paragliding
"Is there flying today?" — that question arrives on WhatsApp dozens of times every morning. The answer is always the same: it depends on the weather.
Paragliding depends entirely on nature. There is no engine and no fuel — wind and thermals are the engine. That makes understanding the weather important for pilots and passengers alike. This article explains how to read the sky, which conditions we fly in and which we do not, and why flights sometimes get called off.
Wind: The Pilot's Best Friend and Worst Enemy
Without wind there is no paragliding. With too much wind there is no flying either. Balance is everything.
Wind Speed Limits
| Wind speed | Status |
|---|---|
| 0-5 km/h | ✅ Calm — flyable, take-off by running |
| 5-15 km/h | ✅ Ideal — the nicest conditions there are |
| 15-25 km/h | ⚠️ Careful — an experienced pilot is required |
| 25-35 km/h | ❌ Tandem flights cancelled — solo pilots proceed with care |
| 35+ km/h | ❌ No flying at all |
Why Wind Direction Matters
Speed is not the whole story. Direction is just as critical:
- Headwind: ideal for take-off. The wing inflates easily and you are airborne after a short run
- Tailwind: dangerous for take-off. The wing does not inflate and the run gets much longer
- Crosswind: makes take-off harder; the wing pulls to one side
- Shifting wind: the most dangerous of all — if the direction keeps changing, the flight is cancelled
In Alanya the take-off faces the sea, to the south. A southerly or south-westerly sea breeze therefore arrives as a headwind, which is exactly what we want. A northerly blowing over the back of the mountain becomes a tailwind and generates rotor, and it cancels flights.
What Is a Thermal and How Does It Work?
A thermal is a vertical current of air created when the sun heats a patch of ground and the air above it rises. Think of it as a paraglider's lift.
How a Thermal Forms
- The sun heats dark surfaces (asphalt, rock, dry earth)
- The air above that warm ground becomes lighter and starts to rise
- Once it reaches a certain size it detaches from the ground like a bubble
- It rises as a column of warm air
- The pilot circles inside that column to gain height
Types of Thermal
Weak (0.5-1.5 m/s):
- Forms in the morning
- Soft, comfortable climb
- Suitable for beginner pilots
Moderate (1.5-3 m/s):
- Common around midday
- Good height gain
- Ideal for tandem flights
Strong (3-5 m/s):
- Afternoons on hot days
- Fast climb, often with turbulence
- For experienced pilots
Very strong (5+ m/s):
- ❌ Not suitable for tandem flights
- Risk of being drawn rapidly towards cloud base
- Cross-country and experienced pilots only
Thermal Timings (Alanya)
| Time | Thermal activity | Flight note |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00-09:00 | None | Calm glide, shorter flights |
| 09:00-11:00 | Weak | The ideal tandem window |
| 11:00-14:00 | Moderate to strong | Longer flights possible, some turbulence |
| 14:00-16:00 | Strongest | Experienced pilots; tandem with caution |
| 16:00-18:00 | Weakening | Evening flights, calm |
| 18:00+ | None | Sunset glide |
Clouds: The Sky's Own Weather Board
Pilots read clouds. Here are the main types and what they mean for paragliding.
Cumulus — The Pilot's Friend ☁️
- White, puffy clouds like a field of cotton
- A marker of thermal activity
- There is lift underneath them
- ✅ If there is cumulus, there are thermals
Cumulonimbus (CB) — Danger ⛈️
- Huge anvil-shaped storm clouds
- Violent up and down currents
- Risk of lightning, hail and severe wind
- ❌ If a CB is visible, the flight is cancelled, full stop
- A CB can change the wind even from 50 km away
Stratus — The Grey Blanket
- A low, grey, flat layer
- Suppresses thermal formation
- Reduces visibility
- ⚠️ Cancels flying if it is very low; no problem if it is high
Lenticular — The Lens Cloud
- Smooth, lens or UFO-shaped clouds
- A sign of strong wind and mountain waves
- ❌ A lenticular means strong wind, whatever it looks like on the ground
Turbulence: You May Meet Some
Turbulence is irregular movement of the air. It cannot be avoided entirely, but it can be understood.
Where It Comes From
- Thermal turbulence: forms at the edges of rising warm air
- Mechanical turbulence: wind hitting a mountain, building or trees and curling back (rotor)
- Wind shear: layers of air moving at different speeds or directions meeting
- Lee-side turbulence: disturbed flow on the downwind side of a mountain
Turbulence and Tandem Flights
- Light turbulence is normal — you feel a bit of movement
- Moderate turbulence: the wing rocks, the pilot corrects — uncomfortable but safe
- Severe turbulence: the flight is cancelled beforehand, or the pilot lands immediately
- Pilots anticipate turbulence and generally fly around it
Cancellations: Why and How
Your flight was cancelled and you are disappointed. We understand. But every cancellation is a safety decision.
The Most Common Reasons
- Strong wind (25+ km/h) — the most frequent by far
- Rain — a wet wing loses performance and visibility drops
- Storms / CB clouds — a risk even at a distance
- Fog or low cloud — insufficient visibility
- Shifting wind direction — unpredictable conditions
- Excessively strong thermals — hard to control
Who Makes the Call?
- The pilot's decision is final and not up for debate
- It combines forecast data, pilot experience and local knowledge
- "But the sky is clear" is not an argument — wind is invisible
- "Other operators are flying" is not one either — everyone's risk tolerance differs
What Happens If It Is Cancelled?
- ✅ The flight can be moved to another day or time slot
- ✅ Conditions often improve later the same day, especially the wind
- ✅ If your holiday is too short to reschedule, you get a full refund
- ❌ Driving all the way up and being turned back is frustrating, but sometimes necessary
Following the Weather: What Pilots Use
For the curious, these are the sources pilots actually watch:
Apps and Sites
- Windy.com — wind maps and layer-by-layer analysis (the pilots' favourite)
- XCMeteo — thermal and wind forecasts made for free flight
- Holfuy — live wind station data
- Meteoblue — detailed atmospheric profiles
- MGM — the Turkish State Meteorological Service
Live Stations
Many take-off sites have internet-connected wind stations. Pilots check the live readings before driving up.
Seasonal Patterns in Alanya
| Season | Typical conditions | Flyable days |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (March-May) | Unsettled, but plenty of beautiful days | ✅ 5-6 days a week |
| Summer (June-August) | Hot, strong thermals, afternoon sea breeze | ✅ Almost every day (mornings ideal) |
| Autumn (September-November) | The most stable period, superb visibility | ✅ 6 days a week |
| Winter (December-February) | Wet spells, cold wind | ⚠️ 2-4 days a week |
Practical Advice for Passengers
- ✅ Keep your flight day flexible — book a 2-3 day window rather than "tomorrow is my only free day"
- ✅ Choose the morning — wind usually builds in the afternoon
- ✅ Do not be annoyed by a cancellation — your pilot is protecting you
- ✅ Put paragliding early in your holiday so there is a backup day if it is called off
- ❌ Do not come to Alanya for a single day just to fly — the weather cannot be guaranteed
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you paraglide in the rain?
No. A wet wing loses performance, visibility drops and there can be a lightning risk. Even light drizzle cancels the flight.
Does wind always mean cancellation?
No. Wind of 5-15 km/h is the ideal condition. What matters is its speed, direction and steadiness. An experienced pilot can fly solo in strong but steady wind, but the limit for tandem is lower.
Can you fly on a cloudy day?
It depends on cloud height. High cloud (2,000 m+) is fine. Low cloud at take-off level stops flying. Entering cloud is prohibited and dangerous in paragliding.
Do I get a refund if my flight is cancelled?
At FlyNow, flights cancelled for weather get a full refund or a free reschedule. That is not something you need to worry about.
What is the safest time of day to fly?
Between 09:00 and 11:00 is usually the calmest and safest window. The wind is light, thermals have not yet built, and turbulence is minimal.
