| Instructional Courses | |||
| Learn by Flying Tandem | The Complete Beginner | Novice | Intermediate |
| Instructor Certification Course | Private Lessons | Course Schedule | Guiding |
Pegasus Paragliding, located near Parrsboro, N.S. is in the heart of the best flying sites in the Maritimes.
The beautiful Cobequid Mountains, combined with the steady sea breezes off the magnificent Bay of Fundy, provide the student with an excellent environment in which to develop his/her skills. No matter what the wind direction we have an instructional site to match.
Pegasus takes advantage of any number of the 14 or so launches in the Parrsboro area to develop your skills . However, remember that progression to a more advanced flying site will only be accomplished after you are comfortable with your skill level at the present site. No scary, bite the bullet techniques, are used here!
Instruction begins early in May as soon as the ice is off the training hills and the ground has dried out enough. It continues into October. If you are considering taking either the Complete Beginner or the Novice Course the best time to do that is May through to the end of September. October in Nova Scotia can be pretty unpredictable. the winds then are beginning to take on their harsher winter time tendencies.
To see who we are please visit the School page.
Please go to the Schedule page to find out when the course you want to take will be given or contact Michael at Pegasus
Approach
Pegasus offers a number of courses designed to fit your flying dreams.
At Pegasus the emphasis is on safety and progression of the student at his or her comfort level. Each student progresses at their own pace. Progress is the result of understanding issues of safety and the accumulation of skills. The principle that is applied is simple; to methodically develop the skills of the student pilot through repetition, timely presentation of tasks and information, testing and demonstration. This process allows the student to gradually accept the responsibility for their own safety and fun.
The aim of The Tandem Flight is to give the student a feel for the incredible sensation of free flight. This course is a pre-requisite to The Complete Beginner so that both student and instructor can come to an understanding of the disciplines and personality needed in order to fly safely and effectively. The goal of The Complete Beginner is to provide the student an opportunity to attain soaring flight through development of his/her skills. If a pilots wishes to develop his or her skills further in order to fly more skillfully and to attain a National Certification they can take the Novice Certification Course.
FAQs about it all (click the link)
Maximum Student /Instructor ratio is 4:1
All Equipment is provided for the entry level courses.
Please see Course Schedules page for when the various course will be given
THE COMPLETE BEGINNER
This course is designed for those with a desire to attain soaring flight. When completed, the student will be able to enter the sport with a Student Rating.
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| Hungry Hill - Home to the beginning pilot |
Course Content
Course emphasis is on safety and methodical progression to the point where the student can attain soaring flight and have a basic understanding of the techniques and safety principles necessary to participate in the sport at an entry level.
Ground School
Ground School Topics include flight techniques, aerodynamics and meteorology.
Practical Instruction
Practical Instruction takes place on the training hill and at the ground handling field where the student will hone their skills in ground handling. The student will learn the ground handling techniques necessary to achieve confident controlled launches under varying conditions and at a minimum of three different launch sites. The increase in a students confidence level and therefore in their overall ability to fly well increases dramatically with their ability to ground handle skilfully. We practice this a lot.
The student will focus on techniques in launching and landing. Getting into the air and getting out of it safely is a good thing. The earth is hard. We practice this a lot.
Detailed attention is given to achieving accurate, confidant, air manoeuvres which include weight shift steering, air speed control, techniques to stay in ridge lift and different landing approaches. In order to pass the course and attain your student rating the student will be expected to demonstrate a proper flight plan and fly to it and to demonstrate excellent decision making in order to securely launch, fly and land without instructor intervention.
After demonstrating the necessary skills the student will enjoy a flight from an intermediate launch or a soaring flight on the coast.
Upon completion of the course students will have attained their Student Rating as determined by the Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada (HPAC). Completion of the course does not guarantee that you will attain a rating or school certification. The reasons for this have to be serious but can include failure to comprehend and execute basic manouvers and failure to adhere to safety guidelines. After completing this course students will be ready to purchase their own equipment.
Time: Six or seven good flying days.
Cost - $750+ hst
a 30% deposit at the time of booking is required
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making sure it's where it's supposed to be before flight is very important. |
A student in the harness hanger learns how to feel comfortable in the harness prior to flight |
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| Beginners ground handle at launch at West Bay | A Beginner Pilot earns his soaring wings |
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| flight 5-20 looks a lot like this only moments after launch | when all else fails get out the hacky sack! |
Max, Erik, Greg with Michael in the bg during a debrief at the Glooscap |
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The Novice course is designed for those students who wish to proceed to a greater degree of flying expertise. The course is intended to develop the skills necessary to safely enjoy a greater variety of flying conditions than he/she presently can fly in given the limitations implied by the Student or Beginner rating. Students must have secured the Complete Beginner Course before undertaking this course.
The student will be in radio contact at all times during instruction.
This course is dependent on good soarable conditions as much of the flight skills development sector is done in soaring conditions.
Upon completion of the course the pilot will be ready to take their Novice Flight Test and write their Novice Exam. Successful completion of this course qualifies the pilot for the HPAC Novice Rating
Class size is limited to 4 students per instructor
Content-
In depth ground schooling covering flight techniques, safety, meteorology, flight planning, Canadian Flight Rules and aerodynamics.
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Advanced ground handling techniques.We practice this a lot.
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Decision making
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Working safely in stronger conditions
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Soaring in dynamic and thermic conditions
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Descent manoeuvres
Time - The course should be completed within 5 to 7 flying days, conditions permitting. Ground schooling, theory and exams are in addition to this as we try to accomodate this part of your training on non flying days!
Cost:
$750 + hst with own equipment
$1,000 + hst with school equipment
a 30% deposit at the time of booking is required
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| Then if you want we can continue your training in October in Portugal !! |
INTERMEDIATE INSTRUCTION
leading to intermediate certification
reserve repack instruction
Course
Intent
In the intermediate course the student will be encouraged to refine
his or her skills to the point where cross country flights can be undertaken
with confidence and understanding. Upon completion of the ocurse the student
will write the exam as administered by the Department of Transport. A successful
grade will result in the student acquiring the HAGAR certification which is
required by Transport Canada for any pilot flying through controlled air space.
Cross country and Hagar go together for the serious pilot.
Content
- Ground
School - Here the student will study advanced maneuvers theory,
cover topics leading to the writing of the HAGAR exam including Canadian
Air Regulations and VFR chart reading, meteorology and radio protocol in
preparation for the Dept. of Transport radio test.
- Flight
School - Most of the course will be spent in the air refining piloting
skills including the identification and coreing
of thermals (ie continuous 360's in either direction), effective
use of flight instruments, identification of thermal generators, application
of xc theory, rapid descent maneuvers, side hill landings and exaggeration
( the art of telling a tall tale)
- Flight guarantees* - We will guarantee that you will achieve the flights
necessary to satisfy the requirements for the HPAC Intermediate rating.
This means prolonged high altitude flights in thermal conditions in which
cross countrymaneuvers are put into play and achieved.
*Pegasus will not be held responsible for bad conditions or seasonal unpredictability.
Equipment Requirement
WingComfortable, protective harness
Reserve
Flight Instrument ( variometer/altimeter)
Radio with inflight microphone
Time - The course should be completed within 5 to 7 flying days, conditions permitting. Ground schooling, theory and exams are in addition to this as we try to accomodate this part of your training on non flying days!
Cost - $750 + hst with own equipment
a 30% deposit at the time of booking is required
Thermal Soaring at Economy Mountain
photos: Oliver Guernay
Class instruction is available for students wishing further instruction or an individualized curriculum.
Cost: - $100/ half day minimum
a 20% deposit at the time of booking is required
Did I mention that we practice ground handling A LOT!