Below you will find details of what to expect on each of our courses, whether a tandem flight, taster day, elementary pilot course, club pilot course or winch conversion... but first a few notes about how booking works...
PARAGLIDING IS WEATHER DEPENDENT
WHO CAN FLY? Anyone over 16 - there is no upper age restriction. You don’t need to be super-fit - there is little strength involved in paragliding, though walking up hills and carrying kit can be mildly demanding. Anyone with medical problems should think twice about flying; we don’t normally require a medical certificate, but if you do have any doubts, give us a call. Everyone attempting paragliding must be aware that it is a risk sport, and take this risk "on board". If the possibility - however remote - of personal injury whilst pursuing a sport is unacceptable, then paragliding is not for you.
MEETING AND ADMIN. 
PLEASE NOTE - Although we occasionally close for overseas trips and also over xmas/new year, we teach all year round! Weather conditions over winter and spring can often offer ideal conditions for beginners.A summary follows of what to expect in the lessons and courses we offer, as laid out by the BHPA syllabus.
Tandem Paragliding Flight
An ideal way to get airborne and taste the paragliding experience - it's an ideal gift, as we issue a voucher which can be presented and redeemed later (vouchers last for a full six months). A tandem flight will get you airborne after an introductory briefing, under the careful guidance of a fully-qualified and experienced BHPA Tandem Pilot; flights normally last around 15-20 minutes, although as with all gliding flight, the exact time "airborne" cannot be guaranteed. If weather/wind conditions dictate that we cannot soar for long we may have two shorter flights instead. One thing is for certain, you will experience a fantastic flight with superb views over the Sussex countryside... on a clear day you might see the Seven Sisters coastal cliffs, Brighton Town and the Isle of Wight...
After experiencing the thrill of free flight, many people go on to take up paragliding as a serious hobby. Whether you are inspired to continue paragliding or not, your first tandem flight will be an experience of a lifetime. Anyone of average fitness can take a tandem flight - we foot launch and gently land again with the minimum of effort.
All you need to do is dress in warm clothing for the day's weather and wear flat shoes with good grippy soles and ankle support - gloves can also be a good idea. Allow up to half a day for your flight to give time to meet, get to the flying site, have a pre-flight briefing and of course the flight itself.
Please be aware that safety is of paramount importance and paragliding is potentially a dangerous adventure sport, needing suitable weather conditions. Therefore, if the weather is not suitable on a particular day we may have to cancel your flight and re-schedule for another day.
Tandem Flights close from October to Easter each year, as the extended high flights we aim to give to tandem customers depend on thermic conditions not usually found over the winter. Tandem vouchers expiring within this time will be extended by the appropriate duration.
Click here to book a Tandem Voucher now...
Paragliding Taster Day
Read about the experience of a Taster Day in
Sussex Magazine Village Living...
Gift vouchers (redeemable any time within 10 months) can be issued for a day taster on request; you can buy a two-day voucher if you wish to have a more substantial experience covering exercises 5 to 13 - or even buy a two day voucher and use it for two of you to come along - why not buy a gift and come along and have a fun day too!
Click here to book a Paragliding Taster Day (or Voucher) now...
Elementary Pilot (EP) Course
Usually takes around 5 days; we offer an open-ended approach to allow flexibility for the weather and abilities.
1-4 Introductory Talk, Site Assessment, Introduction to Equipment, Avoiding injury.
Ground Handling
5 Briefing then hands-on: wind direction flare/stall
6 Preparation hands-on: the paragliding canopy, harness and helmet
7 Inflation, take-off and landing sequence practised
8 Directional control - initiating turns
First Hops
9 Getting airborne - take-off on training slope with good control of airspeed, canopy and landing
Flight exercises
10 Eventualities briefing - dealing with the unexpected
11 Commands and communications briefing
12 Responsibilities - the student becomes the pilot-in-command
13 Flights (1) straight flights, maintaining course and airspeed
14 Flights (2) introducing turns
15 Flights (3) completing simple flight plans with increased height
Theory and Examination
16-20 Meteorology, Principles of flight, Rules of the Air, Multiple Choice exam
Final assessment of Elementary stage
20 Student reaches a standard of airmanship and attitude to continue training.
Click here to book an Elementary Pilot Course now...
At this stage, the student is "their own pilot", and may move on to Club Pilot level, but must remain in an environment supervised by an Instructor until the Club Pilot is completed.
Club Pilot (CP) Course - follows on from the EP Course above
Usually takes around 5 days post-CP; we offer an open-ended approach to allow flexibility for the weather and abilities.
21 Theory
22 180 degree turns to a consistent level
23 Planned approaches - Minimum 4 successful flights with landing within 10m of target
Soaring
24 Soaring flight - Minimum 3 successful flights using ridge lift to maintain gain height
25 Top landings - Minimum 4 successful flights
26 Flying with others
Improving Skills
27 Exploring the speed range
28 Accelerator system
29 Forward launching
30 Reverse launching
31 Weight shift and pitch-roll in turns
32 Cross wind and slope landings
Instability and Emergencies
33 Theory
34 Active flying
35 Rapid descent techniques
36 Dealing with an asymmetric tuck
Theory and Examination
37-41 Meteorology, Principles of flight, Rules of the air and air law, General airmanship knowledge, Club pilot theory examination
Final assessment for Club Pilot
42 Declaration by Senior instructor
Click here to book a Combined EP/CP or Club Pilot Course now...
Winch/Tow Conversion Course
Winch/Tow Conversion Courses - Minimum requirements CP
A two-day course covering theory and a minimum of ten flights. For more details contact us.
TERMS
*CREDIT IS VALID UNTIL THE EXPIRY DATE SPECIFIED. WE EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO REBOOK IN CASE OF WEATHER CANCELLATIONS.
*WE ARE UNABLE TO EXTEND VOUCHERS WITHOUT A SURCHARGE
*CREDIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE, BUT MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PARTICIPANT AT OUR DISCRETION.