Airtime of San Francisco

Jeff is an amazing instructor. I originally began my training in San Diego at Torrey Pines Glider port back in 1995. Great folks down there. Shortly after I began there, I moved to the Bay Area where I finished my P2 with a well known instructor at that time. God bless him. Anyway, 2002 was my last flight until I picked up the sport again in 2012. I started shopping around and called Jeff one day on the phone. Based on my previous paragliding experience, I could tell immediately he would be my next instructor. Very easy to talk to and just full of information and real life experiences. Very technical too, I might add. Anyway, I pretty much started from scratch since the technology had advanced so much in the past ten years.
Jeff has offered excellent instruction and has a keen eye for watching your flight preps and take offs. He’s been flying since the ’80’s. One of the first to learn paragliding and teach it. He will always be your critic for good reason. Aviation of any kind is not so forgiving so you have to know your limitations and understand your level of experience. He will provide you the base knowledge and advanced as you progress through your training and experience. Expect to make new terrific friends and share a common ground from all walks of life.
Thank you Jeff for your patience and excellent training.

Really glad I came to Jeff to take his P2+ course. Instruction is thorough and comprehensive. Jeff has a strong focus on safety and teaching his students how to do things the right way. He makes a lot of effort to teach students not just what they need for their rating, but also extra skills he considers important. His paragliding articles that come with the course are excellent. When looking for paragliding schools, I didn’t see any that had anything like that, and some schools were even linking back to the free articles on Jeff’s site. My conclusion when I signed up with him was that there isn’t a better person around here to learn from and my experiences with him are most certainly bearing that out.

2013 has been one of the most memorable years of my life largely because of paragliding and the people that I have met through this incredible sport. I have Jeff Greenbaum to thank for safe and thorough instruction and continuing to be a valuable resource to me and many of my flying friends.
I started the P2+ Unlimited lessons package this past February and was able to complete my P2 certification by June. Scheduling lessons was a cinch as Jeff’s schedule is extremely flexible and open. The combination of kiting (ground handling) sessions, flying off the 300 foot hill at Ed Levin Park in Milpitas, ground schools, as well as a very comprehensive collection of on-​line articles made for a great approach to learning. Jeff has high standards and is extremely discerning, as one previous reviewer mentioned. He will not let you get away with sloppy technique or congratulate you when you haven’t done everything correctly. I have come to appreciate this very much as I believe it has made me a more aware and safety-​conscious pilot. In a sport where attention to detail and situational awareness are critical to avoid injury (or worse), I am glad I learned from an instructor with high standards.
Achieving my P2 certification was just the beginning of my paragliding adventures, however. Jeff organizes several mountain paragliding trips from the late spring through early fall — -more than any other local instructor, it seems. These trips are a fun way to get a supervised introduction to other flying sites in northern California and meet other paragliding pilots. Jeff’s attention to detail, good judgement and concern for safety make flying in the mountains a fun, comfortable and confidence-​building experience. This February, I will be accompanying Jeff and 6 other pilots to paraglide near Guadalajara, Mexico. I can’t wait.

Jeff is hands down the best, most knowledgable paraglider in the area and beyond. He is passionate about the sport, but always puts safety first. His teaching style is thorough and intense. His main concern always is pilot safety and will not rush the process. He does have pilots who sometimes assist him but he is essentially a one man operation and gives all of his time and energy to his students. If you are serious about becoming a pilot Jeff is the instructor
you want.

I did not have a good experience with Jeff. He is unorganized, unresponsive, and not someone I would do business with again. It’s unfortunate because he came highly recommended by someone I trust.
My first time out with Jeff in May 2012, I paid a $ 200 deposit for me and four friends to go paragliding. Turned out the wind was too much. Ok, no biggie. My friends were visiting, so I was told I could use the credit again.
I rescheduled once but Jeff forgot after confirming. I called him the day of, and he basically said «whoops.» I rescheduled again late in the season, and the wind waa too light. This is a weather sport after all.
I try to schedule again for the fourth time in September 2013, and Jeff still doesn’t remember who I am. Gives me his loooooong spiel all over again and tells me to go online and send him an email through his website. I do this, wait a week, and then call him because I hadn’t received any confirmation (and from past experience, I know how unorganized he is). Jeff once again starts to give me his spiel, and I tell him I’m calling because I didn’t receive a response to my email and am checking to make sure it didn’t get misplaced. He then says he believes I’m being unreasonable and impatient and doesn’t want to work with me. I mention he still has $ 200 of mine from last year, and he says the best he’ll do is give me 70% of my money back. He did refund in the end.
Basically, Jeff is a semi-​pro glider trying to convert his passion into a living but lacks the business skills to provide good service. I would not have continued to work with Jeff if I could have gotten my money back sooner, and I caution those thinking about signing up with him. It’s too bad there are so few other licensed tandem glider instructors in the area. There’s a big market waiting for someone who can provide a great experience.

This review is long overdue (as in several years)…as I was doing some spring cleaning of my files, I ran across a voucher my husband bought me for a tandem flight and it brought back my experience! As a birthday present, my sweet husband paid $ 250 for a tandem flight. Being the self conscious girl that I am, I was trying to lose weight before strapping myself to a stranger to jump off a cliff and hang in the air (visions of me weighing us down couldn’t be extinguished). Time wore on, I eventually got to my goal weight, but it took about a year.
I called Jeff to set up my ride and was told it had been too long. Now, I am a groupon & living social regular and get that promo values are only good for so long. However, it is the law in CA that the amount paid still applies. Needless to say, Jeff totally blew me off after several attempts to book. Oh well, $ 250 down the drain. I see the para gliders constantly (they fly over my house) and I always wonder if that’s the jerk that happily took my husband’s money, then tried to act like some sort of magic paragliding inflation occurred that warranted forfeiture of the purchase!

Whether you’re looking to become a certified paragliding pilot or you’re interested in a weekend introduction to flying, Airtime’s program is hands down the right avenue to take. Jeff is the most knowledgeable instructor that I know, and he really takes the time to finesse his students’ techniques. I completed his P2+ Unlimited lessons package and am incredibly satisfied with the training — from ground school to kiting to flying. Here is the basis for my assessment:
(1) Jeff has three decades of flying experience. His worldwide flying ventures have enabled him to have a conscience grasp on what is required to be safe in the air.
(2) Jeff cares about his students’ techniques and abilities. He’s not the instructor who will applaud you when you haven’t done everything correctly. He will make sure that you’ve learned something new (or have been reminded of something you forgot) after every single lesson. Jeff’s instruction instills the very fundamentals and essentials required to become a first-​class pilot.
(3) Jeff makes learning on and off the mountain very easy. His website contains the most comprehensive guide to paragliding. It has detailed articles (on anything and everything), videos, and quizzes. His ground school is also incredibly beneficial, and there is no limit to the number of classes you can attend.
(4) Jeff takes time with his students. I highly recommend his P2+ Unlimited package. You are not rushed into graduating from the program, and Jeff is on the mountain with you until both of you are comfortable with your solo flying ability.
(5) Jeff has a very accommodating schedule. He has a fast response time to emails, text messages, and phone calls. He has a calendar and updates it daily with lesson times, attendees, etc. It makes scheduling and keeping track of dates very easy.
I highly recommend Jeff Greenbaum’s Airtime of SF program for anyone considering paragliding.

In 2009 Jeff took my dad and I through our P2 ratings and since has been an incredible resource for this amazing adventure that is flying. Jeff constantly introduces us to new sites, new people, and encourages us to fly conservatively and safely. Here are a few highlights of my experience with Jeff:
— Jeff leaves no stone unturned — when you are learning from Jeff he will give you his full attention and will make sure you understand every mistake you are making as well as all the things you are doing well. He can be garrulous at times and I find this to be a strong asset. I’d rather know each and every detail of what I’m doing rather than just throw myself at the sky uninformed.
— Jeff has great integrity and expects this of his students. If he says he will be somewhere he will be. This makes what could be a difficult process of scheduling and arranging lessons work very well, smoothly, and fairly.
— Jeff’s website is great. check it out:
The thoroughness and professional quality of this website is a testament to Jeff’s intentions as an instructor and mentor.
— Jeff is a great resource if you ever desire to get a tandem rating or an instructor rating.
— Jeff organizes amazing weekend trips to flying sites all over california! These trips are really fun and typically involve camping and amazing company ground side or in the sky.
— Jeff is all around a great guy. He means well, he does well, he takes care of his people, and his love for the sport is infectious.
I give Jeff 5 stars because I am very satisfied with the quality of his lessons and his contribution to my paragliding experience in general. Paragliding is an incredible experience and I have really lived some of the greatest moments of my life hanging from a rag 7000′ feet over the sierras in thermals with eagles and hang gliders or 3500′ over lake Berryessa practicing full stalls in a clinic with my dad. If I were to do this all over again knowing what I know now I would absolutely do it again with Jeff as my instructor.

I learned paragliding with Jeff of Airtime of San Francisco four years ago, best decision ever. Airtime of San Francisco has a well structured course, the pace is kept constantly within the student acquired skill set, and Jeff judgment is always spot on.
Airtime is also a great source of study material with technical articles that support the needs ranging from beginner to advance piloting. The care and quality this material is put together with is indicative of the passion and commitment of the school to its students.
The teaching does not stop at the end of the course. Jeff has been a constant source of support and instruction even after graduation. He truly creates a community of passionate friends around his school to exchange experience and fly together.
After 4 years of flying, I still go to Jeff for advice on techniques, on sites, and flying conditions. I know I can still relay on his suggestions to fly better and to be safe.
While there are several schools in the bay area I truly believe Airtime of San Francisco is by far the best.

I’m most of the way to my P2 rating through Airtime’s «P2+ Unlimited» lesson program and have purchased my own equipment through them, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with my choice of paragliding school.
Now that I’ve hung around the hill a bit and seen different instructors in action I can attest to one of Jeff’s most significant strengths. Jeff sees everything. Everything. If I connect something wrong, if my hand is in the wrong place, if I pull a little too much brake when I’m launching or kiting… Jeff sees it, and I will hear about it. Jeff wants my ground handling and launches to be perfect. When it comes to the nuts and bolts stuff (and how I’m doing it wrong) he is as direct as direct can be. I’ve come to appreciate this very much.
If you’re interested in paragliding instruction, give Jeff a call, talk to him about his program, maybe even attend a ground school. But more than anything I suggest you sign up for his two-​day introductory paragliding course. My first day was reserved for «kiting», or learning to fly the wing overhead before leaving the ground. It might seem like a drag if you’re as eager to fly as I was, but by teaching this critical skill early, Jeff sets students up for a MUCH better day the first time they get to launch off the training hill. I’ve watched other students at the hill get overwhelmed trying to learn launching without learning some kiting skills first. I also got access to his comprehensive collection of articles and a chance to work with him a bit and see his style before I committed to the rest of the program. Jeff credited the cost of the two-​day intro towards the cost of my full lesson package.
Given how much time Jeff has spent with me so far, the P2+ Unlimited package is an excellent value. You can compare packages from different schools, but I want to point out some things that you don’t necessarily get from the website. These are the kind of things I worry about before I spend a significant amount of money on something open-​ended like an instruction package:
— Jeff has been available every single day I have. He doesn’t have to schedule around another job. On days when I’m the only student I get a one-​on-​one lesson. On other days I get the huge benefit of watching and talking to other students. He’s never canceled on me or flaked. He lays his whole calendar out on his website so everyone can see everything.
— Jeff is prompt. (Do NOT be late. You’ll get an earful. :))
— Jeff always answers even my dumbest questions thoroughly, even the second and third time I ask them, without making me feel dumb for asking them.
— Jeff never stops working on his approach to instruction. You can tell by his articles that he’s poured himself into teaching people to fly for a long time. When I have failed to grasp a concept or not understood a mistake I was making, he’s come at it from a bunch of angles trying to figure out how to help me learn. He’s as passionate about teaching as he is about flying.
Learning to fly has been the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. All my flights off the various training hills have been magic, but I’m really looking forward to earning my P2 rating so I can get to the really, really good stuff like my coastal intro. Airtime also organizes trips to remote sites where Jeff offers coaching to former P2 students, the learning doesn’t stop when you get your rating.
Every paraglider pilot is a character. I’ve made friends with some of the most interesting and colorful people, and Jeff is no exception. Wait till you meet these people! And wait till you start flying into lift and going UP. They say, «up is good». Up, as it happens, is really, really, really good.