Paragliding Hangliding Aerobatic Flying Expert Witness

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Training in paragliding with Alan Barnier (Le Carroz, France), Hangliding and Paragliding instructor recognized by the Federation Francaise de Vol Libre, September 1987.

Was first local paragliding pilot in Bariloche, Argentina, and one of the first three Argentinean pilots; opened new take-offs at Cerro Catedral, Cerro Otto, Cerro Lopez, Cerro Meta, Cerro Piltriquitron and Cerro Bayo.

Train each summer in Chamonix area, France, for new paragliding information and flying techniques.

Training in tandem paragliders in France, October 1992.

Maneuvers and Safety clinic with Swiss instructor Benny Shilling in Bariloche, Argentina, November 1993.

First surface towing seminar and competition in La Pampa, Argentina, as tow operator and pilot, December 1994.

Began commercial tandem paragliding (over 1500 flights to the present), July 1995.

Maneuvers and Safety Clinic with Swiss instructor Andy Hediger, July 1997.

Aerobatic Flying Clinic with Argentinean Acro-Pilot Pablo Lopez, Bariloche, Argentina, March 1998.

SIV clinic with French instructor David Eyraud, Annecy, France, June 2009

USHPA Tandem and Advanced instructor training. Several clinics.

USHPA Surface Tow technician training.

COMPETITIONS AND NATIONAL RANKINGS.

Began competing in September 1992, with over 70 participations to the present, including Argentine and International events, using (in over 90 % of the cases) standard public gliders, rather than competition gliders (lower performance, safer).

No accidents or serious incidents in over 24 years of competition.

Participated in over 100 paragliding competitions being the most relevant ones:

First Place (of 32 pilots from Argentina, Chile and France), La Parva, Chile, competition, September 1992.

Pre-World Cup Competition, Governador Valadares, ranked 14th, February 1993.

Paragliding World Cup Competitions in Europe and Brazil, placing usually between 30 and 70, mostly with standard public gliders, rather than competition gliders, June 1993 to September 2000 (10 competitions)

Federation Aeronautique Internationale World Championships, Verbier, Switzerland, ranked 13th in first task, 21st after four tasks, and 49th after seven tasks out of 120 pilots, July 1993.

International Championship, and Chilean Nationals, in Iquique, Chile, ranked first, November 1993.

Won most of the Argentinean National Paragliding Competitions (while there was no official valid ranking system), September 1994 to April 1995.

Argentine National Paragliding Champion, 1995, 1996, 1997,1998, 2000, 2004 and 2005.

Argentine National Paragliding Vice-Champion, 1999, 2001

Paragliding World Cup, Cordoba, Argentina, pilot and team leader of the Argentinean team, April 1999.

F.A.I. World Championships in Bramberg, Austria, team leader and competitor; no official ranking because of bad weather (ranked 61th after two tasks, out of 250 pilots), July 1999.

U.S. Open Paragliding Nationals, Aspen, Colorado, ranked 12 overall, ahead of all U.S. pilots, and 3rd in Serial Class (non-competition gliders), behind two World Champions (Robby Withall and John Pendry), September 1999.

U.S. Open Paragliding Nationals, Owens Valley, California, ranked 11 overall with a non-competition glider, September 2002.

U.S. Open Paragliding Nationals, Telluride, Colorado, ranked 11 overall with a non-competition glider, September 2003.

U.S. Rat Race, Woodrat, Oregon, ranked 4th overall, 1st in serial class, May 2005.

U.S. Open Paragliding Nationals, Chelan, Washington, ranked 5th overall, August 2005.

U.S. Tater Hill Competition, Boone, North Carolina, ranked 1st overall, May 2007 (no handicap).

U.S. Tater Hill Competition, Boone, North Carolina, ranked 1st overall, July 2008.

U.S. Florida Srping Fling Competition, Florida, ranked 1st overall, May 2009.

U.S. Tater Hill Competition, Boone, North Carolina, ranked 1st overall, July 2009.

U.S. Tater Hill Competition, Boone, North Carolina, ranked 1st overall, August 2010

U.S. National Champion, Sport Class Race to Goal 2012, Rat Race.

AWARDS

Argentine Paragliding National distance record (254 km.) over 7 years, 2002 / 2009, La Pampa, Argentina, November 2002. Previously flew four National record flights.

Argentine Paragliding National F.A.I. triangle record holder (100 km) over 5 years, 2004 / 2009, Bariloche, Argentina, December 2004

Winner of the Argentinean XC constest 2005.

U.S., Geordia State XC distance record holder.

U.S., North Carolina State XC distance record holder.

U.S., Tennesse State XC distance record holder.

LICENSES AND APPOINTMENTS

Federation Francaise de Vol Libre, Annecy, France, Paragliding Pilot License, October 1990.

Federation Aeronautique Internationale license (to compete in F.A.I. competitions representing Argentina), May 1993.

Federacion Argentina de Vuelo Libre, Argentine Paragliding Pilot License, July 1994

USHPA, Paragliding Advanced Pilot (P-5) License, current.

USHPA, Paragliding Tandem Instructor rating, June 2002 to 2017

USHPA, Paragliding Surface Tow Technician, May 2005 to 2017

USHPA, Paragliding Surface Tow Administrator, June 2006 to 2017

USHPA, Paragliding Advanced Instructor Rating, February 2006 to 2017

USHPA, Paragliding Instruction Program Administrator, March 2007 to 2017

USHPA, Paragliding Tandem Administrator, October 2007 to 2017

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Created the Subcomisión de Parapente of the Federación Argentina de Vuelo Libre, January, 1994.

Developed the practical and theoretical examinations for the Argentine Paragaliding Pilot License, later recognized by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, as useful worldwide, and equivalent to the IPPI Card (International Pilots Proficiency Identification Card), also later adopted by Chile (with some small modifications).

Created all the internal administration rules book for the Federacion Argentina de Vuelo Libre (competition organization requirements, national ranking systems, etc.).

President, Federacion Argentina de Vuelo Libre, 1995-1999, Board Member 1995-2002.

TRAINING AND TEACHING

Assistant on beginner pilot training, Bariloche, Argentina, November 1987 (with an experienced German pilot, Sabine Sohnhutter).

Basic paragliding instruction, Bariloche, Argentina, November 1991, with 50 beginning students in four years.

Organized the first Instructors Seminars, Bariloche, Argentina, also teaching in some of the subjects, September 1994.

Advanced paragliding courses for confirmed pilots, specializing in Thermal and Cross Country flying, with over 300 students to the present, in Argentina, Chile and U.S.A. starting December 1994.

Advanced Maneuvers and Safety Courses over water for confirmed pilots, with over 160 students to the present, in Argentina, Chile and U.S.A., starting February 1995.

First Paragliding Instructors Course in Chile, for the Asociacion Chilena de Vuelo Libre, for 15 instructors, March 1998.

Began organizing international paragliding trips for pilots, August 2000, with a record of 58 pilots to France in May / June 2008.

Organized PAMPACROSS, the annual Record Flying Camp on pay out towing, Argentina, November 2001 and 2002.

Tandem instructor at Aspen Paragliding, Colorado, 2004.

Instructor at Atlanta Paragliding Enterprises 2005 to 2014

Owner and instructor at Atlanta Paragliding Enterprises 2006 to 2015, with over 100 beginner students and 4,000 tows as tow operator and/or instructor.

BOOKS, MAGAZINE AND WEB ARTICLES

Created the 350 Multiple Choice Questionnaire for Argentine National Paragliding Pilot License, June 1994.

Cross Country Latino Paragliding Magazine, January 2001 (article on my record flight, and article written about dangers of aerobatic flying).

Aire Specialized Paragliding Magazine, November 2001 (article about paragliders’ competition and safe gliders determination).

MAGIC7.COM.AR website, 1995 through 2007, several articles about flying and safety.

USHPA Magazine, Collapses at Low altitude, 2005

USHPA Magazine, Modern Intermediate Gliders Mislead Instructors and Students, 2006

USHPA Magazine, Spins, Spirals and Collapses, Know the difference?, February, 2009

Participated on developing the new paragliding Instructors Training Program and Instructor Syllabus for USHPA along with other 10 USHPA administrators, during a 4 day meeting in Salt Lake, Utah, April 2009.