Elementary Pilot Course
Training to the first level of proficiency takes four days on average, subject to the student, and weather being fair. This level is known as ‘Elementary Pilot', a rating governed by the BHPA. You will be working through the BHPA’s student training book with ‘exercises' to complete. Your course includes theory, emergency landing techniques, equipment inspection, ground handling, launches in light and strong wind, short low flights progressing in stages up the slope with turns, high flights, normal landing techniques, packing of the wing, a written theory exam and ultimately an assessment of pilot attitude.
We will be using video analysis of your launches and will also record elements of your flying to look at ways in which to improve your technique.
You will receive our Peak Airsports training pack that contains all the information necessary to pass the written exam at the end of the Elementary pilot course.
You will be with a small group of trainees, and you will have the opportunity to watch Club Pilot training courses and take part in the lectures to get an idea of what the Club Pilot course entails
BHPA PIILOT RATING SCHEME (Self launch only)
Each exercise will be signed off in the pilot's Student Training Record.
Tasks for Elementary Pilot Rating
| Phase
1 Ground training |
1 | Introduction: BHPA membership; risk warning; site discipline and school rules; student’s health/medical conditions explanation of Training Programme and Pilot Rating Scheme; Student Training Record book; clothing / footwear. |
| 2 | Site Assessment briefing: Site and any site hazards; airflow and airflow hazards; weather assessment. | |
| 3 | Equipment introduction: Parts and function of the wing, harness and helmet; how an aerofoil creates lift; daily inspections demonstrated, practiced and understood. | |
| 4 | Avoiding and minimizing injury: Safety techniques discussed, including parachute landing falls (PLFs), when and how to use them – demonstrated and practiced to a good degree of competence. | |
| Phase 2 | 5 | Briefing: Pre-flight checks, taking off and landing into wind, airspeed control, the ‘flare’. |
| 6 | Preparation: Putting on the helmet and harness, wing layout, pre-flight checks. | |
| 7 | Inflation: Learning to inflate the wing, collapsing it, and the ‘post-flight’ control. | |
| 8 | Directional control: Making turns whilst running with the wing on the ground. | |
| Phase
3 First Hops |
9 | Getting Airborne: The student will practice taking off, making small flights (typically no more than 5 metres ground clearance), controlled landings. |
| Phase
4 Flight Exercises |
10 | Eventualities briefing: The need to prepare, before takeoff, plans to deal with the unexpected. |
| 11 | Commands and Communications briefing: This includes briefing on signals, bats, radios, verbal, as appropriate. | |
| 12 | Responsibilities Briefing: From this point the student becomes ‘pilot in command’ and will be in a position to determine the course of the flight. The student must clearly understand their level of responsibility for the safe conduct of the flight. | |
| 13 | (i) Maintaining course and airspeed; including flights to maximum 15 metres/50 feet. | |
| 14 | (ii) Introducing turns – up to 90 degrees. | |
| 15 | (iii) Completing simple flight plans; involving further ground clearance/height, unassisted launches, controlled landings within a designated area. | |
| Phase 5 | 16-18 | Lessons and personal study to gain knowledge to the required level on Meteorology, Principles of Flight, Airlaw, Rules of the Air. |
| 19 | Elementary Pilot Examination – Pass – you are now an Elementary Pilot! |
Cost's £500 excluding BHPA membership
Additional Information
It is important to have realistic expectations when learning to paraglide. Paragliding is a weather-dependant sport, and it can be frustrating at times when the weather is unsuitable for flying. If you are patient and you persevere, the rewards can be fulfilling and life-changing! If you are not a patient person, we most respectfully suggest that you consider another pastime. It is possible that some days you book have to be cancelled because the weather in not suitable for flying. Our primary aim is to make you a competent and safe pilot, and consequently we are very selective about the conditions we let you fly in.
What Happens if the Weather is Unsuitable?
We ask you to call the school (between 7:00pm and 8:00 pm) the evening before your course date, to establish if the forecast is suitable for flying. We take forecasts from many sources; the Duty Instructor’s decision about whether to run the course or not is final.
If the weather forecast is unsuitable, you are able to re-book the day at a later date. We will try and fit you in as soon as possible after your cancelled day; if we are booked-up on the day you choose, we shall suggest the nearest avalible date.
If the weather deteriorates during your training day, we look at the hours training you have already done that day, and credit the remaining hours to another day.
Cancellations
Seven days notice is required for cancellation of booked dates. Whilst no refund will be made, the deposit/ fee already paid will be credited against a rebooking. In the event that a course is wholly or partially unable to take place due to weather conditions, a proportionate credit will be allowed against a future date to be apportioned at the Duty Instructor’s discretion depending on circumstances.
Clothing
Bear in mind that courses take place in the outdoors, on exposed windy hillsides. Paragliding is a low activity sport so make sure you have enough warm, wind-proof clothing and gloves. You are not likely to be near convenient shelter so bring a waterproof jacket and trousers. Lastly, a sturdy lightweight pair of walking boots is strongly advisable. If you have your own climbing helmet, you may prefer to bring this along.
Food
If weather permits you will be on the hill all day. We eat on the hill so ensure you bring lunch with you.
Meeting Point
The Woodbine Café is known locally as the spot where all flyers congregate, and this is where we meet at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. The Woodbine Cafe is situated next to the Petrol Station in Hope on the main Hope Valley Road (A625). We will normally be back at the cars for 5pm. If traveling by train this rendezvous is a quarter of a mile east of Hope Station.
Weather Check
Telephone us between 7:00pm and 8:00pm the evening before your course commences to check weather conditions.