How Dangerous Is Paramotoring? (Safety, Accident Statistics)

 

Paramotoring is an activity that is getting more and more attention.

People want to try paramotoring because the laws are a bit relaxed, and it can be quite a bit of fun.

You can paramotor in a lot of different locations, and you don’t need to be a pilot to do so.

With less regulation and more interest, you may be thinking there are probably quite a few accidents.

Many people want to know how dangerous any activity is before they get involved.

If you are a bit worried about paramotoring and want to make sure you have all the facts before you get involved, this is the place for you to be.

Here is some information to let you know how dangerous paramotoring is.

 

How Dangerous Is Paramotoring?

 

Paramotoring is one of the safest activities you can do in the air.

The death rates are quite low with paramotoring.

The problem with paramotoring is that even a very small mistake can be a problem.

A slight issue during takeoff or landing can lead to a very bad experience.

Each year, one out of every 1500 paramotoring flights can go very wrong.

This is the approximate death rate for a paramotor.

The primary cause of paramotoring accidents is pilot error.

Since pilots are very much responsible for the safety of the flight, a lot of work falls into their hands.

If you are new to paramotoring, you have to learn what is involved and how you can prevent issues from occurring.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common issues behind a paramotoring accident.

 

Reasons Behind Paramotoring Accidents

 

Here are some of the most common reasons people get injured or die from a paramotoring accident.

 

1. Pilot Error

 

More than 50 percent of accidents from paramotoring are due to pilot error.

This can be from inexperience, or it can be from simply getting too relaxed while paramotoring.

When you paramotor, you must pay very close attention to your surroundings and everything that is going on.

A pilot who has been in the game for a very long time may not be as vigilant as a new pilot.

This can lead to error and, eventually, injury.

There are specific safety steps which you will learn when you first get involved in paramotoring.

Even if you have been flying for many years, you must continue to follow the safety steps.

It’s a very bad idea to think that you are immune to these because you are experienced.

As a paramotor pilot, it is essential to keep in mind that pilot error is the most common cause of injury or death.

This gives you some control and power over your own fate when you are in a paramotor.

 

2. Mechanical Failure

 

Mechanical failure is the next issue a pilot of a paramotor needs to keep an eye out for.

The equipment should be serviced and inspected regularly to make sure it is safe for flying.

If you have noticed any signs of mechanical issues, make sure you tend to them before taking off.

Landing and takeoff are the hardest parts of paramotoring, and you should be looking and listening for any types of issues that you may encounter.

One area of mechanical error which some pilots run into is lack of fuel.

It is essential to check fuel levels and keep an eye on them as you are flying through the air.

If you don’t pay attention to your fuel levels, you could end up with major issues.

 

3. Weather

 

Paramotoring and bad weather do not mix.

It is very important to choose a good weather day for you to go up in the air.

You will learn to navigate around some weather conditions, but others will cause malfunctions or poor decisions.

With modern advances in weather technology, you should easily be able to check for rain and wind speeds before taking off.

This does not entirely rule out a gust or two, but this is something pilots need to be aware of.

Pilots who know how to respond to poor weather conditions can usually do quite well should an unexpected condition arise.

 

4. Pilot Error in Addition to Other Complications

 

Piloting a paramotor in perfect conditions with an engine that is working well should not be difficult.

When you are working with something in poor condition, or the weather conditions start to deteriorate, you will need to have some advanced knowledge.

If you don’t understand how to adjust your piloting skills in the poor weather, you will set yourself up for injury.

Pilot error combined with other complications can lead to a very high rate of injury.

 

Types of Paramotoring Accidents

 

In addition to the reasons for paramotoring accidents, there are also various types of paramotoring accidents.

Understanding these types of accidents and knowing how they happen can help you be more prepared.

Having this type of awareness will make your chances of a paramotoring accident much less likely.

 

1. Poor Landing

 

A bad landing is a common type of paramotoring accident.

With any type of flying, landings and takeoffs are dangerous.

A poor landing is a very easy way for a person to get hurt while paramotoring.

Sometimes speed can be too high as a paramotor approaches the landing.

Other times, there could be an unexpected obstruction on the ground.

Poor landing is a very common type of paramotoring accident which usually results in an injury as opposed to a death.

 

2. Collision on the Ground

 

During takeoff, quite a few issues can occur.

When you take off with a paramotor, you will need a large area of open land.

Sometimes, there might be an unexpected branch or rock you can run into when taking off which can lead to a collision.

These collisions can result in serious injury.

 

3. Fall

 

If you run out of fuel or experience a mechanical error, there is a chance you could fall from the sky.

This falling from the sky will, of course, result in serious injury.

Most of the time, a fall is going to be because of a mechanical error and not because of a pilot error.

 

4. Maneuvering Too Close to the Ground

 

Part of the fun of flying a paramotor is doing tricks.

If you do tricks, you will want to make sure you are far enough off of the ground.

Doing tricks or maneuvering too close to the ground can lead to injury.

Give yourself some space and make takeoffs and landings as simple as possible.

 

Tips for Paramotoring Safely

 

Now that you understand how dangerous paramotoring can be, it is a good idea to know how to paramotor safely.

Here are some tips which should help make your experience a much more enjoyable one.

 

1. Windsock

You should have a windsock on your paramotor.

If there are very light wind conditions, it can be tough to tell the direction of the wind.

If you are able to measure the wind using a windsock, you will have a much easier time flying but especially landing.

A windsock can easily be added to your paramotor, and it will provide a great benefit.

 

2. Don’t Fly at Night

Not only is it against the law to fly at night, but it is also very dangerous.

There is a reason rules have been set in place for people to avoid flying at night.

The biggest reason is that there is just not enough visibility to safely accomplish a perfect flight.

This creates a significant risk for people on the ground as well as the person flying the paramotor.

Make sure you plan your flight times accordingly and never fly at a time that could extend beyond the sun setting.

 

3. Fuel Check Mirror

Sometimes pilots run out of fuel because they don’t know how much fuel they have left.

If you are accustomed to driving in a car, you may wonder how this could happen.

With many paramotors, you will not be able to see the fuel gauge from the position of flying.

If you are going on a long flight, having a fuel check mirror could help you to understand how much fuel you have without having to make an advanced maneuver to read it.

The fuel check mirror is not an expensive gadget to add to your paramotor.

However, if you are taking a long-distance flight, it is absolutely necessary.

 

4. Insurance

Check and see if you can find insurance for yourself when paramotoring.

This is going to help not just if you injure yourself but if you happen to injure another person or cause damage to property.

In some areas of the world, you may not be able to get insurance for paramotoring.

If you can get it and you are an active pilot, you should absolutely invest in insurance.

 

5. Bring Some Tools

It is a really smart idea to take some tools along for the ride.

If you find that you have an issue with your paramotor, it could be a simple fix you can handle independently.

One very smart thing to do is to adjust any paramotor issues while you are on the ground.

Don’t try and do anything in the sky.

As soon as you notice there is an issue, try to land in a safe spot and assess what can be done.

If you have a proper tool kit with you, chances are you can be back up in the air in no time.

This is certainly a better alternative to being stuck somewhere a long way from home.

 

6. Cell Phone

Most people bring their cell phone with them wherever they go.

If you are heading out for a ride on your paramotor, this is not a time to forget your cell phone.

Of course, you cannot use your phone while you are in the air, but you will be grateful to have a way to contact for help should an emergency occur once on the ground.

The last thing you will want is to be injured somewhere with no way to contact help.

We suggest getting an excellent case for your phone so you won’t have to worry about it breaking if there is a rough landing.

 

Conclusion

As a responsible paramotor pilot, there are some steps you need to take.

You have to be aware of and prepared for any type of situation.

By doing these things, you will know that your chances for injury or death are much lower.

Overall, paramotoring is not as dangerous as other aerial sports.

Your chances of dying from a flight on a paramotor are probably lower than they are on any other type of aircraft.

As this activity starts to get more and more popular, it will be interesting to see how these statistics change.

Hopefully, paramotoring stays as safe as it is today.

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