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ASSOCIATION
> Martin Palmaz, Executive Director
50 Years of Training / Then and Now : December 18 marked USHPA’s 50th
Do you have questions about USHPA policies, programs, or other areas? EM A IL U S AT:
info@ushpa.org Let us know what questions or topics you’d like to hear about!
Interested in a more active role supporting our national organization? USHPA needs you! Have a skill or interest and some time available?
VOLUNTEER! ushpa.org/volunteer
and support instructors with education and
year as the national association. The most
policy.
important accomplishment since our
In 2021, USHPA established an important
inception was the creation of a compre-
partnership with glidertraining.org, which
hensive training program that dramatically
provides an immediately available platform
improved pilot safety and eventually led
for delivering our existing and upcoming
to the creation of FAR 103. The education
training materials. USHPA will develop
program has always been at the core of
content for the entire training catalog in
USHPA’s mission and continues to be the
hang gliding, paragliding, and speedflying
foundation for access to free flight.
to be hosted on this site. Not only is glider-
At present, USHPA has 17 standing and
training.org easier for our instructors and
ad hoc committees. Throughout our history,
students to use, but it is provides the online
the Training and Certification (previously
functionality and digital user experience
Safety and Training) committee has consis-
that the next generation of students expect.
tently had the largest agenda, attendance,
This online catalog of courses has the added
and participation. That is even more true
benefit of helping instructors teach more
after we added the independent curriculum
efficiently and builds on a standard founda-
for speedflying to our catalog in 2022 and
tion of theory and principles.
created more collaborative work online.
USHPA is also expanding our internal
Over the years, the committee and its
digital assets (such as digital waivers
volunteer members have revised the train-
and online testing) so that more of what
ing materials to keep them current with
instructors, members, and students need
modern teaching methodologies. Since
to operate and learn is available in a mo-
volunteers have some inherent limitations
bile-centric environment.
with other commitments, we’ve decided
These and other tools will be coming on-
to dedicate more resources to support this
line throughout this evolution, so keep an
vital evolution of our training programs.
eye out for new offerings in our newsletters,
In 2024, USHPA will have a new part-time
social media, and other communication
training and certification manager to work
channels.
with the committee and program manager
Thanks for your support over the past 50
to create content for these digital resources
years. Here’s to another 50!
The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Inc. (USHPA) is an air sports organization affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), which is the official representative of the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NAA, which represents the United States at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHPA supervision of FAI-related hang gliding and paragliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions. The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, a division of the National Aeronautic Association, is a representative of the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale in the United States.
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