals, made you pay for their traveling expenses to get to you, charged for cleaning the car, and made YOU work around THEIR schedule? After it’s all said and done, you would just end up paying the same for sub-par training and not even realize it. Unfortunately, this type of thing is happening in the Powered Paragliding industry. More importantly to consider, this isn’t just learning how to drive a car… This is aviation we are talking about here!

Over the last year, we have had a few people call us and ask “What’s up with these Instructors out there offering free Paramotor training or free Powered Paragliding lessons?” Normally, the classic expression “you get what you pay for” would come to mind, but what if you don’t even get that? Unfortunately, many people out there have had negative experiences with “free training,” some of them never returning to the sport. In order to prevent others from having the same frustrations, we would like to offer some things to consider before jumping at the word “free.”

Consider is the fact that some places are simply NOT suited for Paramotor Lessons. Finding an adequate place to takeoff or land is easy. Finding a location suitable for training is a completely different challenge. Choosing the proper training site isn’t just to maximize a student’s learning experience… More importantly, it needs to be safe! It’s irresponsible and even dangerous for any Instructor to claim they will “travel to your location and train you,” especially if they have no idea what the conditions are like where you live. You might assume that the “field next to your house” will work for training, however, an expert needs to make such a call. Your safety depends on it! Something as simple as a pothole could cause a pilot to fall, damage their gear, or become injured.

If at first you don’t succeed, do you really want to “try, try again?” Setting a week aside to take lessons is quite an investment in time. What happens if there is no wind on a given day, or if you have to spend a day driving around and looking for a suitable training location? What if it takes you “longer than average” to learn? Many students feel like these “free Instructors” are rushing them through their training programs. Learning something as intricate as personal aviation should not be rushed. If you are not 100% comfortable and confident to fly by yourself after your training, something is seriously wrong. If an Instructor gets you a single flight, pats you on the back, and says “congratulations – you’re a pilot,” something is seriously wrong.

Lastly, Powered Paragliding is a “non-licensed sport,” meaning there is no governing body or quality control… Until now! A group of volunteer industry experts got together and created the United States Powered Paragliding Association (USPPA). This organization has created an exceptional quality control system through progressive pilot ratings systems, their thorough training syllabus for USPPA Certified Instructors to follow, and their open line of forum-based communication. Pilot and Instructor ratings from the USPPA are the most recognized and respected ratings one can get. USPPA Certified Instructors are internationally recognized as the top authorities in the industry, and it is highly recommended that you seek out such an Instructor. The USPPA has also implemented many incentive programs to reward pilots for continuing their education. The organization has also produced many books, DVD’s, and other training tools to help ensure the safety of pilots. Watch out for Instructors who talk negatively about organizations designed to promote safety in the sport. These are commonly Instructors who have “burned their bridges” or have been kicked out of these organizations due to their behavior. The USPPA documents incidents and issues pilots have experienced. That being said, if you are concerned about the reputation of a specific Dealer or Instructor, CLICK HERE to contact the USPPA. 

Jeff Goin (President of the United States Powered Paragliding Association) recently posted the following article, discussing this very issue:

“Think about it for a moment. How much value will an instructor put on something they’re giving away? You’ll more likely be treated like they’re doing you a favor. How compelled will they be to be thorough? To guide you through the difficult beginnings of becoming a well-rounded PPG Pilot? Will they be motivated to put their heart and soul into it? Committed to going through the entire USPPA syllabus?

This isn’t about certification, it’s about quality training. I’ve heard MANY stories from people who bit the “Free Training” apple only to find a worm. Eventually they may go to a real instructor after either breaking up their gear or their body–expensive detours that cost way more than real, quality instruction by someone who goes through the entire syllabus.

And if an instructor “pooh pooh’s” going the syllabus, don’t expect to cover what’s necessary. Be realistic, you’re operating an aircraft, in the national airspace system—if they can’t take the time to cover what’s in that syllabus, you’re doing yourself a disservice by trusting them with your life. It’s like a checklist. Do you know why airlines rely on challenge-response checklists? Because they work! It’s the most reliable way to insure a human covers what’s necessary.

The most glaring example is a traveling instructor who promises this free training and then does a cursory course with sometimes no more than 3 flights even though there is opportunity for more. It’s one thing when weather gets in the way, that can happen to anyone, but to leave a student with 3 flights is just a travesty.

How “Free” Is It?
You may be asked to pay for the “instructor’s” travel and hotel. That’s certainly not free. Then, more than anything, if the instructor is not committing to get you through the skills and knowledge of a PPG2 rating, with at least 25 flights, you will be far more likely to damage equipment or flesh in the aftermath of that training. The rating isn’t what counts, either, it’s thoroughness.

Ethics:
Also, do the sport a favor and look at their ethics. Ask yourself if this is what you want to support. Flying sites are one of our sport’s treasures and anyone willing to risk someone else’s site by flying intentionally irresponsibly should be shunned. Can you imagine your own horror at having an out-of-town pilot come to your local field, buzzing nearby houses, and getting your site shut down? We must have no tolerance for this. An accidental flying too close is one thing, intentional disrespect is despicable.

Finally:
While it’s certainly possible to succeed in spite of woefully inadequate training, it’s a crap shoot. Training is absolutely the last place anyone should skimp. It’s FAR less about gear than learning how to use it. Those who do survive such initial marginal instructors usually do so only after seeking out real instruction or by finding a group to fly with.

A good training PROGRAM is the single most important thing you will buy as a new paramotor pilot–far more important than gear, make sure to find a certified instructor who goes through the entire USUA/USPPA or USHPA syllabus. Being certified is not the end-all, either, the instructor must be willing to take you through a complete course, preferably ending in a rating. It is more work for you and the instructor but the benefit is becoming a more knowledgeable pilot who has worked up to the skills for a PPG 2 rating. These are clearly spelled out. Most students will also need to practice on their own to actually gain these skills, probably taking 40 to 50 flights to reach the PPG 2 skill level, especially on spot landings. But you will be so much more ready to face life aloft!

Treat yourself to quality, thorough, training. Survive, thrive and enjoy this incredible sport. As of 2012 the USPPA will even reimburse you $100 for earning the PPG 2 rating to help offset a part of the extra cost thoroughness entails.

Jeff Goin – USPPA President

In addition to one of the most reputable people in the industry voicing their concern, we have had many customers come through our National Training Centers talking about their negative experiences with “free training.” This has happened often enough to where people are speaking out, trying to prevent others from experiencing the same frustrations.

Getting into this sport is a big decision for most people, and not just a financial investment… It’s also an investment in time. If industry experts, Instructors, manufacturers, and especially customers are all telling people to avoid “free Paramotor training or lessons,” there might be some merit to what these people are saying.

(209) 786-7899