“To fly like a bird" – interview with paragliding pilot Bronislav Karasik
Data publikacji : 30.11.2019
Flying with a paraglider can be identified as a form of performing art. You can fly like an artist ! The knowledge and abilities of the pilot are the driving force behind paragliding. In suitable weather conditions, you can fly high and on long distances. If you want to start paragliding, you need to perform ground handling exercises systematically. Looking and analyzing video of other pilots on youtube, discovering teaching methods in various countries, tandem flying and reading an account of the paragliding accidents, also according to the pilot's account (which survived the paraglider crash) can help you to improve your skills and knowledge. If you plan to do paragliding in a new place, you should use the knowledge from the local pilots too.
I invite you to read the interview with paragliding pilot - BRONISLAV KARASIK, which tells about his strong passion for this discipline.
Agnieszka Chmielewska : Can you tell us, when did you start your adventure with paragliding ?
Bronslav Karasik : It was a long story, my way was unusual. In fewer words, I began with airplane simulators on PC, and after lots of hours in virtual skies. I went to a sport airfield near SPb, and I started taking lessons on Yak-52. It is s 2 sits small plane, equipped with a rescue chute. I began to jump with d-5 for having an understanding of what to do with this shit if something goes wrong. The airplane feels like a car, not on the road but in the sky. So you don't fly, you only sit inside. When I jump with a parachute, I feel like a bird. But a stupid bird, who flies only from up to down. I want to fly like a bird, everywhere. When I understood this, my friend called and told me, I found paraglider, let's learn how to use it... and a new story began.
A Ch : What are your aviation competence ? Have you got a paragliding license ? What is kind your license ? Tandem Pilot ? Instructor ?
B K : In Russia, no government licenses on PPG. You can make your ppg club, and secure your permit. I don't have it, and I don't think that this paper means something. I flew at least eight years in tandem. Two years before, I was an instructor in the PPG club on Yutsa mountain near Pyatigorsk in Russia. A few weeks ago I passed exam for Georgian license for solo and tandem flight. I’m waiting a piece of plastic now.
A Ch : Why did you choose paragliding without engine (free-flying) ? What is interesting in this sport ?
B K: It very calm and silent when you free fly. I feel myself like part of nature, and I especially feel it when hunting on thermal streams.
A Ch: Can you tell us about tandem flights ? Why is it important ? What can passenger gain in such a flight ?
B K: Tandem flights help other people step over their scare of altitude, on one side, and from the other, it allows students who learn to fly, to get necessary skills safely. For example, we use tandem for showing how works with thermals.
A Ch: Should a passenger be taller or shorter than the tandem pilot ?
B. K. : Height difference between pilot and passenger can be a handicap for passenger (passenger doesn’t run good enough). Also, there is limitation: harness must be in the right size. Weight is also significant: in some conditions better have heavy passengers, in other-lighter. For example, in the turbulence, I prefer heavy passenger, wing became more stable, and pierce turbulence only shakes a little. In weak conditions and when there is no wind, I prefer lightweight passenger: It is easy for getting altitude, and less speed at landing.
A Ch: What skills and knowledge need a person applying for a paraglider license ? How long does the practical and theoretical training last ?
B K : I'm not sure about other countries, but in Russia beginning course last for approximatively 2 weeks, and in the end newbie can fly alone in simple conditions, can safely take-off and landing, understand, what kind of equipment he needs, have basic knowledge of meteorology, aerology, aerodynamic, and medicine for first aid.
A Ch: What methods are used in the prevention of paragliding accidents ?
B K: We are using only a few methods to prevent accidents: give way to that fool, don't fly in not appropriate weather conditions, don't fly on wing, that needs more skills that you have. Also, we have rules, like on the road, who have an advantage in the sky. Also, in case of shit happens, we have rescue chutes, and defense in the harness, like airbag and moussbag. 
A Ch: Did you have any paragliding accident ?
B K: I was lucky enough for flying without serious accidents, but once I met a wire at landing. It was in tandem flight, and the weather was weak; thus, I decided to fly on one canyon, where I had an emergency landing for this kind of event. I used it last time one year ago, and in this season, it was my first flight there. Someone made a new wireline between these times, and I didn't see it from the sky. We caught it by the top of my wing, and fall from 5-7 meters. The harness worked perfectly, I'm even don't feel a kick, and my passenger became good in 5 minutes also. It was in Georgia, Khado canyon.
A Ch: What does place to safe fly mean for you ? What risk do you avoid during flight for joy and pleasure ?
B K.: If I fly with passengers, the take-off area must have a place for mistake. For example, for a stop in case, if the passenger doesn't run good enough at landing, it must be enough flat and big, without big rocks, trees, and wires. I'm trying to avoid turbulence zones, and don't fly in too strong wind. When I fly alone, all changes to a less safe condition: I can fly riskier: it's only my life if something goes wrong.
A Ch: Can you share with readers where (according to you) are there attractive tourist places for safe flying in paragliding ?
B K: Good spot for flying – it's Gudauri ski resort in Georgia. Especially, when you take flight from Khado hut: it has good take off, and in summertime its highest take-off place. In Crimea, a good place its Klementiev's mountain near Koktebel. In the Kabardino-Balkary region in Russia, a good and beautiful place its Chegem valley.
A Ch: In summer, the matter is simply because there are many possibilities of flying. But what about autumn and winter ? Do we have to give up activity ?
B K: Summer is not so simple :-) Any season have their + and -. Autumn is suitable for long cross country flights, because of thermals wind and calm in most cases, and cloud base highest. It means right long flights. Flight time is shorter in winter, about 8-10 minutes when is summer is 20-30, and you use a cable car to go up, thus no need to use cars. Also, winter is good for beginners: the air more dense than summer and more laminary.
A Ch: .. and finally… What motivates you to practice paragliding ?
B K: It's much better than sitting in a warm office :-)