“The scariest thing in the first seconds”: paraglider explained why tourists crash in the resorts

Paraglider Nikolai Ovcharenko told how to avoid deadly mistakes, how dangerous such entertainment is and whether you can trust instructors at resorts.

Over the past month and a half, there have been two tragedies at the same resort. Is a coincidence or a place really dangerous?

- Babadagh is a famous place for paragliding, many flights are made there, says paraglider Nikolai Ovcharenko. But this is a mountainous area where the wind often changes. The slightest mistake is inexcusable. In the mountains, the most dangerous first seconds after the start, when a person is still close to the slope and he has little space to rectify the situation.

- Why do people crash on paragliders?

There are piloting errors, incorrect weather assessment, problems with equipment. Sometimes several factors work at the same time. For example, the pilot underestimated the direction of the wind, chose the wrong trajectory, was close to the slope and was unable to correct the situation. If a person has time at a high altitude, then there is no time near the mountain.

- The most dangerous part of the flight is takeoff?

- Takeoff and landing are the most dangerous. But if during the start something went wrong, conditionally, the weather deteriorated, the wind intensified, it is better to stop, not take off at all costs.

Aren't tourists guaranteed 100% safety?

No one can guarantee absolute safety. But the professional is obliged to take into account the weather, check the equipment and not fly out if the conditions are not suitable. If it is an escort flight, the tourist must make sure that the pilot is qualified for tandem flights. It would be good to ask him for documents, find out how many years he has been working, what training he has. If the expert has nothing to hide, he will answer the questions. If he refuses to explain or insists that there is nothing dangerous here at all, there is reason to think.

Let's say that the tourist has already paid for the flight, came to the mountain, put on equipment. By what signs should he know that it is better to give up entertainment?

Immediately stop, if there is a strong, gusty wind, the weather changes noticeably, and the pilot is nervous or in a hurry. But there is a caveat: the fact that an ordinary person is unlikely to be able to independently assess the weather conditions. And instructors can take risks to earn money.

Is it harder to fly over the mountains or over the sea?

- Dangerous both. Water does not guarantee a soft landing, especially if you fly at high speed or lose control. You can get confused in the slings or be under the dome. Forced splashdown also poses a serious danger.

Can the passenger himself provoke a disaster, for example, panic, scream, grab the instructor?

Before the flight, the passenger should explain in detail what to do at each stage. If the briefing takes a few seconds, it is better to run away from such a pilot. Yeah, and in flight, you can't grab hold of a pilot. Panic will only complicate things.

What advice would you give to tourists who are going to take this flight?

Remember that a paraglider is not an amusement park ride. This is a serious aircraft, although without an engine. A lot depends on the weather, technology and the person who manages it. It is impossible to take such a flight lightly.