How do I determine the correct height for the final approach?
\nHow do you know if you will succeed in passing a ridge or an obstacle?
\nThese are the recurring questions of most progressive paraglider pilots.<\/p>\n
Paragliding is indeed one of the rare activities where you have to manage an additional dimension: height.
\nIn addition, we have no engine, so when we are too short, impossible to go around, and if we are too long, the flight may end in the background. In short, it is an essential concept, but rarely explained in training. At best, you have to repeat the landings.
\nAnd as soon as we change site, the configuration of the place changes (dimensions, possible slope, force of the wind, obstacles, turbulence, venturi), our achievements are therefore called into question.
\nSome pilots unconsciously manage to assess the situation, without being able to explain it. Others struggle their whole lives. There is, however, a simple method, which this article attempts to explain.<\/p>\n
When we zoom in on Google Maps (or Google Earth), all the points move away (start on the sides in a concentric way) except one which remains fixed: This is what I call the stationary point<\/strong>. If you fell from a plane, the same would happen. The remaining fixed point would be where you would end your free fall. Fortunately, normally we take a parachute!
\nIf it wasn't clear, here is the map of weather beacons in real time (+ rain + pioupious !!)<\/a>, here centered on that of Montmin (Takeoff from La Forclaz), then click several times on the "+" button (top left) to zoom<\/p>\n