Ask Lemmy

Taking a large chunk of time to complete training in one whack isn't unheard of; I read an article in AOPA magazine about a guy who got his PPL in 3 or 4 weeks doing that. He basically rented the flight school for a month to do it. I will point out that this case was notable enough to write a magazine article about. Not everyone can afford to take 2 weeks off to go to Florida for flight training. I went to ERAU, don't ask me how much my flight training in Florida cost.

I'm aware there is no licensing for paramotors as they are considered ultralights. I'm curious about the legality of these "tandem" flights you keep talking about because the very, very first rule for ultralights, FAR 103.1(a) says "For the purposes of this part, an ultralight vehicle is a vehicle that: is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant." It is my understanding the historic exception for 2-person trainers was removed with the Sport Pilot Rule, with the intention of moving ultralight pilot training to tail numbered aircraft and instructors certified under 61 Subpart K. 103.5 mentions waivers, are tandem powered paraglider flights done under an administrator's waiver?

Reading the website you linked, I struggle to understand the experience requirements for a tandem instructor. This thing talks about "years", "flights", "flying days" what is all this? The requirements in FAR 61 parts J and K for sport pilots and instructors are a lot more straightforward. Hell I might see if anyone's offering SP-PPC training in my area and add on a couple ratings. Looking at the requirements with my logged experience as a fixed-wing instructor I could be a licensed parachute pilot in a 3-day weekend and a parachute instructor in a month. I wouldn't even have to re-take the FoI.