Everything you need to know about paramotoring in Ras Al Khaimah
There is no shortage of thrilling activities and adventures in the UAE. While many of these activities are found in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates, Ras Al Khaimah is the UAE’s adventure capital, where thrill-seekers can experience a variety of exciting activities. If you enjoy such outdoor adventures, paramotoring in Ras Al Khaimah is one of the activities you must try for an exhilarating experience.
WHAT IS PARAMOTORING?
Paramotoring is an adventure sport that involves flying a paramotor and soaring a good few metres above the ground. Basically, a paramotor is a paraglider wing coupled with an engine that is strapped to the back of the pilot. So you add a two-stroke or four-stroke engine to a paraglider wing and voila, you have a paramotor!
Paramotoring, or powered paragliding, is easier to fly as compared to other adventure sports that take to the skies. It can also be easily stored and transported. There are two different forms of paramotoring: foot launch and wheel launch.
In the former, a harness seat is attached to your back which connects to the power unit, motor and cage frame. The harness is connected to the paraglider wing with risers and wing lines. On the other hand, the wheel launch paramotor features a small 3 or 4-wheel vehicle with the motor attached to it.
With a foot launch paramotor, the pilot starts off by running forward, with the motor assisting them. They have a hand-held throttle that is used to control the thrust. Once they have reached enough speed, they push themselves forward and raise their feet, taking off into the sky.
HOW TO LEARN PARAMOTORING IN RAS AL KHAIMAH?
Paramotoring in RAK is one of the many adventure sports that you can enjoy during the weekend or on vacation. It is a fun and safe activity that allows you to unwind and also face your fears.
You don’t need to obtain any license to enjoy paramotor adventures in RAK and there aren’t any particular criteria that you have to fulfil. But it is wise to get some paramotoring lessons to get the hang of it and also get a feel of the activity before you actually buy a paramotor. Paramotoring in RAK is conducted on weekends from October to April, so you can easily get a slot once you finish your training. It largely depends on the weather and the bad weather can also affect your plans.
To learn how to paramotor, you can head over to Skyschool UAE, which is run by the same management as Skyschool UK. It is the only paramotor school in Ras Al Khaimah and is also certified by the Association of Paragliding Pilots and Instructors (APPI PPG). Skyschool UAE offers a range of courses to fully equip you with the know-how of paramotoring in RAK.
There are various courses offered by Skyschool UAE.
ONLINE THEORY COURSE
If you want to get theoretical knowledge about paramotoring before you take to the field, you can start off with the online theory course offered by Skyschool UAE. It includes lecture videos, quizzes, downloadable content and ends with the pilot exam. The online theory course costs AED 460.
TASTER COURSE
The taster course is designed to help you get a flavour of paramotoring in RAK before you get enrol into more intensive training and courses. In this course, students are introduced to the basics of paramotoring, as well as the equipment and essentials. The instructors also teach you how to control the wing and motor on the ground. The taster course is held on weekends from 12:00 pm to 06:00 pm and costs AED 500.
BEGINNER COURSE
The beginner course is designed on the first half of the APPI PPG pilot syllabus and is perfect for people who have no prior knowledge or experience of paramotoring. The course includes basic lectures, as well as instructions about ground handling and motor usage. It transpires into 1 solo flight, which helps you use all of the knowledge and training that you have received. The beginner course runs for 6 days and costs AED 4,695. You can use the equipment and fuel provided by Skyschool UAE.
INTERMEDIATE COURSE
This course is modeled on the second half of the pilot syllabus from APPI PPG. It is geared towards students who have attended the beginner course or have had more than 20 hours of paragliding experience. It consists of low level flying, precision landings and cross country tasks. The instructors also walk students through the basic theory of meteorology, air laws, navigation and more. The 6-day course costs AED 4,695 and upon completion, you attain the APPI PPG pilot license.
PILOT COURSE
This course combines key elements from both the beginner and intermediate courses. It covers the entire APPI PPG pilot syllabus and runs for 12 days. The course teaches you everything there is to know about paramotoring and costs AED 6,995 with the complete kit, fuel and log book.
ADVANCED PILOT COURSE
If you already hold an APPI PPG pilot license and wish to improve your flying skills, you can take the advanced pilot course, which focuses more on the practical aspects of paramotoring. Some of the tasks include low level flying, spot landings, dynamic flying, thermalling, reflex wings and cross country flights. This course also costs AED 4,695 with the complete kit, fuel and log book.
PARATRIKE COURSE
If you think you can do better with a paratrike rather than the foot launch paramotor, you can opt for the paratrike course. There are two different types of paratrike courses: the 12-day course for complete beginners and the 6-day conversion course that trains APPI PPG pilots. The 6-day course costs AED 5,895 and the 12-day course is for AED 8,245.
Apart from the aforementioned courses, Skyschool UAE also arranges weekend trips for students and qualified pilots to fly and bond together. It involves them flying along the coast and into the desert, as well as setting up camp and having barbecues. You can also buy your equipment from the shop at Skyschool UAE.
REQUIRED ACCESSORIES FOR PARAMOTORING IN RAK
There are certain accessories and equipment that you need for paramotoring. To start off, you need a paramotor, which contains the complete set including the glider wing. You can also find a paratrike if it suits you more. Some of the other accessories are:
- Helmet
- Radio or communications gear
- Strobe light
- Navigation instruments
- Gloves
- Flight suit
This wraps up our guide on paramotoring adventures in Ras Al Khaimah. Another wonderful adventure destination is Jais Adventure Peak in Ras Al Khaimah. There are also a lot of exciting adventures in Dubai that you can enjoy.
Are you looking for more information on any of the popular adventure sports in RAK? Let us know in the comments section and don’t forget to share this post with your adventurous friends!
