Editing Hang gliding (section)

== Training and safety ==
[[Image:KittyHawk.jpg|thumb|Learning to hang glide]]
Due to the poor safety record of early hang gliding pioneers, the sport has traditionally been considered unsafe. Advances in pilot training and glider construction have led to a much improved safety record. Modern hang gliders are very sturdy when constructed to Hang Glider Manufacturers Association, [[British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association|BHPA]], Deutscher Hängegleiterverband, or other certified standards using modern materials. Although lightweight, they can be easily damaged, either through misuse or by continued operation in unsafe wind and weather conditions. All modern gliders have built-in dive recovery mechanisms such as luff lines in kingposted gliders, or "sprogs" in topless gliders.

Pilots fly in harnesses that support their bodies. Several different types of harnesses exist. At least one set of hang glider construction plans (Hall's Hawk) had instructions for constructing a harness. 
 Pod harnesses are put on like a jacket and the leg portion is behind the pilot during launch. Once in the air the feet are tucked into the bottom of the harness. They are zipped up in the air with a rope and unzipped before landing with a separate rope. A cocoon harness is slipped over the head and lies in front of the legs during launch. After takeoff, the feet are tucked into it and the back is left open. A knee hanger harness is also slipped over the head but the knee part is wrapped around the knees before launch and just pick up the pilots leg automatically after launch. A supine or suprone harness is a seated harness. The shoulder straps are put on before launch and after takeoff the pilot slides back into the seat and flies in a seated position.

Pilots carry a [[parachute]] enclosed in the harness. In case of serious problems, the parachute is manually deployed (either by hand or with a [[Ballistic parachute|ballistic assist]]) and carries both pilot and glider down to earth. Pilots also wear helmets and generally carry other safety items such as knives (for cutting their parachute bridle after impact or cutting their harness lines and straps in case of a tree or water landing), light ropes (for lowering from trees to haul up tools or climbing ropes), radios (for communication with other pilots or ground crew), and first-aid equipment.

The accident rate from hang glider flying has been dramatically decreased by pilot training. Early hang glider pilots learned their sport through trial and error and gliders were sometimes home-built. Training programs have been developed for today's pilot with emphasis on flight within safe limits, as well as the discipline to cease flying when weather conditions are unfavorable, for example: excess wind or risk [[cloud suck]].

In the UK, a 2011 study reported there is one death per 116,000 flights, a risk comparable to sudden cardiac death from running a marathon or playing tennis.<ref>{{Citation
  | title = Risk of dying and sporting activities
  | url = http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/Risk/sports.html
  | access-date = 31 May 2011
| url-status = dead
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120904102144/http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/Risk/sports.html
  | archive-date = 4 September 2012
| df = mdy-all
  }}</ref> An estimate of worldwide mortality rate is one death per 1,000 active pilots per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forum.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=6647|title=injury/fatality data? - Hang Gliding Org|website=Hang Gliding Org|date=May 2008 |language=en-gb|access-date=26 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026110740/http://forum.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=6647|archive-date=26 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.willswing.com/hg-faq/|title=HG FAQ - Wills Wing|work=Wills Wing|access-date=26 October 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514000830/https://www.willswing.com/hg-faq/|archive-date=14 May 2018}}</ref>

Most pilots learn at recognised courses which lead to the internationally recognised International Pilot Proficiency Information card issued by the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]].