Paragliding

As a beginner you need to complete the EPC and CPC courses detailed below before you can join a club and have your license fly without an instructor.  This is a novice qualification and there is still a lot to learn.

Our Post CP Foundation course will further your progression and it will help prepare you for the pilot course. This will help you build confidence, develop new skills, make you safer and prepare you for your pilot Rating.

We are well equipped to provide support for residential, group and corporate needs.

Day 1: 

The day normally starts with a classroom or at the hill session with introductions to the school our instructors and the BHPA. You will join the BHPA (British Hangliding & Paragliding Association) as a day member, (this is included in the price of the day course) and is mandatory for everyone who takes part in paragliding through the BHPA.  (The membership DOES  include legal liability insurance to cover you in the event of a claim being made against you for injury to another person or damage to property caused by your actions).

Next we issue each student the (STR) Student Training Record. What is the Student Training Record? This book details all the exercises which make up the training programme that you are following. Your instructor and you must use it to record your progress both in the main section and in the log section at the back. You should use it to ensure you fully understand each new exercise before it is attempted. Your student training record will be retained by your school.

After this we will look at site assessments including hazards, airflow and airflow hazards and weather assessment. Next the fun starts and we get an introduction to the equipment. We will learn about the parts and functions of the canopy, harness, and helmet – how an aerofoil creates lift – daily inspections will be explained demonstrated, practised and understood. We will also cover Safety techniques including when and how to use them.

Through ground based activity the student should achieve a reasonable and consistent level of competence at preparing the equipment for flight: inflating the canopy; running with it whilst looking ahead; how the controls work for directional control – initiating turns – lookout and looking ahead maintaining direction; flaring and collapsing the canopy. The student should now combine the skills practised on the ground to make straight ground skimming flights (typically less than 5m/15ft) ground clearance.

Should any of the students want to carry on with paragliding after doing the day course then the day they have done will carry over as the first day of the (EP) elementary course which is the first part to gaining a licence to fly a paraglider. After completing the EP course a further (CP) club pilot course is needed to then be allowed to join the local flying club and fly with-out the need of an instructor.

Download the full 1 day taster Syllabus CLICK HERE

£185

Will start from where we left off on day 1 with a briefing on the need to prepare before take-off, Plans to deal with the unexpected and the responsibilities briefing.

Maintaining course: We will have higher flights typically of about 15m/50ft, where we will start to make slight directional controls to maintain a straight course, we need at least 4 successful flights before we can move on to the next exercise Introducing turns.

Introducing turns: The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence and confidence whilst flying with a greater ground clearance (maximum 30m/100ft), maintaining good airspeed control and making gentle turns. The student will be briefed on turns and the need to avoid low turns and the need for lookout. The turns will be of no more than 90’ (ie. less than 45’ from directly into wind). Again we need at least 4 successful flights.

Should you decide at the end of the 2 days you want to carry on with training then the days you have done will go towards the course and the price you paid for the 2 days will be deducted off the price of the Elementary Pilot Course.

Download the full 2 day taster syllabus CLICK HERE

£350

Completing simple flight plans The student should reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence and confidence when making flights with a further increased ground clearance. Flights should involve unassisted launches, turns of 90’ or more with good lookout, good airspeed control and controlled landings in a defined area. The student should be briefed on turns and the need for lookout. At least 4 successful flights must be made. Any increases in altitude must be progressive.

Theory and examination

Through lectures, lessons, talks and personal study the student should achieve the required knowledge level in these subject areas.

Meteorology, Principles of flight, airlaw, airmanship and Rules of the air.

There will then be a multiple choice exam to pass before attaining your EP Award

Download the full EPC syllabus CLICK HERE

£550

This Course is 5 – 7 Days

After completing this course you will gain your BHPA CP licence, this means you can leave the school and fly without the need of an instructor but there is still a lot to learn. This course will have given you the basic essentials you need to get you soaring but restricts you to flying on the hill and not flying cross country which is the future aim of most pilots.

The Club Pilot CPC course Includes

A refreshed and expanded understanding of site assessment (including hazards, turbulence and rotor), weather assessment (including wind strength measurement, wind gradients and venture effect), flight planning (including the importance of building in options), Rules of the Air, ridge protocols, airflow around ridges, lift bands, soaring patterns, all turns away from the hill, the need to keep a good lookout.

You will reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at flights involving unassisted launches and controlled turns of up to and beyond 180’

You will reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at planning flights and landing approaches, by making a controlled landing within10m/30ft of a designated target at least 4 times.

You will reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at utilising ridge lift to maintain or gain height. This will include flying beats in a controlled manner and with good lookout. A minimum of 5 flights approx 10 minutes (or equivalent) must be completed, at least one of which must be completed either on a separate site or on a separate day.

You will have a basic knowledge of top landings. This includes good flight planning, accurate approaches and good canopy control after touchdown.

You will reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at flying with others, showing a good awareness of other craft and their characteristics. The student should be competent and confident at using the paraglider’s normally used speed range. They should also understand the hazards associated with fast and slow flight and be familiar with recognising the symptoms of a stall. The student should also have a basic understanding of the speed to fly concept.

You will understand the uses and limitations of accelerator systems (and trim setting devices) and be proficient and confident at using an accelerator system.

You will  reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at forward launch techniques, with good control throughout.

You will  reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at reverse launch techniques, with good control throughout.

You will reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at using weight shift and pitch-roll co-ordination in turns.

You will have a good understanding of cross wind and slope landings, and will understand the problems and hazards associated with these manoeuvres and know when and how they might be used.

You will understand water and tree landing procedures –PLFs – use of emergency parachute systems – uses and limitations of alternative control techniques such as weight shift and rear riser steering in the event of line control failure.

You will understand recovery techniques for collapses, stalls, spins and spirals – paraglider certification – BHPA recommendations on pilot skill level requirements.

You will demonstrate a good understanding of the concepts of active flying and coping with turbulence.

You will have a reasonable and consistent level of competence at using the ‘big ears’ rapid descent technique and should understand its uses and limitations. This should include closing the tip cells on one side at a time, weight shift steering whilst in the big-ears mode, safe exiting – no pumping!

You will reach a reasonable and consistent level of competence at dealing with and recovering from an asymmetric tuck of more than 15% and less than 35%

Through lectures, lessons, talks and personal studyyou will reach the Club Pilot (Novice) level of understanding in these subject areas. Meteorology, Principles of flight, Rules of the air, air law and General airmanship knowledge

Once you are a qualified CP pilot your licence allows to leave the school, join a club and ridge soar, if you want to progress towards your Pilot rating you can book on our PCPF Course which will help to prepare you for the Pilot Qualification enabling you to embark on XC (Cross Country) flying.

Download the full CPC syllabus CLICK HERE

£650

Post CP Foundation level Course  topics covered

Introduction to club flying.

Joining a club, Meeting new pilots, meting the club coaches, Sites introductions.

Flight exercises we will work on

Take offs and landings in winds of less than 5mph at 3 different sites with at least one on a separate site.
A minimum of 10 top landings, 3 to be done at different sites.
Flights from 5 different sites and 3 to be inland.
At least 3 long flight of over 1 hour duration.
A Minimum of 20 flights logged in a suitable log book.
A Minimum of 10 hours flying time logged.

Flight Planning and Decision Making

Is it safe to fly or not, Human factors for safety in flight, Group pressure, currency and pressure when not flown for a long period.

Sites Conditions and Meteorology

Learning about site conditions and making assessments on 2 different sites on 2 separate days.
Foundation level knowledge of site selection, turbulence and airflow around club sites, choosing the best take-off and landing area.
Foundation level knowledge of the clubs specific requirements regarding access and use of club sites. How to call the emergency services from club sites.
Foundation level knowledge of the dangers of flying when the ridge is crowded.

Glider control Skills

Light wind launching using the forward launch method.
Reverse launching – in light and steady winds using the reverse cross hands method showing good control. Winds of less than 12mph.
Reverse launching – in strong and gusty winds using the reverse cross hands method showing good control. Winds of more than 10mph.
Controlled landings in winds of less than 5mph and if suitable making practical demonstrations of the standard UK hill approach landing and the constant aspect approach.
Flying controlled and co-ordinated 360 deg turns in both directions.
Demonstrating the effective use of big ears and big ears and speed bar combinations for fast decent and knowing its dangers and limitations.
Daily inspections and pre-flight checks.

Knowledge base

Through discussions and watching instructional learning DVD’s you will learn and be able to explain the procedures for avoiding and recovering from stalls and spins.
The use of emergency rapid
decent techniques like the Bline stall and the Spiral dive.
You will understand more about pitch and roll control and times you may get an asymmetric tuck.
Actions to recover from the asymmetric tuck showing in particular full awareness of the dangers of over countering and the dangers of low level collapses.
Actions to recover from the symmetric tuck showing in particular full awareness of the dangers of over countering and the dangers of low level collapses.
Active flying techniques.
Standard UK hill landing approaches and techniques for controlled constant aspect approach landings.
Thermal flying.

Equipment

Through discussion and reading you will have foundation level knowledge in the following.
Factors involved in selecting the right equipment.
Different types, uses and complications with emergency parachutes.
Uses and complications of pod harnesses for low airtime pilots.
How to set an altimeter to an appropriate setting.
Demonstrate awareness of the Ariel collision risk.

£80 per day