Run into the sky.
Powered Paragliding Instruction at West Texas Paramotor
One on One Instruction
We pride ourselves on our ability to provide the highest quality of training with a 1:1 instructor to student ratio. It’s like having a professional coach, dedicating 100% of the efforts to the prospective pilot, producing the most competent paramotorists in the sport.
No License Required
That’s right! The FAA does not require that you have a license (or certification) to fly a paramotor. This is because the FAA classifies powered paragliding as a self-regulated sport. Learn how to safely operate the equipment, understand the rules, and you’re good to go!
Minimal Training
Compared to the flight training required to obtain your private pilots license, paramotor training is relatively simple and fast. Our program takes 8-14 days, depending on the weather and the students ability to understand important concepts that will help keep them safe.
Amazing Community
Become connected and continue to learn with our incredible community of active pilots in the borderland. Upon completion of your training, you’ll have acquired the tools necessary to spread your wings, but it’s the combined years of experience among our talented local pilots who’ll help you soar to your fullest potential.
Our Flight Training Program
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$3,000 - all equipment provided during training.
$2,500 - when training on a paramotor and paraglider that you’ve purchased from West Texas Paramotor.
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We provide all of the equipment for your training: paramotor, paraglider, helmet, radio, and course material.
NOTE: If you purchase your paramotor and paraglider from West Texas Paramotor, you will receive $500 off the cost of your training!
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Day 1 - After completing course waivers and reviewing policies, training will begin with an introductory flight on our tandem paramotor. This exciting icebreaker will prove extremely helpful at reducing anxiety when the time comes for your first solo flight!
Day 2 - Paraglider familiarization (design, systems, and handling) will take place in our classroom environment. You’ll learn about safe ground handling (kiting) weather conditions and best practices prior to heading to the airfield for hands on training.
Day 3 - Kiting refinement (continued with kiting harness). Class on weather and the effects of flying environment. Paramotor familiarization (hands on).
Day 4 - Kiting refinement (with paramotor). Paramotor simulator. Class on FAA Regulations (FAR Part 103),airspace, and choosing ideal sites to fly from.
Day 5 - Rehearsal for first flight: preflight routine, radio communication/signaling, flight path, motor-out/emergency procedures, basic maneuvers, approach procedures, landing, and safely turning off the paramotor. Forward launch practice followed by additional practice with the paramotor simulator.
Day 6 - First Flight! At this time, you should be ready for your first solo flight. You’ll follow what has been rehearsed leading up to this moment. Rinse and repeat. You will continue to practice takeoffs, basic maneuvers, and landings within the designated practice area. Midday, additional ground school will be conducted in the classroom: paramotor and paraglider maintenance, cross country flying, and flying with others.
Day 7 - Flights continued. Cross country flight with instructor.
NOTE: The aforementioned itinerary is provided to help you understand what to expect during your training. Not all of the scheduled events are listed below. Additionally, events may happen sooner or later than the day posted due to inclement weather or differing rates of student progression.
Teaching people how to fly provides me immense joy, so long as I am selective with who I instruct. I absolutely have high expectations of the students that I accept. After watching this video, I hope that you’ll be able to discern whether or not you should reach out to me in pursuit of becoming a paramotor pilot. As much as I want your to love your experience training with me, your enjoyment throughout training is not my priority; Your safety is. And though neither you or I can eliminate the risks inherent with flying, I can mitigate risk by setting a high standard for my students. This standard requires that my students be relatively fit, both physically and mentally, that they’re committed to their flight training by clearing their schedule of everything so that their only focus is on becoming a pilot, and capable of following instructions without delay.
Let’s dive into those a little deeper.
Learning to fly paramotors is demanding, both physically and mentally. In the name of safety, my students must demonstrate back to back successes with simulated forward launches, first without and then with a paramotor on their back. This can take hours of attempts filled with failures, but those who are mentally fit (in addition to being physically fit) will find the little successes with each tiring run. They’ll accept my praises on what they did right with as much enthusiasm as the critiques that I offer them. Students must be patient, not allowing their desire of flying for the first time distract them from accomplishing everything that they need to while they’re still on the ground. It’s a matter of fact that being both physically and mentally fit will keep individuals safer, not only as a student pilots, but in the many years to come as certified paramotor pilots.
For up to 2 weeks, students must be devoted to their flight training. Individuals who expect flight training to work around their unpredictable schedule will be referred to a different paramotor instructor. It’s known that people retain information at higher rates when they train everyday until the task is completed. Consecutive training days translated to a reduced amount of times that I’ll need to demonstrate or explain something that I’ve already demonstrated. Not only is this more efficient, but it will make them a more competent and safer pilot in the end. There may be select instances when a students training can be split in 2 parts, but those will be approved on a case by case basis.
When I say jump, you say “how high”. Student’s must follow my instruction and rules in the interest of their own safety. Failing to do so can result in being dropped from training. An example of immediate termination would be starting a paramotor without it being secured to their back. It’s a simple rule, and not adhering to it is unacceptable. Students do not need to worry about being dropped from training for failing to do what I’ve instructed when information overload is the cause of failing to follow the command. Learning to fly paramotors will feel overwhelming at first, like learning to drive a stick-shift car. Timing is everything. Act too soon, you fail. Act too late, you fail. If a student correctly times the initial brake input to stop the surge of the glider as it inflate, then times their secondary brake inputs to influence the glider in position itself overhead, but mistimes their course directions to physically position themself under the glider, the simulated launch will likely fail. In that case, I will praise students for what they did right, and guide them to correcting the steps that they need to succeed.
In summary, be physically and mentally ready for the demands of training, commit to your flight training, and follow my rules and instructions. If you meet these standards, we’re likely going to be a great fit. As harsh as everything mentioned above may have come across, I believe that learning how to fly at West Texas Paramotor will very likely become one of the greatest experiences of your life, in addition to the many memories that you’ll make as a competent and safe paramotor pilot in the future.