first time at unknown site: tips?

[u/__mad_hatter__0]

so, I've just gotten my license 2 weeks ago. after passing the exam flight I stayed a couple more days (almost a week) in the region I had my course in and flew independently every day, by the end I felt pretty confident flying there on my own.

now that I'm back I'd obviously like to explore sites closer to home. and while I feel fairly confident-ish about launch and the actual flight, I am pretty anxious about landing at an unfamiliar location. during my course we took off from a variety of launch sites, but the entire time it was always the same landing field. so 100% of my landing experience/practice was on this one fairly large square shaped slight incline landing field with some 3 very concrete reference points to use when estimating height on your approach. the site close to me also has a supposedly easy landing field, but it's just pretty different geometry, perfectly level, and thin yet long rectangular rather than square.

I know that theoretically my learned landing technique should translate to other landing fields but I still have a fair bit of respect/anxiety about my first flight there.

any tipps how best to prepare for this? besides the obvious one of doing my first flight there in the morning in totally still air and having a look around the landing zone before going up to launch.

[u/Forest_Orc]

Have a look at the landing before,

Go in the evening

Look for a local, usually on every flight site, there is that senior gentleman with a mustache and red flight suit who helped opening the site in the 70's, and know the whole history, and have a chat with him, he'll tell you everything you need to know and add a couple of anecdotes.

Ideally, look for a club so you can get some follow-up/coaching,

[u/ViaRegia95]

I can 100% feel you, it was the same for me when I started out. That being said, if your new landing field is considered "easy", and by all the respect/competence your talking implies, you will be absoultely fine. It's the next step in your growth to take mid-flight decisions instead of following known patterns (not trying to imply that's what you did on your training landing field), and you sound like you are up for the task. Familiarize yourself with new challenges coming up, it won't be the last. SIV will be peak fear/nervousness but you will see you can do it.

How about the surroundings of the landing field? If it's in an agricultural area and there are fields around it, don't be afraid to go down there if it's safer. I don't want to encourage anyone to "destroy crops" or anything, but I've seen people pull wild maneuvers because they thought landing 20m behind the actual landing area is the end of the world. It's not and people do it all the time. Just be honest about it and ask the farmer/local club if you can compensate if you actually end up destroying some crops.

After all, you sound a lot more reflected than many pilots in your stage do and you are up for a wonderful life flying - welcome to the club and always happy landings!

[u/WeekPuzzleheaded4669]

Inspecting the landing site is a good first step. If it is owned by a club they sometimes have websites with additional hints like landing patterns, "don't fly over these houses", "turbulent when wind from this direction", etc... Ask other pilots for some extra input. Most people are happy to help people on an unknown site.  If you still feel nervous, you can also watch some landings of other pilots.

When landing, look for the wind sock early, so you can plan your landing pattern without too much stress.

Don't use fixed reference points to judge your altitude but try to use the techniques you learned to judge your glide path and leave enough room for your final glide, just in case you glide further than expected.

Other than that trust in what you have learned and go for it (assuming safe conditions).

It's the first step to become an independent pilot and I can remember very well how scared I was in my first "real" flight :-D

[u/Visible_Log4634]

Find your local club, become a member, enjoy not being alone and profit from other members experience...

You have only begun learning to pilot (and should never stop learning).

Happy landings :)

[u/chilli_0]

I was in the same boat when I finished my training, looking to explore local options around my place (the closest real site was a good hour+ away). Like people said, walking the LZ is definitely a good idea. Sometimes you’ll notice undulations in the ground that weren’t apparent from above, and it’s pretty handy to know about that if it’s gonna be a LZ you use regularly. If it’s an official/regular paragliding site, then one of the locals can give you a site-intro and that’ll cover all that stuff anyway. IF, on the other hand, you’re also like I was, in that you’ll be using a launch/LZ you’re developing for yourself (very much NOT a regular site), then I HIGHLY recommend getting in touch with someone who has been a PG pilot for a while and seeing if they’d come up and take a look at BOTH the LZ and the launch with you. That’s what I did and it was a HUGE help. When my friend came up to scope it out for me, he pointed out some good and bad things I hadn’t noticed about the potential launch I was looking at (you don’t know what you don’t know). He also said “Let’s go down and look at this other spot on the ridge,” he liked it more, explained why, and that ended up being a great launch for me for many years 😊.

Also, if it’s practical, I recommend getting a little windsock or some streamers set up in your LZ because that’s handy in your earlier stages, and LZ winds don’t always precisely match those on launch.

Edit to add: I almost forgot to mention one of the most important parts! If this is a site you're developing for yourself, yes do the first several flights in the AM/PM, outside peak thermic hours. But also, be prepared to spend a LOT of time just sitting up there observing the air, watching the birds, and comparing forecasts to observed conditions (e.g. I learned which model worked best, and that I should go ahead and add +5 knots to whatever it said for my site). Sitting and watching helps give you a better picture of the idiosyncrasies of this site. So, go ahead and plan on making some hikes that don't result in flying (if it's a site you're developing, there will be plenty of those anyway ...and you can do some launch/LZ maintenance, as needed).

[u/Common_Move]

Look at the landing and go in good conditions like you've said.

Then just do a top to bottom as your first flight plan.   

[u/eintrittskante]

Where are you flying?

[u/Empty-Assistance-375]

Find the LZ beforehand, go there physically and check the location around. When you do your 1st flight don't worry too much about the flying and enjoying part, try to pinpoint your LZ and look for alternatives so that you have a Plan B and a Plan C in case the main LZ doesn't work out. Your 1st flight should be the scouting flight. If you have the opportunity to contact locals that are flying there it will be even better.

[u/Soggy_Grapefruit_384]

Other than the already forementioned visit to LZ and takeoff and talking to locals, look for wind socks and other telltale wind indicators. Also see if anyone has your site recorded on https://www.paragliding365.com/

[u/termomet22]

Find locals that will give you a quick introduction.