Skip to content

Club pilot course: 5 – 7 days

Embark on a transformative paragliding journey with our 5-day British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA) Club Pilot Course. Tailored for those who’ve conquered the Elementary Pilot stage, this comprehensive program is designed to elevate your skills, knowledge, and confidence, leading you toward the coveted status of an independent and proficient paraglider pilot.

Here is an overview of what to expect;

Tasks will vary in order to maximize productivity and adapt to the conditions of the day. Due to this flexibility, it is challenging to provide a day-by-day structure of our activities. However, here is an overview of the topics we will cover:

  • Advanced Ground Handling: Hone your ground handling skills with precision and finesse, mastering control in various conditions to build a solid foundation for upcoming flights.
  • High Wind Launching Techniques: Delve into launching in higher wind conditions, expanding your capability as a pilot and enhancing your overall proficiency.
  • Longer flights: flights of more that 10 minutes utillising ridge lift and flying with others following the ridge proto calls.
  • Site Assessment: Enhanced knowledge of site hazards, turbulence, rotor effects, and airflow around ridges for informed decision-making.
  • Weather Assessment: Understanding wind strength measurement, wind gradients, venture effect, and the importance of accurate weather evaluation.
  • Flight Planning: Emphasis on planning flights, incorporating options, Rules of the Air, ridge protocols, soaring patterns, and maintaining a good lookout.
  • Competence Development: Achieving a consistent level of competence in unassisted launches, controlled turns, planning flights, and landing approaches.
  • Ridge Lift Utilization: Proficiency in using ridge lift for height maintenance or gain, involving controlled flying beats and good lookout.
  • Top Landings: Basic knowledge of top landings, covering flight planning, accurate approaches, and controlled canopy control after touchdown.
  • Flying with Others: Developing a good awareness of other aircraft, understanding speed ranges, and recognizing the hazards associated with fast and slow flight.
  • Launch Techniques: Competence in forward and reverse launch techniques with precise control.
  • Weight Shift and Coordination: Utilizing weight shift and pitch-roll coordination effectively in turns.
  • Landings: Understanding crosswind and slope landings, including associated problems, hazards, and proper execution.
  • Emergency Procedures: Knowledge of water and tree landing procedures, PLFs, use of emergency parachute systems, and alternative control techniques in case of line control failure.
  • Recovery Techniques: Understanding and implementing recovery techniques for collapses, stalls, spins, and spirals.
  • Active Flying: Grasping the concepts of active flying and coping with turbulence for a smoother and controlled experience.
  • Big Ears Technique: Proficiency in using the ‘big ears’ rapid descent technique, understanding its uses and limitations.
  • Asymmetric Tuck Recovery: Competence in dealing with and recovering from an asymmetric tuck of specific degrees.
  • Theoretical Understanding: Achieving a Club Pilot (Novice) level of understanding through lectures, lessons, talks, and personal study in subjects such as meteorology, principles of flight, rules of the air, air law, and general airmanship knowledge.

Course features

  • Expert Instructors: Benefit from the guidance of experienced BHPA-certified instructors, imparting their wealth of paragliding knowledge.
  • Comprehensive Training: Engage in hands-on exercises, real-flight scenarios, and thorough theoretical instruction, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of advanced paragliding techniques.
  • Expanded Equipment Familiarization: Gain familiarity with a broader range of paragliding equipment, preparing you for diverse flying conditions.

Elevate Your Skills, Soar with Confidence:

Ready to soar higher and farther? Enroll in our extended 5-7 day BHPA Club Pilot Course, propelling yourself toward independence and mastery in the world of paragliding. Secure your spot now and experience the exhilaration of navigating the skies with confidence and skill.

Ready to book your CP course click here