About Powered Paragliding Safety

Is Powered Paragliding safe?

Statistics suggest Powered Paragliding is much safer than motorcycle riding and many other sports you may consider participating in, but do your own research to decide if PPG represents an acceptable risk for you personally.

The primary reasons for the Powered Paraglider’s excellent safety record is their low speed and inherent stability. Slow speeds for launch, approach and landing (the pilot “runs” into the air at about 10 mph and lands around the same speed). In addition, power is only used to gain altitude and is NOT required for a safe landing. In fact, many pilots shut off their motors before landing.

It is probably the safest form of private aviation ever devised, It is safer than flying in small planes or riding motorcycles but not as safe as driving a car. One reason for the good safety record is that most problems will prevent the pilot from successfully taking off.

Below are statistics from the USHPA for Free-Flight Paragliding (without paramotor)fatalities reported up to 2005. Powered Paragliding fatalities are reported to be approx half the number of free-flight fatalities.