13. What winds can a Powered Parachute safely fly in?
You should NEVER fly in winds that exceed your flight skills. And, it is recommended that all PPC pilots should AVOID flying in winds above 15 mph or gusty winds of any speed. The parachute manufacturer's label usually contains wind and/or crosswind limitations. These limitations should NEVER be exceeded. Your instructor will teach you Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) Skills where you will learn to set more conservative, personal limitations and NEVER exceed them!
Flying in weather that is above your skill-level is NEVER any fun! That defeats the purpose of Powered Parachute flying in the first place! Flying is supposed to be FUN!
You will find the best flyable weather, throughout the year, in the early morning during the first hours of daylight, and in the late afternoon until sunset. Those times of day are usually when the winds are the calmest. Those times are also when you are most likely to see hot-air balloons flying.
There are many websites that will help you analyze current weather conditions. We have one, wind forecasting tool on our website, along with other weather links in our About Us/Weather Menu. It is also duplicated on this page for your convenience.
