Interview: From the Workshop Floor to the Sky, Dau’s journey
02 Abril 2026INFO | paragliding paragliding
APPI is a community made up of people from all walks of life, all united by their passion for paragliding. Some start at a very young age, while others discover it later in life. Trinh Thi Hong (but let’s call her Dau) is one of the latter. Let’s take a look back at her journey, being today one of the most highly skilled APPI maintenance expert.
**Learning by doing**
Dau grew up in an ordinary family in Vietnam. Her parents hoped she would go to university, believing it the safer path. She chose otherwise, sensing that practical experience would suit her better. It was not a decision made lightly, but it proved educative. *"Through these experiences I have learned to be more independent and responsible,"* and she adds: *"I believe everyone has their own path."*
Her entry into the world of paragliding was almost accidental. In 2016, she came accross an article about paragliding: *“I kept wondering how people could fly so freely in the sky, almost like birds, using only a paraglider.”* The article was from Aerotact, a paragliding equipment manufacturer in Japan and Vietnam. Quickly, this turns into an opportunity to work in the factory. *"I did not have a clear dream of flying at the beginning,"* she admits. *"I came to Aerotact out of curiosity."* Curiosity turned into employment, and employment, gradually, into vocation.
At the factory, she began with the smallest of tasks: organising equipment, supporting the technicians. Over time, and with the trust of Aerotact's director Mr. Hangai, Dau was handed greater responsibilities like inspecting gliders, measuring line lengths, assessing fabric condition, contributing to safety evaluations.
She explains: *"The work requires precision and responsibility, as it directly relates to pilots' safety. Step by step, I learned not only technical skills, but also discipline, attention to detail, and teamwork."*
**Japan, and the APPI encounter**
In 2022, after five years at Aerotact Vietnam, Dau was given the opportunity to move to Japan. The following year brought a turning point: she was recommended to assist Mrs. Chin at an APPI maintenance workshop, her first direct exposure to the organisation's international standards and professional processes.
*"I felt both nervous and grateful,"* she recalls. *"I knew I still had a lot to learn, but it was a valuable opportunity."* The experience did more than expand her technical knowledge: it introduced her to the kind of structured, cross-cultural learning environment where she would blossom.
At the same time, Dau was quietly building another skill set. She taught herself Japanese and English: not through formal classes, but through relentless daily practice. *"I tried to practice as much as possible through work, by listening, speaking, and not being afraid of making mistakes."* Today, these languages are not only tools of communication, they are bridges. *"It allows me to connect with people from different countries and to work more effectively in an international environment."*
**On the ground, and in the air**
Back at Aerotact, Dau became manager of the maintenance workshop at Coo in Japan. The workshop is located directly beside the flying site, a detail that shaped her relationship with the sport.
She started flying on weekends: *"I was not yet an experienced pilot, but each flight helped me understand the wings better and gradually improve my technique."* Flying and maintaining became two sides of the same understanding, each allowing her to be better in the other.
**Becoming an APPI maintenance instructor**
The next chapter brought Dau to the other side of the classroom. In 2024, she participated in an APPI Maintenance training in Japan as a staff member, followed by another in the United States in March 2025.
*"I see the trainees now as a reflection of myself in the past: feeling uncertain the first time I repaired a paraglider or sewed a line, yet everyone always try their best."* Her biggest challenge was language: “*My language skills were not very strong. However, I did my best to learn and communicate effectively with everyone."*
**Being a woman in the paragliding world**
When asked whether being a woman in paragliding (still a male-dominated world) has posed specific challenges, she is measured in her response. *"I believe the greatest challenges are not related to gender, but to experience and skills."* But she acknowledges that being a woman adds pressure of needing to prove herself more to earn trust. *"I have been very fortunate to receive a lot of support from my colleagues and instructors, which has helped me overcome difficulties."*
Her advice to any woman considering the sport is: start with the basics, be patient, listen to your instructors, and do not let fear eclipse passion. *"Trust yourself; gradually, joy and confidence will come as you gain experience."*
**Tools, community, and a distant dream**
Today, Dau is one of APPI's recognised experts in producing APPI Check Tool, which places her at heart of the APPI maintenance system and maintenance technicians community. *"It provides a clear and standardised way to check paragliders, which is very important for safety,"* she says. *"It is also very useful during the trainings, because it helps students better understand the checking process."*
She speaks of the APPI community with evident warmth. *"I still have a lot to learn, but through APPI I have the opportunity to improve my understanding and skills. I feel grateful to be able to learn from such an experienced and supportive network."*
And the Red Bull X-Alps, the legendary Alpine race that pushes paragliders and hikers to their absolute limits? She laughs softly at the question. *"Competing in the Red Bull X-Alps is only a distant dream for me. At my current level, it still feels far beyond what I can achieve."* She pauses. *"For now, I simply keep this dream quietly in my heart, as a motivation to continue learning, training, and progressing step by step."*
In her journey, from a Vietnamese factory floor to the sky and training technicians all over the world, there is, already, something extraordinary. Thank you Dau for answering our questions!
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*Dau is a certified APPI maintenance technician and maintenance instructor. She is based at Aerotact, Vietnam and Japan.*
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