Frequently Asked Questions - General

Your tandem instructional flight will be on a tandem glider beside a certified tandem rated instructor. A tandem glider islarger than a usual glider and is designed to carry two people into the air. The tandem glider has permanent wheels and you will launch and land similar to a small plane but at lower speeds (40-50Km/h). To get to release altitude you will be towed behind a special Australian designed ultralight called a Dragonfly. It was designed to pull hang gliders into the air similar to how sail planes are launched, but again at lower speeds. It uses a Canadian designed Bombardier engine built in Austria. Aircraft used for towing are often referred to as tugs.

Watch a typical tandem launch - download the video attached below

Please see http://soga.ca/hq for our current location

Currently we are restricted to persons 10-12 years of age and older, depending on size, and to a maximum student weight of 210-220 lbs. These restrictions are due to safety. Currently we do not posses a small enough harness for younger persons. The upper weight restriction is set because of the maximum allowable net total weight load on the tandem glider. The upper safe load for the glider is 450lbs. This net total weight load also includes harness, helmet, parachute and flying equipment of both pilot and student.

There are only a few instructions you need to know before flying. The instructor will review them before launching. There are three main points to remember while in flight. Firstly, unless you are in control of flying the glider, always hold onto the instructor. The glider uses weight shifting to maneuver so to fly the glider, movements need to be as one. Secondly, there will be verbal instructions about the commands on how to take over flying the glider and when to give back control to the instructor. These are very important. Lastly and most importantly, never hold on to anything else other than the instructor when launching or landing.

As a club we are usually flying every weekend, weather permitting, over the summer. Our official flying season starts the first weekend in May and ends the last weekend in September. We have been know to fly as early as April and as late as October, but those times are exceptional and rare. Tandems are usually performedearly morning or late afternoon. If conditions are suitable they can be done midday. Currently we do not offer mid week flying unless you are a sizable group. Please inquire with our public relations officer in our Contacts Section about mid-week tandems.

The following are conditions in which tandems would not be done. After dark. We are required to be on the ground 30 minutes after sunset. No flying in thunderstorms or heavy rains. We can fly in overcast and light rains so long as there are no high winds. No flying in high winds, usually 20Km/h + or gusty conditions. Therefore, if on the day of your flight the weather forecast is 100% thunderstorms or heavy winds your flight will be deferred. If conditions are not excellent but may change during the day be prepared to be out at the field for the day waiting for conditions to change. All recreational pilots are at the mercy of the weather. But rest assured the safety of the flight is the overriding consideration, and the ultimate decision of taking off will remain with your pilot.

Depending on the time of year and day, temperatures will vary. Since you will be in a harness for the flight, in most cases you can fly in short sleeves and shorts. The temperature drop at release altitude in relation to launch can vary 2-7 degrees Celsius. So on a hot 30 degree day the temperature when you release will be 23-28 degrees. Keep in mind that you will be traveling through the air at 40-60Kmh which will also cool you off. In spring (April-May) or early fall (September-October) bring along a long sleeve shirt and pants and maybe a light jacket just in case.

Under normal conditions we attempt to tow you higher than the tip of the CN Tower's antenna which is 1,815 high. If conditions are not ideal, ie. wind picks up, low cloud cover, evening approaching, etc. we may not be able to reach the full expected height. Your flight experience lasts on average between 20-30 minutes and this includes your time on tow. The time on tow and the descent down will depend upon numerous weather conditions including the weight of the student and instructor.

Yes. As an introductory flight into the sport of hang gliding you will be able to fly the glider for a period of time. The length of time will depend upon the weather conditions and instructor. You are not obliged to fly the glider if you do not wish too. Take-off and landing will be performed by the instructor.

Nothing. You will continue to fly as normal. The wind speed only affects flying if you are flying along a ridge or if it becomes too windy. Under high winds the glider may become unmanageable and if strong enough can cause the glider to "fly backwards" relative to ground. There are no ridges near our site.

Pre-made special arrangements can be made for higher flights on an individual basis. Of course this will cost more depending upon the request.

No. Tandem gliders are un-able to retain enough energy to perform a loop.

Not usually. We have only a few tandem gliders and tandem instructor pilots. In the future this may be possible but will require extra co-ordination, with the first person to be towed having to be towed to a higher altitude. This would cost more than two regular tandem flights due to the higher tow, multiple tandem gliders, pilots and the extra co-ordination involved.

As in anything in life, how safe something is is usually defined by how safe it is made. SOGA continually makes safety it's highest priority. There are a number of safety techniques and features implemented for your flight that insure a safe and happy experience. The pilot that takes you up is a tandem rated certified instructor with more than 100 hours air time. The towing technique is a tried and true method with thousands of tows having been done out at the field, solo and tandem. Many safety features are in place for any possible situation. The towing bridle mechanism consists of three releases and two weak link failure break points. The tandem instructor has two release points at his disposal while the tug pilot has one. At each end of the tow rope there is a weak link break point in case of any large unforeseen tensions. The take off and landing are done on wheels so there is no need to flare as in a typical landing. You will also be flying in lighter conditions than a solo pilot might fly in. Lastly, you and your tandem certified instructor will be flying with a tandem rated parachute that is rated for 450lbs+ for any worst case senario. Note, nobody in the club, solo or tandem, has ever needed to deploy a parachute out at the Teviotdale tow field after 7 years of flying and approximatley 2,500 tows at the site.

Currently we only accept two methods of payment, cheque and cash. Sorry no credit cards.

Yes. We have tandem flight instructional gift certificates for all occasions. In the past they have been purchased for stags, weddings and birthday presents (so far not as a divorce present). Please email the treasurer in the Contacts Section about how to purchase a certificate.