Eric Dufour
Since 18 years of age, Eric Dufour has lived his life fully and with passion through aviation sports.
He started in the aviation sports as sky diving instructor and private pilot. Now at 64-year-old, he is a Sport Pilot #10291955 (USA), Transport Canada Ultralight instructor #Q211928 and https://www.usppa.org/ (USA) training committee member and instructor examiner. He is also a paraglider rigger and expert witness.
Pioneering in this sport in North America, he is one of the leaders in paramotor teaching and is the one who started the simulator trainer.
Dufour’s teaching techniques make learning easier, safer and faster. This is the reason why some of his techniques are now used in different schools across America and Europe.
Because of his exceptional talent as a paramotor instructor, he earned the American EB-1 visa, which given to those are foreign nationals who either have “extraordinary abilities”, or are “outstanding professors or researchers”.
He won first place at the US national paramotor competitions in 2003, 2005 and 2006, as well as first place for spot landing with engine out during the Basse-Ham 2002 fly-in, France and Pizzo 2003 fly-in, Italy and has quit comps in at the end of 2006.
Eric was part of an expedition with the National Geographic to fly over an area known to be the most prolific in volcano activity, Kamchatka, Russia.
Proud of his achievements, since 1992 he has taught with his teams, well over 1,200 pilots (including instructors) in Canada and the USA.
Dufour has come up with one of the best paramotor training curriculums available in North America for foot launching and trike techniques and some of the best PPG pilots on this continent, which he says is the best reward an instructor can get.
