Paraglider maintenance — inspection, repack, care

A paraglider is a consumable: fabric ages, lines change, trim drifts. The recurring inspection keeps that measurably under control. Here is what gets checked and which intervals apply — from the practice of our workshop connection in Taufkirchen.

Which intervals apply

• Wing inspection: per the specifications in the manufacturer’s manual of the respective model — interval (by time and flight hours) and scope are stated there. The manual is linked on each of our product pages.
• Reserve: for the Mayday range, APCO’s manual prescribes a repack every six months by a qualified person, plus an annual airworthiness inspection. After every deployment, repack before further use; after ten deployments the reserve goes to the manufacturer for inspection, and it is retired after ten years at the latest.
• Event-driven: after a water landing, tree/rock contact or long damp storage, the wing belongs in inspection regardless of the interval.

What the wing inspection covers

The scope in the workshop:

1. Visual inspection — top and bottom sail, leading edge, seams, line attachments.
2. Porosity measurement — how air-permeable the fabric has become; measured at several spots, with the leading edge the most critical (APCO: “top front is critical area in terms of porosity as this is where most of the lift is generated”).
3. Line inspection — length measurement against the manufacturer geometry and condition check. Note for Nestra Light pilots: per APCO the Kevlar/aramid lines are “stable in their length throughout their lifespan — no periodical trimming needed”.
4. Trim control — comparing riser and line geometry with the manufacturer specification.
5. Documentation — inspection report and entry; when selling, the complete history is the central document.

What the material brings to the table

Two manufacturer facts directly relevant to maintenance:

• FLEXON® battens: “indestructible … memory free, do not require any special care or folding technique” — no special packing technique needed.
• DSC cloth: “covered by 3 years / 250 hours warranty” — the double siliconized cloth at the critical top front is part of the warranty. In general the APCO warranty is 3 years / 250 flight hours (Hybrid models: 1 year / 100 hours, manufacturing defects only).

What you can do yourself

• Visual checks regularly: leading edge, seams, line attachments.
• Packing: roll loosely, do not crumple, do not drag over edges.
• Storage: dry and dark — not permanently in a hot car.
• After moisture: dry completely before the wing goes into the pack.
• Logbook: note hours and incidents — the basis of every inspection.

Inspection via Flyapco

We coordinate wing inspections and Mayday repacks via the workshop in Taufkirchen near Munich — appointment enquiries by mail. Drop-off and shipping are arranged individually; the inspection scope follows the manual of your model.