LEFT Bill Heaner (pilot), Taunica Crump (passenger)
at North Side Point of the Mountain, Utah. RIGHT Bill Heaner (pilot), Bill Weir (passenger) at North Side Point of the Mountain, Utah. #4721. We have only two exemptions to our FAR that allow us to perform tandem and aerotowing under specific rules, but for the purposes of this article we will only focus on the tandem exemption. This exemption requires that the pilot be a current USHPA tandemrated pilot in good standing and that the passenger be a USHPA student pilot. In other words, tandem flying was not intended for joy rides. The FAA was clear about this when they gave us this exemption and made sure we understood that tandem operations would be for instructional purposes only. It is important, no matter how recreational our sport seems, that we always keep the instructional context when flying tandem. Also noteworthy is that our USHPA tandem exemption expires every two years on October 31. There is a review process during the expiration period, and the FAA can choose to extend the exemption for two more years or to not extend it. Since we were granted the tandem exemption, we have successfully renewed every two years to date.
GETTING STARTED There are currently only two levels of tandem appointments: T-1 (beginner tandem rating) and T-3 (tandem instructor). In 2015, we decided to abolish the T-2, a controversial, intermediate tandem rating which, it was decided, did not serve the true intent of the tandem program. Recently the tandem instructor appointment has undergone some changes that deserve some clarification. In the distant past, there was a separate USHPA instructor requirement in order to get and keep a tandem instruc-
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HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE