Front Matter

Powered Parachute Flying Handbook 2007 U.S. DePartment oF tranSPortation FeDeral aviation aDminiStration Flight Standards Service

Preface

The Powered Parachute Flying Handbook is designed as a technical manual for applicants who are preparing for a powered parachute category rating and for currently certificated powered parachute pilots who wish to improve their knowledge. Certificated flight instructors will find this handbook a valuable training aid, since detailed coverage of emergency procedures, components and systems, aerodynamics, powerplants, ground operations, flight maneuvers, airport operations, and aeronautical decision making is included. Topics, such as navigation and communication, use of flight information publications, and regulations are available in other Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publications.

This handbook conforms to pilot training and certification concepts established by the FAA. There are different ways of teaching, as well as performing flight procedures and maneuvers, and many variations in the explanations of aerodynamic theories and principles. This handbook adopts a selective method and concept of flying powered parachutes. The discussion and explanations reflect the most commonly used practices and principles. Occasionally the word “must” or similar language is used where the desired action is deemed critical. The use of such language is not intended to add to, interpret, or relieve a duty imposed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

It is essential for persons using this handbook to also become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR, the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), and the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), all of which are available online at www.faa.gov. Performance standards for demonstrating competence required for pilot certification are prescribed in the appropriate powered parachute practical test standard (PTS).

The current Flight Standards Service airman training and testing material and subject matter knowledge codes for all airman certificates and ratings can be obtained from the FAA web site www.faa.gov.

The FAA greatly acknowledges the valuable assistance provided by many individuals and organizations throughout the aviation community whose expertise contributed to the preparation of this handbook.

This handbook may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9325, or from GPO’s web site.

http://bookstore.gpo.gov

This handbook is also available for download, in pdf format, from the Regulatory Support Division’s (AFS-600) web site.

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs600

This handbook is published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airmen Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

Comments regarding this publication should be sent, in email form, to the following address.

AFS630Comments@faa.gov

Grateful acknowledgment is extended to the contributors of photography for this handbook. Contained throughout the book are photographs by Paul Hamilton of Adventure Productions; Jim Byers of Magazine & Design, Inc.;

Destination Flight Inc.; and Lowell Farrand; additional cover and inside design photography by Steve Russell.

ChApter 1—Introduction to the powered parachute History of the Powered Parachute......................1-1

• Powered Parachute Terms ............................1-2
• Introduction to the Powered Parachute ..............1-2
• Powered Parachute Pilot Certificate
• Eligibility Requirements .................................1-2
• Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) .............1-4
• Resource Management .......................................1-4
• Use of Checklists ...............................................1-5
• Situational Awareness ........................................1-5
• Stress Management ............................................1-5
• Medical Factors Related to the PPC ..................1-5
• Alcohol .........................................................1-6
• Anxiety .........................................................1-6
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning .......................1-6
• Dehydration..................................................1-6
• Drugs ............................................................1-6
• Middle Ear and Sinus Problems ...................1-6
• Fatigue..........................................................1-7
• Hyperventilation...........................................1-7
• Hypoxia ........................................................1-7
• Motion Sickness ...........................................1-7
• Scuba Diving ................................................1-8
• Spatial Disorientation...................................1-8
• Stress ............................................................1-8
• Stroke and Heart Attack ...............................1-8
• Medical Summary —
• “The Bottom Line”.....................................1-9
• ChApter 2—Aerodynamics of Flight
• Aerodynamic Terms ...........................................2-1

Powered Parachute Wing Pressurization and Flexibility .................................................2-3

Forces in Flight ..................................................2-4

Lift................................................................2-5

• Drag..............................................................2-6
• Weight ..........................................................2-7
• Thrust ...........................................................2-7
• Center of Gravity ...............................................2-8
• Axes of Rotation ................................................2-9
• Ground Effect.....................................................2-9

Moments ............................................................2-9

• Thrust Line Moments .................................2-10
• Gravity Moment .........................................2-10
• Wing Attachment to Cart ...........................2-10

Stability ............................................................2-12

• PPC Angle of Attack Characteristics ...............2-12
• Normal Flying Conditions .........................2-12
• Flaring Increases Angle of Attack ..............2-13
• Porpoising Creates Variations in AOA.......2-14
• Stalls: Exceeding the Critical
• Angle of Attack ................................................2-14
• Turning Effect ..................................................2-15
• Weight, Load and Speed Changes....................2-15
• PPC Aerodynamics Summary ..........................2-16
• ChApter 3— Components and Systems
• The Airframe ......................................................3-1
• Center of Gravity Adjustments ..........................3-2
• Multiple Attachment Points Bracket ............3-3
• Center of Gravity Adjuster Tubes ................3-3
• Instrument Panel ................................................3-3
• Additional Equipment ........................................3-4
• Electrical System ...............................................3-4
• The Steering Bars...............................................3-5
• Wings and Components .....................................3-5

Risers..................................................................3-7

• The Fuel Tank ....................................................3-7
• Throttle System ..................................................3-8
• The Powerplant ..................................................3-8
• The Propeller......................................................3-8
• Axle and Wheel Assembly .................................3-9
• ChApter 4—powerplants
• Reciprocating Engines .......................................4-1
• Two-Stroke Engines ...........................................4-1
• Two-Stroke Process......................................4-1
• Four-Stroke Engines ..........................................4-4
• Exhaust Systems ................................................4-4
• Two-Stroke Tuned Exhaust Systems............4-4
• Four-Stroke Engine Exhaust Systems ..........4-4
• Two-Stroke Engine Warming .............................4-4
• Four-Stroke Engine Warming ............................4-5

Gearboxes ..........................................................4-5

Certrifugal Clutch ........................................4-6

Propeller .............................................................4-6

ContentS

• Fixed-Pitch Propeller ...................................4-6
• Ground Adjustable-Pitch Propeller ..............4-6
• Induction Systems ..............................................4-6
• Carburetor Systems ............................................4-6
• Two-Stroke Carburetor Jetting .....................4-7
• Four-Stroke Mixture Settings.......................4-8
• Carburetor Icing ...........................................4-8
• Fuel Injection Systems .................................4-8
• Ignition System ..................................................4-9
• Combustion ........................................................4-9
• Fuel Systems ....................................................4-10
• Fuel Pumps.................................................4-10
• Fuel Plunger Primer ...................................4-10
• Choke .........................................................4-10
• Fuel Bulb Primer ........................................4-10
• Fuel Gauges................................................4-11
• Fuel Filter ...................................................4-11

Fuel ..................................................................4-11

• Fuel Contamination ....................................4-12
• Bad Gasoline ..............................................4-12
• Refueling Procedures .................................4-12
• Mixing Two-Stroke Oil and Fuel ...............4-13
• Starting System ................................................4-13
• Oil Systems ......................................................4-13
• Engine Cooling Systems ..................................4-13
• Chapter 5 — Preflight and Ground
• Operations
• Get Ready to Fly ................................................5-1

Trailering ............................................................5-1

Where to Fly ......................................................5-2

Weather ..............................................................5-3

• Weight and Loading ...........................................5-3
• The Preflight Checklist ......................................5-5
• Certificates and Documents ...............................5-5
• Visual Inspection ................................................5-6
• Cart Inspection ...................................................5-6

Fuel and Oil........................................................5-8

• Powerplant Inspection........................................5-8
• Engine Starting...................................................5-9
• Engine Warm-Up .............................................5-10

Taxiing .............................................................5-10

• Wing Inspection ...............................................5-12
• Line Tangles, Twists, and Line-Overs..............5-14
• Line Twists .................................................5-15
• Line-Overs .................................................5-16
• Preparing for Takeoff .......................................5-16
• After Landing ...................................................5-16
• Clearing the Runway........................................5-17

Parking .............................................................5-17

Postflight ..........................................................5-17

• Packing the Wing .............................................5-17
• Chapter 6 —Basic Flight Maneuvers
• The Four Fundamentals .....................................6-1
• Flight Controls ...................................................6-1

Throttle...............................................................6-1

• Claring Turns .....................................................6-2
• Turning the Powered Parachute .........................6-2
• Feel of the PPC ..................................................6-2
• Attitude Flying ...................................................6-3
• Straight-and Level Flight ...................................6-3

Level Turns ........................................................6-5

Climbing and Climbing Turns, Descents and Descending Turns.....................................6-7

Gliding ...............................................................6-8

Wing Trim ..........................................................6-8

• Chapter 7 —Takeoffs and Departure
• Climbs
• Terms and Definitions ........................................7-1
• Laying Out the Wing ..........................................7-1
• The Inverted Method....................................7-1
• The Stacked (or Accordion) Method............7-2
• Cockpit Management .........................................7-2
• Before Takeoff Check ........................................7-3
• Start the Engine/Initial Rollout ..........................7-3
• Wing Inflation and Kiting ..................................7-3
• Normal Takeoff ..................................................7-5
• Takeoff Roll .................................................7-5
• Rotation ........................................................7-5
• Lift-Off .........................................................7-5
• Initial Climb .................................................7-5
• Centering the Wing ............................................7-6
• Encourage Cell Openings ..................................7-6
• “Lock-out” Avoidance........................................7-6
• Crosswind Takeoff .............................................7-6
• Positioning the Cart......................................7-6
• Wing Inflation and Kiting ............................7-6
• Takeoff Roll .................................................7-7
• Lift-Off .........................................................7-7
• Initial Climb .................................................7-7

• Rejected Takeoff/Engine Failure........................7-7
• Runway Surface and Gradient ...........................7-8
• Takeoff Performance ..........................................7-8
• Noise Abatement ................................................7-9

Chapter 8—Airspace Classification and Requirements Controlled Airspace ...........................................8-1

• Class A Airspace ................................................8-1
• Class B Airspace ................................................8-2
• Class C Airspace ................................................8-3
• Class D Airspace ................................................8-3
• Class E Airspace ................................................8-3
• Uncontrolled Airspace: Class G
• Airspace ..........................................................8-4
• Special Use Airspace..........................................8-4
• Prohibited Areas .................................................8-4
• Restricted Areas .................................................8-4
• Warning Areas ....................................................8-4
• Military Operation Areas ...................................8-5

Alert Areas .........................................................8-5

• Controlled Firing Areas......................................8-5
• Other Airspace Areas .........................................8-5
• Airport Advisory Areas ......................................8-5
• Military Training Routes ....................................8-5
• Temporary Flight Restrictions ...........................8-5
• Parachute Jump Areas ........................................8-5
• Published VFR Routes .......................................8-6
• Terminal Radar Service Areas............................8-6
• National Security Areas .....................................8-6

Flight Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges, Parks, and Forest Service Areas......................8-6

• Powered Parachute Operations ..........................8-6
• PPC and Air Traffic Control...............................8-6
• Navigating the Airspace .....................................8-7
• Chapter 9— Ground Reference
• Maneuvers
• Purpose and Scope .............................................9-1
• Maneuvering by Reference to
• Ground Objects ...............................................9-1
• Drift and Ground Track Control ........................9-2
• Rectangular Course ............................................9-4
• S-Turns Across a Road .......................................9-6
• Turns Around a Point .........................................9-8
• Chapter 10—Airport Traffic Patterns
• Airport Traffic Patterns and
• Operations .....................................................10-1
• Standard Airport Traffic Patterns .....................10-2
• Chapter 11—Approaches and Landings
• Normal Approach and Landing ........................11-1

Base Leg...........................................................11-1

Final Approach .................................................11-2

Estimating Height and Movement ...................11-3

Roundout ..........................................................11-3

• Wing Control....................................................11-4
• Touchdown .......................................................11-5
• After-Landing Roll...........................................11-6
• Stabilized Approach Concept ...........................11-7
• Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings) ....................11-8
• Turbulent Air Approach and Landing ..............11-9
• Emergency Approach and Landings
• (Simulated)....................................................11-9
• Faulty Approaches and Landings ...................11-11
• Low Final Approach.................................11-11
• High Final Approach ................................11-11
• Use of Power ............................................11-11
• High Roundout .........................................11-11
• Bouncing During Touchdown ..................11-12
• Hard Landing ...........................................11-12
• Wing Blowing Over After Touchdown ....11-13
• Chapter 12— Night, Abnormal, and
• Emergency Procedures
• Night Operations and the Powered

Parachute ..........................................................12-1

• Emergency Situations ......................................12-1
• Accidents....................................................12-2
• Potential Hazards of the Standing PPC............12-2
• Restricted Lines During the Takeoff Roll ........12-3
• Entangled or Embedded Lines ...................12-3
• Lines Caught Under a Wheel .....................12-3
• A Wing Wall .....................................................12-3
• A Wing Lock-Out .............................................12-3
• Wing Not Centered Overhead ..........................12-4
• The Cart Turns Over (Roll-Over) ....................12-4
• Engine Failure on Climbout .............................12-5
• Engine Failure in Flight ...................................12-6
• Engine Failure in a PPCL.................................12-6

In-Flight Fire ....................................................12-7

• Landing Porpoise .............................................12-7
• Gust-Induced Oscillations................................12-8
• Cross-Country Flights ......................................12-8
• Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear .......12-8

Glossary ...........................................................G-1

Index .................................................................. I-1