Passengers often use the word “parachute” for everything above them. In reality, a tandem paragliding flight in Tenerife uses two different pieces of equipment: a paraglider wing for normal flight and a reserve parachute for an emergency. Understanding that difference gives you a much clearer picture of how the safety system actually works.
This guide is written for first-time passengers. It explains what you will carry, who is responsible for the reserve, what happens if it is deployed and which checks matter before a professional tandem flight. For the wider picture — including pilots, weather and operational decisions — read our guide to paragliding safety in Tenerife.
At Overfly Tenerife, every tandem flight carries a reserve parachute compatible with the tandem system and its permitted total weight. The pilot operates it; the passenger does not need to deploy anything. It is an important final layer of safety, but it does not replace suitable weather, certified equipment, systematic checks or good pilot judgement.
What does a tandem passenger actually wear?
The passenger wears a secure, seat-shaped harness and a certified helmet. The pilot has a separate tandem harness, and both harnesses connect through the tandem system to the paraglider wing. Depending on the equipment configuration, the reserve container may be integrated into the pilot’s harness or positioned in another compatible part of the tandem setup.
The passenger does not normally wear an individual skydiving-style parachute. Instead, the professional tandem system carries one reserve selected for the combined suspended weight of the pilot, passenger and all flying equipment. If it is deployed, both people descend together because both remain connected to the same system.
Useful to know: accurate passenger weight matters not only for choosing the tandem wing and suitable conditions; it also forms part of the total load considered when matching all certified equipment. Our dedicated guide explains the usual tandem paragliding weight limits.
Is the main paraglider wing also a parachute?
No. A paraglider and a reserve parachute have different jobs. The main paraglider is an aircraft: it is inflated before take-off, has an aerodynamic profile and is actively steered by the pilot. It can glide forward, turn, climb in rising air and make a controlled approach to a chosen landing area.
The practical difference
- Main paraglider wing: used throughout normal flight and controlled by the pilot.
- Reserve parachute: packed away during normal flight and intended only for an emergency.
- Normal take-off: the paraglider is already inflated; there is no jump or free fall.
- Reserve descent: designed to reduce the descent rate, not to reproduce an ordinary scenic flight.
If you would like to understand how the main wing glides and uses rising air, our non-technical guide explains how paragliding works.
Where is the reserve stored, and who deploys it?
The reserve is carefully folded inside an inner deployment bag and stored in a closed container that is part of the compatible tandem equipment. A dedicated handle is positioned so the pilot can reach it. The exact location can vary between harness designs, so it may not be obvious to a passenger looking at the equipment for the first time.
On a tandem flight, the pilot makes the decision and operates the reserve. The passenger is not expected to recognise a wing problem, find the handle or carry out a technical procedure. If the pilot gives an instruction, the passenger’s job is simply to listen and follow it.
It does not normally open automatically: a typical paragliding reserve is manually deployed by the pilot. It is different from the automatic systems people may have seen in some forms of skydiving.
When would a tandem pilot use the reserve parachute?
A reserve is not deployed simply because the air feels bumpy or the main wing moves. Paragliders are flexible aircraft, and trained pilots actively manage normal wing movement and recoverable events. The reserve becomes an option when the pilot judges that the main wing is no longer safely recoverable or controllable within the height and time available.
Possible situations can include a serious unrecoverable wing configuration, a major equipment problem or a collision. These are not routine events, and reserve deployments are uncommon in professional tandem flying. The equipment is carried because rare situations still deserve a prepared response.
The most effective risk control happens earlier: choosing suitable weather, using the correct equipment, inspecting it, briefing the passenger and deciding not to take off when the conditions do not offer an adequate margin.
This is also why a flight can be delayed or cancelled even when the coast looks clear. Read why tandem paragliding may be cancelled on a sunny day in South Tenerife.
What happens if the reserve parachute is deployed?
Once the reserve opens and takes the load, it is intended to create a more stable, reduced-rate descent for the connected pilot and passenger. The pilot then manages the remaining equipment as the situation, design and available time allow, and prepares both people for landing.
A reserve is not usually a second fully controllable paraglider. Conventional reserves are designed primarily to descend in a stable way, so there may be little or no ability to choose a precise landing point. The landing can also be firmer than a normal tandem landing. This is why a reserve reduces the consequences of a serious in-flight problem but cannot make aviation risk-free.
What the passenger needs to remember
- You remain securely connected to the tandem system.
- The pilot handles the reserve and the main wing.
- Listen for a clear instruction about your body and legs before landing.
- Do not try to grab the equipment or improvise a procedure.
Height matters: every reserve needs time and vertical distance to leave its container and open. That limitation is another reason professional pilots fly conservatively and make early decisions rather than treating the reserve as a guarantee.
How is a reserve parachute checked and maintained?
Carrying a reserve is only useful when the complete system is compatible, correctly installed and maintained. The reserve must be suitable for the maximum permitted suspended weight, fit the harness container, connect correctly to the tandem system and be packed in accordance with its manufacturer’s instructions.
Professional equipment management includes
- Correct selection: certification and permitted load must suit tandem use.
- Compatible installation: reserve, container, handle, bridles and connection points must work as one system.
- Periodic inspection and repacking: carried out at the interval and by the method specified by the manufacturer.
- Pre-flight checks: the pilot checks that the container is closed correctly and the deployment handle is secure.
- Action after use or concern: the equipment is removed from service and professionally inspected before flying again.
In Europe, paragliding reserve parachutes are commonly certified to the EN 12491 standard. Certification is important, but it does not replace correct sizing, packing, installation or maintenance. A certified component can only perform as intended when the complete setup is managed properly.
What should you check before booking a tandem flight?
You do not need to inspect or understand the technical equipment yourself. You should, however, choose an operator that answers simple safety questions clearly and never makes you feel uncomfortable for asking them.
Five useful passenger questions
- Will I fly with a qualified professional tandem pilot?
- Does every tandem setup include a reserve parachute?
- Is the wing and reserve suitable for our combined weight?
- What happens if the weather is unsuitable on the day?
- Will I receive a clear take-off and landing briefing before we fly?
A professional answer should explain the procedure without promising that an outdoor aviation activity has zero risk. For a broader booking checklist, read our 10 questions to ask before booking a tandem paragliding flight.
If this will be your first flight, our step-by-step beginner’s guide to tandem paragliding explains what happens from booking to landing. If nerves are part of the question, Inés also explains what she tells first-time passengers who want to fly but feel afraid.
Frequently asked questions about paragliding reserves
Does the tandem passenger wear a separate parachute?
Usually no. A professional tandem system carries one reserve selected for the combined suspended weight of the pilot, passenger and equipment. Both people remain connected to the same tandem system.
Is a paraglider itself a parachute?
No. The main paraglider is a steerable gliding wing that is inflated before take-off. The reserve is a separate emergency system intended to reduce the descent rate when continuing under the main wing is no longer the safer option.
Who deploys the reserve parachute on a tandem flight?
The tandem pilot operates the reserve system. The passenger is not expected to assess the situation or deploy it and should simply follow the pilot’s instructions.
Does the reserve parachute open automatically?
No. The reserve used in a typical tandem paragliding system is manually deployed by the pilot using a dedicated handle. It is not the same as an automatic skydiving system.
Can a paragliding reserve be steered?
Many conventional paragliding reserves are designed primarily to provide a stable descent rather than normal flight or precise steering. A landing under reserve can therefore be firmer and less controllable than a routine paraglider landing.
How often is the reserve parachute repacked?
The correct interval depends on the reserve manufacturer and the operating instructions for the equipment. Professional operators should follow that schedule, use the specified packing method and inspect the equipment sooner after deployment, moisture, damage or any other concern.
Fly with clear information and professional preparation
Compare our tandem options in Tenerife or continue with Gustavo’s complete guide to how pilots, equipment and weather decisions work together.