P3 Paragliding Test – Study Guide

The intermediate / P3 exam is 25 questions.   It is pretty straight forward and covers general knowledge that each pilot should have a solid understanding of as they have gotten out and flown.

To prepare for this exam, study the USHPA part 104 and know the recommended operating limitations for Intermediate pilots. Differentiate what is required vs what is recommended. Full Set of Rating Criteria (for all USHPA Ratings)  is here…

C. Recommended Operating Limitations for Intermediate (P3) Paraglider Pilots (Nutshell)

1. Maximum base wind of 15 m.p.h.
2. Maximum peak gusts to 18 m.p.h.
3. Maximum gust rate of 5 m.p.h. in 5 seconds.
4. Avoid steep turns close to the ground.
5. Avoid application of either brake beyond 3/4 of the way from full off to stall position.
6. Limit turns to bank angles recommended by the manufacturer, limit speed in turns to 2 times the straight line, brakes off, cruise speed, and smoothly exit any spiral turn that shows a tendency to steepen or accelerate.
7. Should initiate downwind turns only with 300′ of clearance outward from the hill or ridge in winds above 15 m.p.h., and 200′ of clearance in winds above 10 m.p.h.
8. Should not fly in thermals where peak climb rates exceed 500 fpm or where significant vertical cloud development exists.
9. Upon mastering the above skills, an Intermediate Paragliding Pilot should pursue new maneuvers, sites, and conditions with the guidance of a USHPA Certified Advanced Paragliding Instructor or Observer.

——————————————- Content to be familiar with ———————————————

• Be familiar with air traffic rules and FAR Part 103.  Use my Airspace Article to help you learn about air traffic rules.
  • Know the standard flight elevations that air traffic stays at under IFR “Instrument Flight Rules” .
  • Know how to read a sectional and the importance of this relating to XC flying.
  • Know numeric symbols on a Sectional and what they mean.
  • Know how areas are denoted on sectionals – colors, hash marks etc.

   

• Know Wind Gradients and the danger of underestimating the wind.
  • When measuring the wind at any flying site, if you hold up an wind meter, it is prudent to know that the wind speed will be higher at wing level and much higher as you ascend.

• Know what USHPA’s official recommendations are for reserve chutes.  The concept that a chute should be carried on “any flight where successful deployment could occur” is a concept within the test, but not in the part 104.  So, remember that there is no altitude, just this concept.

• Know the following terms and have a full grasp of concepts around such (Study the article about critical flying situations):
  • Deep or Constant Stall
  • Full Stalls
  • Spins
  • Spirals and Locked in Spirals
  • Asymmetric Collapses
  • Full Frontal Collapses
  • Water Landings

 

Results

#1. What description below describes best, the characteristics of a spiral turn?

Always caused by collapse, the glider begins to 360 above the pilot with a high rate of descent.

A shallow turn that gradually spirals down.

A steep bank turn where a very high rate of descent and high G forces occur.

Sprirals are caused by stalling the inside wing and this causes a corkscrew descent.

Spirals are one of the most dangerous events / maneuvers when paragliding. If you spiral into the ground, the vertical speed will ensure that you will be critically injured or worse!

Both 3 and 5 are correct

No Part of the wing is stalled.   Read the article above about spirals.

#2. True of False? With a glider in a spin, the first thing to attempt an exit is to pull the outside brake.

True, this is correct.

False, there is a better solution to try first.

Always think of a Spin as a form of Stall.   If you let both brakes up, the glider should recover on its own most of the time.

#3. Which description and Image below is of Stratus type clouds

A high level cloud that looks like horse tails

A low level cloud that generally blankets the sky

A cloud that is lens shaped and often sits above a mountain or mountain range

#4. What should you do when you feel a thermal or gust lift the front of your wing

Immediately pull some brakes to stabilize your wing.

Begin turning either way immediately.

Begin counting - one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand (to 3). This will ensure the thermal is big enough to circle in.

If the brakes are pulled when this happens, let them up a little to keep the wing from falling back too much. If the brakes are all the way up, leave them up until the glider comes back overhead.

Both 1 and 2

Both 3 and 4

#5. What does the expression “lapse rate” mean? ? Generally, the bigger the lapse rate, the faster the thermals can rise.

It is the average time between people launching at a mountain. This is slower when there are launch potatos.

It is the elevation at which the water vapor becomes visible on a given day.

It is the rate at which the air cools in a specific distance of elevation. For example, 3.5 degrees for every 1000' of elevation.

Ooops, go back and look this up.

#6. Prior to a full stall beginning, are there any obvious warnings given by the wing? (Other than the causes – pulling the brakes down at the wrong time or too far) ? Always let the brakes up, if not already, when you feel a thermal or gust raise the nose and slow the glider.

Yes

No

Well, it must be the other choice.

#7. When mentioned, the wind shadow on a lake is ? What end of the lake will have no ripples?

At the downwind end of the lake

At the upwind end of the lake

With just 2 possible answers, you now know the correct one.   Please learn the reason this is correct to fully understand.

#8. If humidity is high, will this make the air thicker or thinner?

Thinner

Thicker

#9. Which cloud type is a warning of “high winds aloft”?

Cumulus

Stratus

Lenticular

Cirus

#10. When you measure the wind on launch, it is good to assume that the winds are higher than what you read because –

This is wrong, trust your anemometer and fly if the reading is within your ability.

Because of the wind gradient, the winds will usually increase with altitude.

Because the wind gradient is most pronounced near the ground. Your outreached arm shows you the wind at 6 - 8 ft above the ground, even at the level of the wing, the winds will normally be higher.

Both 2 and 3

#11. When flying down from a mountain, the best path to the Landing Zone is not always a direct line from launch. Why? ? Over what terrain features do thermals tend to release from?

This is wrong, the shortest distance between two points is always a straight line.

Because lift from thermals tends to collect above ridges, spines and higher terrain. At the same time, low spots like canyons and recessed areas have more wind and less lift. Flying in areas of lift on the way will help you make it better than the direct path that sometimes goes over terrain (canyons etc.) without lift

When above high spots, you can always fall off to the side if you hit a lot of sink, this is not possible in a canyon.

2 and 3 above

On this flight, you sunk into a canyon.  Try again.

#12. What is the airspace in the USA above 18,000 ft called? ? Above 18,000 is the numonic in my Airspace article.

Victor Airways

Class B airspace

ARSA airspace

Class A airspace

Terminal Control Area

Citation coming!  Try again.

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