Tips for Solo Pilots, Paragliding in Fethiye Babadağ

In this post you will find information about;

• How to start paragliding and fly on your own
• Local tips for paragliding in Babadağ
• Courses run by Reaction Paragliding

How to start paragliding and fly on your own

You should take a proper paragliding course to be a paragliding pilot. Actually there are 3 steps/levels of training to be a paragliding pilot. Let’s check the terminology.

Beginner Course/Training: It is the initiation course, takes about a week. You learn the general principles, you practice take off and landing. Usually 7-10 flights are performed from 100m. Completing the course, you will become a ‘ student pilot ‘ and you will be able to take off and land on your own. But you wont be able to fly on your own decisions so you need to take the second course.

Club Pilots Course/Training : It is the main part of the training, it takes 3-6 months when you fly for the weekends. You learn all of the basic techniques; reverse launch, spot landing, soaring, fast decent methods, etc. There are many task and skills you need to execute. Completing the course, you will be a ‘ clup pilot ‘ and you can fly from high mountains, in non turbulent conditions and with a supervision of an advanced pilot minimum.

Pilot Course/Training: This stage is more like building experience to be a ‘pilot’ . Pilot level (license) indicates that you can fly under your own responsibility, no further need for supervision. This is mainly related with assessing the flying conditions for your own skills and making correct decisions. To sign off you need to make total 35 flying hours and complete SIV and Termal courses.

Most of the people think paragliding training is one training. Actually it is not. It is a long process, it is not because paragliding is difficult. The thing is the main skill is to asses the flying conditions and thus you need time to learn to feel the wind. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU IS TO FIND YOUR LOCAL PARAGLIDING SCHOOL. Find the closest options and continue all 3 trainings. Check the website of your paragliding federation.

If there is no settled federation in your country, check APPI , Assc. Paragliding Pilots & Inst. Appi sets standards and trains instructors all around the world.

Local tips for paragliding in Babadağ, Oludeniz, Fethiye

• Winds and general meteo condition: Babadag is a rocky mountain with an altitude of 2000m/6550 feet. However it has a very gentle and predictable nature as it is very isolated from the bigger Tourus ranges. The convective effects are minimal due to the sea breeze. It is a high mountain where you can encounter strong thermal effects but very limited to the top only. It will be true to say you will be flying through very stable sea breeze. For this sense it welcomes all levels of pilots after the beginner course.
• Take off selection: Don’t rely on the tandem pilots. For various reasons (faster operation, thermal, wc, stupidity, etc.) tandem pilots may prefer to take off from leeside. Make sure of understanding the main wind from the top. 1700 m is called to be the main take off, however %45 the wind is from E, SE, NE where you need to use 1900 m. Especially if the day is a strong wind day never use leeside. It will be very difficult to distinguish the thermal cycle from mechanical turbulence.
• Thermal & Turbulence: The main source of turbulence in Babadag is the thermal activities. It makes it very easy to stay away as thermals are located very close to the ridge. Once you are slightly away from the ridge you will find the very smooth air. If you want to find thermals it means you need to get closer to the mountain. Usually termals are buubly lower than 1400m due to sea contions. Above they join and form a proper thermal. In week days it is a wise idea to wait the correct cycle although you are at 1700m. Don’t underestimate the morning cycle from 1900 side. The east side of the mountain is dryer and morning thermals are actually higher. In summer you can enjoy the morning glory at 9.00-11.00 from 1900 (top). After the cycles will come from 1700 side (south) stronger but lower as it is humid.
• Landing: Are you sure you want to mass with tandem pilots. If not, see the LZ allocated for solo/single pilots. And please don’t forget (yes many pilots forget) to check the wind before landing. Early mornings or late afternoons wind might be katabatic/land breeze. So adapt your landing pattern accordingly.

Courses run by Reaction Paragliding

As mentioned before our recommendation is your local school to start paragliding. Our Instructors conduct paragliding courses mainly for intermediate and advanced levels.

• SIV Courses in Turkey: SIV (emergency training) courses are held in Babadağ, Fethiye, Turkey. All safety precautions are organized by the instructor. The course is from 4 days up to 7 days. Each pilot practice relevant maneuvers for his own skill and progress. Min group 3, max group is 8 pilots. Generally basic SIV refers to fast decants, spirals, collapses and full stall. Advanced SIV refers to (depending on the pilot) more stalls, tailslide, SAT, etc.
  • Big ears (Basic)
  • B-line stall (Basic)
  • Spiral (Basic)
  • Asymmetrical collapse (Basic)
  • Symmetrical collapse (Basic)
  • Finding spin point (Basic)
  • Wingovers (Basic)
  • Full Stall (Adv.)
  • Tailslide/backflying (Adv.)
  • Single pendulumn stall (Adv.)
  • Spin (Adv.)
  • SAT (Adv)
  • Helico (Acro)
  • Asimetric spiral (Acro)
  • Loop (Acro)
  • Dynamic SAT (Acro)

Thermaling Courses in Turkey: Thermaling courses are held in various mountains in the vicinity of Fethiye. Babadağ, Çameli, Çökelez are some of them. It is a course of 4 days. Min pilot experience is basic SIV + P3 (intermediate certificate) with 30 hours. Min group size is 8 pilots. Ask for details.