These important tips will extend the life of your Paraglider &
Accessories - and your own!
LIGHT - Avoid long exposure to light, especially sunlight.
Ultraviolet Rays are the biggest enemy of any type of plastic product,
severely affecting its life span. Pack your canopy immediately after
landing. Always dry it out of the sunlight.
HEAT - Avoid long exposure to any source of heat (your car boot on
a sunny day!). Avoid any contact with flames, cigarette butts, hot
irons as plastic melts very easily. Watch out for people smoking near
the canopy - and for their cigarette butts on the ground!
HUMIDITY - Store in a dry place. The sail should always have a dry
feeling and be crispy. If your canopy was wet or just damp when you
packed it (rain, water on the ground, evening dew), make it a point to
open it up immediately at home and to dry it completely. Mould can
quickly set in and permanently damage your wing! If it is just damp,
taking it out of the bag can be sufficient. Make sure Dyneema lines
never get wet.
CANOPY - Inspect it regularly, checking for tears, holes, loose
stitching, dirt outside and inside cells. Small tears and holes must
be patched up. The whole cell must be replaced by the Manufacturer in
case of a big tear. If it comes in contact with sea water, soak
immediately in warm fresh water and let it dry out of the sunlight
(line length must be checked!). Dirt can be removed gently with a
damp, soft sponge or rag. Use only water, no soap/chemicals are
allowed. Do not let an inflated canopy hit the ground with its leading
edge, or cells may burst. Don't rub the canopy on hard surfaces like
cement, tarmac, gravel, rocks and the like. Fabric porosity, a very
important parameter, is badly affected by abrasion.
LINES - Inspect them regularly, especially after rough landings.
Never step on them. Never try to inflate a canopy resting on rocks.
Replace at any visible sign of damage, or when stretched due to
jamming on rocks, trees, roots. Very important: line length must be
checked against specification in case of contact with water, as
irregular shrinkage may occur during drying up (especially with
Dyneema lines).
RISERS & HARNESS - Check for cuts, loose stitching, buckle damage.
A poor sewing can be redone or reinforced by a sail maker.
Replacements are to be done only by Manufacturer.
KARABINERS - Inspect for cuts, cracks, nicks, bents and corrosion.
Replace at any sign of damage. Have quick releases mounted on your
belts. Make sure all karabiners are always locked!
BRAKES - Inspect brake lines and handle knots (Bowline or
equivalent). The length of the two brake lines must be identical. Roll
back the brake lines when you see lines twisting at the branching
point.
HELMET - Inspect for cracks, strap wear and tear, buckle damage.
The strap should be adjusted fairly tight. A helmet that falls off
your head when needed is just a useless burden!
EMERGENCY PARACHUTE - Repack it regularly every six Months. Check
the release pins before every take-off. When flying high in smooth
air, imagine an emergency and see how long it takes before the release
handle is firmly in your hand!
The sequence for a correct deployment is the following:
LOOK at the Reserve handle.
GRAB the handle firmly.
PULL the Reserve out of its bag.
THROW it as far as possible, in a direction which is free of lines, canopy, etc.