Please note: you must complete a CP (tow) course before you can enrol on our paramotor course, unless you are already BHPA CP (tow) rated or above.
What Is A Paramotor?
A paramotor is a paraglider with an engine. Not everyone wants to fly just a glider, so what we can also do is teach you to fly the paraglider with a motor. We call this discipline SPHG. Self Propelled Hang Gliding.
Some schools (especially the ones with non-qualified instructors) will teach you to fly with a motor straight away, but in our many years of experience this will mean you just end up spending a LOT more money on damaged propellers and other parts of your nice new paramotor than it would have cost you in tuition fees (not to mention hurting yourself too). Would you really want to try and ride a motorbike without learning how to ride a bicycle first?
Once you have mastered launching and flying the paraglider you will learn how the motor works. Then you will be taught to run with the motor running, learning to appreciate the weight and the torque effects until eventually (after all the safety checks have been covered), you will put the motor and the wing together and start flying.
Sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? That’s because it is. No frustration waiting for just the right ‘soaring window’ for top landings or soaring tasks and a much bigger ‘weather window’ too because you can still fly in those lighter winds when free-flyers are grounded.
There are two stages to the syllabus; the first one Club Pilot (power) allows you to fly within the confines of a club site under the supervision of a coach or instructor. You will not be allowed to fly cross-country.
The second Pilot (power) level where you can then fly cross-country; safe in the knowledge that you know where you’re going and are able to navigate around restricted airspace and make the right judgement call based on your greater knowledge of the weather.
The costs are as follows:
For the beginner - Taster Day £180.00 + EP £510.00 + CP (tow) £850.00 + Conversion £195.00 = £1735.00
For the 'current' Club Pilot (plus 10 hours or more) - Winch Endorsement Course £195.00 (unless you have already completed one) plus One Day Paramotor Conversion Course to the 'Restricted' stage @ £195.
To gain Pilot (power) will obviously cost more, but this will be tailored to your indivdual needs, so it really should be discussed with our CFI after you have done your initial training course. However, just to give you a rough idea of how much training will be needed:
If you are BHPA Pilot rated or above, it should only take a day or two on top of your conversion course.
If you are a total beginner it will take three to four days in addition to the Club Pilot (power) level.
Any extra training required will be charged at £170 per day (or £35 per hour). In addition any ground school necessary will be charged at £20.00 per hour.
Please note: We no longer provide paramotors for you to use - you will have to supply your own. Of course, we can sell you a new one or help you with buying a used one. Be warned though; there is a lot of rubbish out there that people will sell you. With our guidance, you will only buy the one that is both good value and good quality.
I Already Have My Own Kit
If you already have your own equipment, then obviously you are already in a better position. However, we will not teach you on any old junk. Your glider will need to be less than two years old, and be a DULV rated beginner wing and we will expect to see a recent service/inspection report to prove it is airworthy.
The safety and suitability of any privately owned motors will be left
to the judgement of our instructors. If it has not been well maintained
or is considered unsafe by the Duty Instructor, then you won’t
be able to use it whilst under training.
