BHPA Club Pilot (CP) Paragliding Course in Wales (5–7 days)
BHPA Club Pilot (CP) is the next step after EP. At this stage, you stop relying on constant instructor input and start becoming a safe, independent ridge-soaring pilot. Therefore, we focus on decision-making, launch control, landing accuracy, and flying with others — because those are the skills that keep you safe once you leave the school environment.
Prerequisite: you must have completed BHPA EP
You must have completed the BHPA Elementary Pilot (EP) course before starting CP. If you are still at beginner level, start with EP first. Then, once your foundations are solid, CP becomes a proper step forward instead of a struggle.
What CP allows you to do (and what it does not)
After CP, you can fly independently and join a club for ongoing experience. However, CP is not a cross-country qualification. Instead, it’s the stage where you build reliable hill and ridge skills, so you can progress safely towards Pilot rating later.
Save £700 with our equipment + training package
If you are buying your first full kit anyway, you can save money and avoid common mistakes. When you buy our complete equipment + training package (wing, harness, reserve and helmet), we deduct £700 from the price of this CP course. As a result, you get the correct kit, set up properly, and cheaper training at the same time.
What you will learn on the Club Pilot (CP) course
1) Site and weather assessment (better judgement, fewer bad calls)
First, we improve how you assess a site and its hazards, including rotor, turbulence and airflow. Next, we sharpen weather judgement, including wind strength, gradients and terrain effects. Finally, we show you how to plan flights with options, so you are not trapped by one single plan.
- Site assessment: hazards, turbulence, rotor and airflow around ridges
- Weather assessment: wind strength, wind gradients and terrain effects
- Flight planning: building options and safe landing choices
- Rules of the Air, ridge protocols and lookout discipline
2) Launch skills (forward and reverse)
Launching is where many incidents begin, so we make your launches repeatable. In addition, we build stronger canopy control so your take-offs are calmer and more accurate.
- Forward launches with good control throughout
- Reverse launches with good control throughout
- Stronger canopy control from inflation to take-off
3) Ridge soaring and flying with others
Ridge soaring is where CP pilots spend most of their flying time. Therefore, we focus on safe beats, good spacing, predictable lines, and proper protocols. Meanwhile, you will also build controlled turning skills in real conditions.
- Unassisted launches and controlled turns up to and beyond 180°
- Using ridge lift to maintain or gain height
- Flying beats with good lookout and safe spacing
- Flying with others: awareness of different wings and closing speeds
Minimum airtime requirement: at least 5 flights of around 10 minutes (or equivalent). At least one of these must be on a different day or at a different site.
4) Landing accuracy, slope landings and crosswind
Next, we improve your landing plans and approaches so you land by design, not by luck. As a result, you become more consistent and safer when conditions change.
- Planned approaches and controlled landings
- Landing within 10m / 30ft of a target at least 4 times
- Crosswind and slope landings: uses, hazards and when to avoid them
- Basic top-landing knowledge (only when suitable): planning, approach accuracy and canopy control after touchdown
5) Speed control, stalls, accelerator and “speed to fly” basics
At CP level, you must understand speed management. For example, you need to recognise stall symptoms early and understand the hazards of slow and fast flight. In addition, you will learn the uses and limits of accelerator systems.
- Confident use of the normal speed range
- Hazards of slow flight and fast flight
- Recognising stall symptoms early
- Accelerator: uses, limitations and confident operation
- Weight shift and pitch/roll coordination in turns
6) Active flying, turbulence, collapses and recovery
Real air is rarely smooth. Therefore, we develop active flying habits, earlier recognition of problems, and calmer corrections. As you progress, we also cover appropriate recovery techniques within the CP training scope.
- Active flying and coping with turbulence
- Recovery techniques: collapses, stalls, spins and spirals (CP appropriate)
- Recovering from an asymmetric tuck between 15% and 35%
7) Rapid descent: big ears (done properly)
When you need height loss, you must do it safely. So we teach big ears with correct entry, control and exit. Importantly, you do not “pump” out aggressively.
- Big ears: one side at a time
- Weight shift steering while in big ears
- Safe exit and limitations
8) Emergency procedures and airmanship
Finally, we cover emergency procedures. Not because you plan to use them, but because you need a clear plan if something goes wrong.
- Water and tree landing procedures
- PLFs (parachute landing falls)
- Emergency parachute systems: uses and limitations
- Alternative control methods: weight shift and rear riser steering if needed
Theory and knowledge areas
Alongside practical flying, you will reach CP level understanding through lectures, briefings and study. This includes meteorology, principles of flight, Rules of the Air, air law and general airmanship knowledge.
What to do after CP
Once qualified, you can leave the school, join a club and ridge soar. After that, if your goal is Pilot rating and XC (cross-country), you’ll build experience and continue structured progression. If you want a focused next step, book our 1 Day Advanced CP Foundation Level Course.
Safety and risk
Paragliding is aviation and involves real risk. Injuries and death can occur, even with proper training and equipment. Therefore, you must recognise and personally accept these risks before taking part. Training reduces risk, but it cannot remove every hazard.
