How to Fly a Paramotor in Sri Lanka: a Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Considered one of the best ways for travellers to enjoy a solo flight, paramotor rides are a great way to take to the skies in Sri Lanka. While it is not for the faint of heart, flying a paramotor is less challenging than sky diving or other similar daredevil antics tourists do to experience an adrenaline rush a few thousand feet in the air. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to fly a paramotor and enjoy a scenic flight over Sri Lanka's idyllic landscapes.

Read up

While it is possible to learn how to operate a paramotor in 5 days, it is crucial to get in some reading time to learn about the aircraft. The theory portion of your training can be completed prior to even arriving in Sri Lanka as there are plenty of online tutorials, video demonstrations and other resources that one can find to read and familiarise themselves with the basics. A rudimentary understanding of the theory of flight is essential to flying a paramotor while ground handling is perhaps the most important aspect of learning to fly the apparatus. While all you require for ground handling is a harness and a training wing, the technique can be tricky.

Safety First

Whether you are practising with a paramotor at home or with a local tour operator, it is crucial to don a helmet every time you try ground handling. Strong winds can easily make paramotors buoyant and being caught unawares and being lifted off the ground without a helmet on is a recipe for disaster. Tough helmets are required for aerodynamic activities such as these so invest in a high-quality pilot helmet. Beginners should not use paramotor wings for their practice sessions and use a training wing. When engaging in practice sessions, it is necessary to choose a spacious location that has a grassy knoll or a lawn that does not contain rocks, trees, buildings or electricity lines. Ground handling can be really dangerous when strong winds are a factor so do not practice when heavy gusts of wind are prevalent.

What You Need to Learn

Some of the key skills that every paramotor driver must perfect before embarking on their first flight are varied and complex. A hang test is usually required before the first flight in any case. Hand towing, which includes forward launching, is another essential skill that paramotor drivers must have. Those who are using instructors can have them propel you into the air during the first few tries. Knowing how to deploy the reserve parachute is very important and you can perfect this skill during the hang test. Some local instructors will insist on more theory lessons pertaining to air laws and weather patterns while others may skip these altogether; however, familiarising yourself with every portion of the paramotor is essential.

Find a Tour Operator

Whether you are holidaying at a boutique hotel in Sri Lanka in a venue such as Bentota No 1 or is based in Colombo, it is crucial to find a tour operator for your first paramotor flight. It is necessary to do your own research into the available tour operators in your vicinity and to consult online reviews left by previous clients before making a decision.

On the Day

Although taking flight on a paramotor may not seem as daring as skydiving or parachuting, there are certain habits that will ensure a stress-free experience on the day. Make sure you get enough rest the night before or the hours leading up to the flight and that you do not have a heavy meal just before jetting off. Whether you are prone to motion sickness or not, taking flight on a full stomach is never recommended.