An Introductory day, the first day of your Paragliding /Paramotoring BHPA EP course to gaining qualifications in Paragliding or Paramotoring. Or just a fantastic fun day out for a new experience, some adventure training in the hills of South Wales. We will take you through the first 9 exercises in the BHPA syllabus, and possibly more if lucky with conditions.You will learn some basic safety techniques, including Parachute landing rolls. Learn about the equipment, how it flies, how to perform an inspection and a set of pre flight checks. How to launch and land and some basic ground handling techniques, all on the ground, then, when you are showing signs of getting the hang of it, we will let you try to get your feet off the ground on a gentle slope. ( typically students achieve between 2-10 flights ). All flying equipment is provided on this course - you will just need to bring suitable outdoor gear, and some boots and gloves. 

If you are keen to learn more we highly recommend this "Learning to Paraglide DVD" Or Touching Cloudbase Book

How to book with us! please read the Instructions below carefully

Axis Paragliding & Paramotoring Training Courses

If you would like to learn how to fly with us, we have settled upon a system which works well.  The difficult part is trying to get all the stars aligned; the right weather, our instructors and their availability. We have decided that, after 25 years of battling with UK weather conditions which have become more difficult due to climate change, any form of booking in advance of a day or two is a waste of all our time.

The weather conditions we need to run safe and productive training sessions are extremely specific.  It's not just a question of a nice day!  The wind direction has to be blowing directly onto the slope of a mountain, or a safe direction across the Paramotor field that we use for take-off.  It mustn't be too gusty or turbulent, and there are many other factors that we check during our extensive forecasting and planning.

Anyone who is on our system will be notified a day or two in advance of a possibility for the level of training you require. Not all flyable days are suitable for all trainees, so we try to match that as best as we can .  

The first level is Elementary Pilot (EP) which needs to be completed by all new pilots.  Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4 are messages for the progress through EP.  Day 1 is also called an intro training day. 

Club Pilot (CP) is the second stage following completion of the EP course and exam.

Pilots wishing to fly powered paragliders (paramotors) will complete the same EP course and can then progress to CP (power) although the more unpowered training you do, the better.  Paramotor pilots need to be further qualified to Pilot level.

The notifications will come via our Telegram groups - see below. It is free to join Telegram, but you will need to download the app using the links below in order to join the groups.  You must join both groups. When you join the Groups please ensure you have used your FULL name and not a nickname.

If you see a day on telegram that sounds suitable, please text SMS the duty instructor and we will take people on a first come first served basis.  We will then provisionally confirm we have space by text.  If full, priority will be given to those that have been on the booking form longest. 

At 7.30pm, the night before the day of flight, you text us again and we confirm details of meet place and time, or we cancel. 

If you are confirmed you are then committed and liable to pay for your day.  We have to book and pay our instructors even if you don't show up!  An invoice will be sent which you can pay via PayPal or bank transfer.

Pricing

We charge £150 per day for all paragliding training. It takes on average 4 days to complete EP and then 4 days for CP.  Paramotoring takes possibly 2-3  days for CP and eventually a further day for full power pilot rating.  The price includes all paragliding equipment. Paramotor days on the School motor are charged + £60 inc fuel/oil. 

Free Gift Vouchers!  If you would like to buy someone a gift, we have a Voucher that can be edited and copied to give to them.   Payment is then collected by PayPal or bank transfer on the day they are confirmed.

FREE GIFT VOUCHER HERE Please restore the Voucher TEXT to the way you found it for the next user

Payment  We will bill you via PayPal, or you (or the person purchasing the gift voucher) can pay by bank transfer the night before you fly.

When you have been confirmed by text, you will be liable for payment for that day, even if you don't turn up!   We have to book instructors, and when we confirm them they expect a day’s work. So if you book in, please be free!

BHPA membership. You will be required to have one of the following BHPA memberships whilst under training.  Select from:

• One day intro to test the water.  £29 
• 3 month training membership.  £104 (upgradeable, plus one off £30 joining fee) Only valid to EP.
• Annual membership for £169 (plus one off £30 joining fee) 

Please bring a credit or debit card with you to pay and join on the day.  PayPal and bank transfer is also possible. You can join in advance (except one day intro( via the BHPA website If you do please bring the confirmation e-mail with you on the day.

Equipment: We hope that you enjoy the sport so much that you will want to buy your equipment from us. Our advice is unbiased and excellent, and we can help you avoid the pitfalls often made by many first time buyers.  If you want to buy equipment during your course, we can get you set up and everything flying correctly. If you buy new gear from us, we will give probably the best deal available, so please ask!  And, we will fully support you for years to come. 

After the Intro day you can get a £50 credit per day from your training fees, up to a maximum of 7 days (£350) against the purchase of new kit. 

If you want to buy used gear, we will source the best equipment for you with our 30 years of experience. Please do not ask us to check out an eBay special, or to allow you to fly an untested glider in training school.

Location: We will not normally be able to confirm the location of the flight until the final forecast the night before. It depends on the weather, but will be somewhere in South to South West Wales. Obviously we would prefer it is not that far from our base in Abergavenny, but the location is always dictated by the weather.

Timings: Again this is something we often don't know, and can't be precise about as it is totally weather dependent. If we can give a clue on Telegram as to where and when, we will try, but don't hold us to it! It is again controlled by the weather. It is quite often possible to fly late into the evening in the summer and these end of day flights can be magical.

How long is the day?

Normally they are a fairly full and long day, sometimes we get home very late when trying to get the most from the best conditions. If we think there will be a half day, we will charge half.

Where do you meet?   When you text the Instructor you will be given instructions and directions where to meet. We do not stick to one meeting place as it depends which site we are using that day. It will often be at a supermarket car park, (a good place to get lunch, water, fuel etc) and is easy to find. Two popular ones are shown below, but do not assume that it will always be one of these.

Waitrose - Merthyr Road Llanfoist Abergavenny NP7 9LL  (Near car park entrance)

Asda -Dowlais Top Merthyr Tydfil CF48 2YF (Near recycle point Right side facing store)

What do I need to wear/ bring?

We don't really know how long you will be with us, so it is best to be well prepared in case you have to hang around waiting on the weather.

Boots with ankle support*

Gloves*    

* required for your protection

Credit/Debit card for full BHPA memberships (cash only for 1 day)

Sun cream

Hay fever tabs?

Outdoor/Warm clothes/ layers (even in summer it can be very cold)

Lunch 

Sunglasses

Big Smile

Camera 

Water (lots, 3-4 liters on a warm day.

Telegram Groups. At the moment we have 2 groups for Telegram, “Training”, where I broadcast weather and training days and “Chat” group, where you can ask questions to the group. You can send me personal messages on Telegram which saves the whole group hearing it.  Often the community can be helpful and it’s info for all to learn from.

When you join, Please use your FULL NAME on the account or we will have to delete you. 

To join the Axis Paragliding training forecast group. https://t.me/joinchat/AtY-NEFaTb4-k-I37sy-3A

Chat group. 

https://t.me/joinchat/AtY-NEO_Kr-69UtO1QWh6A

Why Telegram?  Telegram is a superb app for group communications, and it is how most pilots in the UK and their relative clubs communicate. It is good to get used to this, so that when you join a flying club you will already be familiar with the system.

Restrictions: You need to be reasonably fit and healthy to undertake training. The minimum age is 14 years, and there is no upper age limit.  Our upper weight limit is 115kg. 

You will need to complete our booking form. There is one here, so please read and complete carefully. Press “Submit” at the end if you want to send it electronically.

 REGISTRATION FORM

If you are keen to learn more we highly recommend this "Learning to Paraglide DVD" or Touching Cloudbase Book

The participant will be required to take out a membership of the BHPA and complete one of our PDF Booking forms (Form) or if for a present (Gift)

This is the syllabus that all students will work through. click to view

If you would like to read some more about the sport and some basic theory download this BHPA EP training guide