Generic Powered Parachute — Normal Operating Procedures (FAA Powered Parachute Flying Handbook)

Preflight Planning — PAVE preflight_inspection

NOTEBefore going to the field, evaluate the PAVE factors: Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures. Establish personal minimums for each factor before proceeding.
Pilot (experience, currency, rest, illness, medication, stress)FIT FOR FLIGHT
Aircraft (fuel, weight within limits, density altitude, required equipment)WITHIN LIMITS
enVironment (weather at departure, route, destination; NOTAMs; TFRs)ACCEPTABLE
External pressures (schedules, purpose of flight, perceived expectations)NOT AFFECTING DECISION
Weather: wind speed and direction, gusts, thermals, convective activityWITHIN PERSONAL MINIMUMS
Density altitudeCALCULATED AND ACCEPTABLE

Certificates and Documents (AROW) preflight_inspection

NOTEThe following certificates and documents must be on board when the aircraft is operated. The mnemonic AROW: Airworthiness certificate, Registration, Operating limitations, Weight and balance.
Airworthiness certificateON BOARD
Registration certificateON BOARD
Operating limitations (AFM/POH, placards, or instrument markings)ON BOARD
Weight and balance dataON BOARD
Pilot certificate and photo ID (or valid driver's licence for Sport Pilots)IN POSSESSION
Aircraft logbooks (not required on board, but review for required inspections)ANNUAL INSPECTION CURRENT

Walk-Around — Cart Inspection preflight_inspection

NOTEThe PPC walk-around covers five tasks: (1) cart inspection, (2) powerplant inspection, (3) equipment check, (4) engine warm-up and check, (5) wing and suspension line inspection. Perform in a consistent, systematic sequence every flight.
Cart
Nosewheel: play, tire inflation, axle boltSECURE, PROPERLY INFLATED
Ground steering bar connections and range of motionSMOOTH, FULL RANGE
Front fork to nosewheel and gooseneck connectionsSECURE
Brakes (if installed): cable or hydraulic, pads, alignment, no leaksSERVICEABLE
Pilot seat, rails, seat belt attachment pointsSECURE, NO CRACKS, SEAT PIN LOCKED
Ignition and battery switchesOFF
Primer or primer bulb (if equipped)RESISTANCE FELT, NO LEAKS
Throttle control: full range of motion, no bindingFREE AND SMOOTH
Altimeter: set to field elevation or barometric pressure (if equipped)SET
Engine instrument master ON: note fuel quantity indicationNOTED FOR COMPARISON
Airframe: distortion, wear points, loose bolts, cable kinks or fraysNO DEFECTS
Rear wheels, axle, tires: inflation, cuts, wear, wheel rotationSERVICEABLE
Fuel and oil
Fuel: type, grade, and quantity — visually confirm tank level matches gaugeCORRECT TYPE, QUANTITY CONFIRMED
Check engine manufacturer's recommendation for fuel type and, on two-stroke engines, oil-to-fuel premix ratio. Incorrect ratio causes seizure.
Fuel sample: color, clarity, no waterCLEAR, NO CONTAMINATION
Oil level and type (four-stroke, or two-stroke oil injection reservoir)WITHIN LIMITS, CORRECT TYPE
Powerplant
WARNINGTreat the propeller as live at all times. Keep the propeller arc clear during all ground operations.
Propeller blades: cracks, chips, nicks; blade bolts secureNO DAMAGE, BOLTS SECURE
Engine area: clear of loose items that could enter propeller arcCLEAR
Carburetor(s): secure; air filter condition and fitSECURE, FILTER CLEAN
Rubber manifolds: no cracksSERVICEABLE
Spark plug caps: secure on all cylindersSECURE
Gear reduction box: no leaking seals, no play in gearsSERVICEABLE
Fuel lines: no fuel dye staining (indicates leakage), no deteriorationNO LEAKS
Oil lines and drain plug: no leaks, cap secureSECURE, NO LEAKS
Exhaust system: no white staining (exhaust leaks), springs secure, no cracksSECURE, NO LEAKS
Cooling system (liquid-cooled engines): coolant level, overflow reservoirWITHIN LIMITS
All visible wires and lines: security and conditionSECURE, NO DAMAGE

Wing and Suspension Line Inspection preflight_inspection

NOTEPerform wing inspection before every flight. The wing is as critical to airworthiness as the engine. Inspect methodically in the same order each time.
Wind directionIDENTIFIED — POINT CART INTO WIND
Wing removed from bag: not twisted, rotated, or turnedCORRECT ORIENTATION CONFIRMED
Wing fabric: tears, burns, abrasions, UV deterioration, cell debrisNO DEFECTS, CELLS CLEAR
Wing laid out centered behind cart — "X" in suspension lines directly behind prop centerlineCENTERED
Riser cables at cart attachment: not twisted around airframe, secure links finger-tight plus quarter-turnSECURE, NOT TWISTED
A-lines separated from B-lines at riser connection; A/C lines on top of B/D linesSEPARATED AND CLEAR
Suspension lines: no tangles, knots, pressure knots, or broken strands; lines not wrapped over top of wingCLEAR — NO LINE-OVERS
A line-over is a line that goes over the top of the wing rather than straight to the riser. It will prevent proper inflation and is a no-go item. Inspect the leading edge and top surface carefully.
CAUTIONA line-over causes catastrophic wing deformation on inflation. Do not launch with any line-over present.
Steering lines: clear of suspension lines, anchor knots secure, lines flow freely through guides and pulleysFREE AND SECURE
Line-over check: no line over top surface of wingCONFIRMED — CLEAR
Debris around wing and lines: ground clear of twigs, sticks, and objects that could cause pressure knotsCLEAR

Engine Start engine_start

Front wheelsBRACED OR CHOCKED
Area behind cart and in propeller arcCLEAR
Wing linesAWAY FROM PROPELLER ARC
Anti-collision strobe (if independent switch)ON
Fuel system: prime as equippedPRIMED PER POH
ThrottleIDLE
Call "CLEAR PROP" — wait for clear response from bystanders before starting
Magneto switchesON
Engine gauge master switchON
Start engine — keep one hand on throttle
Oil pressure (if applicable)RISING TO NORMAL RANGE
If oil pressure does not rise to manufacturer's specified value within a few seconds, shut down immediately to prevent engine damage.
Starter engaged warning light (if equipped)NOT ILLUMINATED

Engine Warm-Up and Run-Up engine_start

CAUTIONNever skip the engine warm-up. Running a cold engine at high power is a leading cause of engine damage on two-stroke and four-stroke engines alike.
Idle warm-up: allow engine to reach minimum operating temperatureTEMPERATURE RISING NORMALLY
Minimum warm-up time is per the engine manufacturer's POH. In temperatures below 50°F, extend warm-up time. Monitor CHT.
Engine gaugesTEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES IN NORMAL RANGE
Area behind cart still clearCLEAR
Advance throttle to approximately 75% — hold 10 secondsSMOOTH OPERATION, NO ROUGH RUNNING
Ignition system check (dual ignition): switch one off, check RPM, restore; then alternateBOTH CIRCUITS OPERATIONAL, RPM DROP WITHIN LIMITS
RPM at run-up powerWITHIN MANUFACTURER'S LIMITS
Engine temperatures (CHT, EGT) at run-upWITHIN LIMITS — DO NOT FLY IF ABNORMAL
Throttle to idle — engine settles smoothlyCONFIRMED

Before Takeoff Check before_takeoff

NOTEThe before-takeoff check is the final systematic check of engine, controls, systems, and avionics before flight. It is also a go/no-go decision point.
Engine temperatures: confirm still within minimums since warm-upWITHIN LIMITS
Wind directionRECHECKED — TAKEOFF POSITION CONFIRMED INTO WIND
Steering and suspension lines: not in path of tires, not tangled in riser cablesCLEAR
Seat belt and shoulder harnessFASTENED AND SNUG
Seat position (if adjustable)LOCKED
Loose items: nothing able to enter propeller arcSECURED
Wire routing (GPS, intercom, headsets): does not interfere with controlsCONFIRMED
Strobe lightsON
Electric fuel pump (if applicable)ON
Fuel quantityADEQUATE FOR INTENDED FLIGHT
Ignition system check (final)COMPLETE
Traffic pattern and intended takeoff runway/areaCHECKED — CLEAR
Radio call or traffic scan (as applicable)COMPLETE
Passenger briefing (if passenger aboard)COMPLETE — SEATBELTS, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, HANDS AND FEET INSIDE

Takeoff Roll — Wing Inflation and LOC Check takeoff

NOTELOC: L — Lines Free; O — Cells Open; C — Wing Centered. Do not advance to takeoff thrust until the wing passes the LOC check.
Throttle: advance smoothly to one-half to two-thirds takeoff powerSMOOTH APPLICATION
Too abrupt an application yanks the wing forward and can damage the riser system.
Feet on steering bars throughout takeoff rollIN POSITION
Wing inflating and rising: correct for any side that rises fasterWING RISING SYMMETRICALLY
CAUTIONIf a line-over is visible (wing pinched and deformed), shut down immediately and re-lay the wing. Do not continue the takeoff roll.
LOC check: Lines freeL — CONFIRMED
LOC check: all Cells open including end cellsO — CONFIRMED
LOC check: Wing Centered overhead, forward to riser attachment pointsC — CONFIRMED
Advance throttle to takeoff thrustSMOOTH APPLICATION TO FULL POWER
Directional control during ground rollMAINTAINED WITH STEERING BARS

Liftoff and Initial Climb climb

After liftoff: maintain full power and climb away from groundFULL POWER MAINTAINED
Initial climb path: aligned with takeoff direction — clear of obstaclesCLEAR
Engine temperatures during climbMONITORED — WITHIN LIMITS
On a hot day or at density altitude, allow CHT to stabilize before sustained climbs. Reduce power if approaching limits.
Reduce to cruise power at safe maneuvering altitudeREDUCED TO CRUISE SETTING

Cruise cruise

RPMSET TO CRUISE PER POH
Engine temperatures: CHT and EGTSTABLE WITHIN NORMAL RANGE
NOTEAvoid prolonged idle on two-stroke engines during descent. Make brief power additions every 30–60 seconds to prevent plug fouling and prevent CHT from dropping too rapidly.
Fuel endurance: note time and fuel remainingADEQUATE — LAND BEFORE EXHAUSTION
Consult POH for fuel burn and minimum reserve. Manage the flight so that you land with the required fuel reserve remaining — do not plan to land on fumes.

Approach and Landing landing

Approach: plan into wind where possibleINTO WIND
Landing area: clear of obstacles, suitable surfaceCONFIRMED CLEAR
Airspeed: maintain above stall during entire approachABOVE MINIMUM
CAUTIONAvoid rapid throttle changes on approach. Rapid throttle movements cause pitch oscillations (porpoising). Use slow, smooth throttle inputs.
Throttle to idle on short finalIDLE
Flare: begin approximately 1 second above the ground — push both foot steering bars smoothly forwardSMOOTH FULL FLARE
Hold flare as rear wheels touch. Do not release flare when close to the ground without power — the canopy will surge forward and produce a dive.
After touchdown: release flare smoothly — collapse canopy immediatelyCANOPY COLLAPSED AND CONTROLLED

Shutdown and Securing shutdown

Idle: allow engine to cool for at least 1 minuteIDLING — TEMPERATURES DROPPING
Magneto switchesOFF
Propeller stopped: confirm before approachingSTOPPED — CONFIRMED
All electronics and instrumentsOFF
Fuel valve (if applicable)OFF
Canopy: fold, pack into wing bag, and securePACKED AND SECURED
Pack the canopy immediately after landing to protect from UV exposure and unexpected wind gusts. A free wing can be picked up by wind and drag the cart.
Fuel capSECURE, VENT CLEAR
Tie-down or hangar as requiredSECURED

Source: Powered Parachute Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-12A

Rights: public_domain CC0-1.0

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