The Paraglider Manufacturers Association is pleased to announce the publication of a new industry standard: PMA Standard – Material Changes in Paragliders.
Developed by the PMA’s expert working group, this standard specifies criteria for exchanging materials in the production of paragliders without negative impact on airworthiness and safety.
In a market characterized by evolving material technologies and volatile supply chains, manufacturers require the flexibility to cope with supply issues or shift to improved materials during a product’s lifetime. This new standard provides a structured, safety-oriented framework to do so.
The initial version focuses specifically on the fabrics used in the paraglider’s canopy. It defines five core criteria – ranging from fabric weight and strength to glider weight and flight testing – that must be met to exchange one canopy fabric for another without impacting the paraglider’s airworthiness or safety. Additional materials may be addressed in potential future versions of this standard.
Effective 16 December 2025, the initial version (V 2025.12.1) is available for immediate download in the PMA Documents section on the PMA website.
Through its standard documents, the PMA is setting technical standards for the paragliding industry in areas which are not, or only vaguely covered by existing norms and regulations, with the intention of improving the safety of paragliding equipment via industry wide minimum standards.