Enrolling on a 'Direct Instruction' beginners course is an excellent way of learning to paraglide quickly and safely. Dennis and Gillian work with you on a personal level helping you to complete the training in around 7 days that normally takes 15 days. The training is fairly intensive but rewarding and learning to fly in this manner is becoming popular, and although the costs seem initially high compared with group courses, the overall outlay is pretty much the same.

The aim of this style of training is to bypass the delays that group lessons bring. Group lessons progress as quickly as the slowest student and with four or more to a class your training time is drastically reduced, leaving you waiting your turn on the hill or in the queue at launch! Also group training lessons can become quite disjointed especially when undertaken over a period of time. It's not unusual to hear of students taking months to complete their training, due to either over sized classes, poor weather or time available.

The 'Direct Instruction' training syllabus is a combination of the French FFVL and BHPA structures where hill soaring and thermal flying are added into the latter part of the course. More can be learnt in this concentrated course than in a number of individual courses.

With 'Direct Instruction' the personal attention to your training, safety and enjoyment is tireless making this ultimately the best way to learn!

  Here is the course outline!

The course starts with a number of tandem flights on a glider designed for two persons and the learning starts immediately as you take control of the tandem under supervision from Dennis.

• Day  1. There are a mixture of tandem flights and hill slope training, where you will be learning glider layout, inflation and launching. As you quickly progress you will be making short training hill flights by early afternoon.

• Day 2. Starts with a little hill training revision and then if all goes well you will be making your own high solo flights later on: 2 or 3 solo flights are generally made this day. All in-flight instruction is made by radio contact.

• Day 3. Today launch techniques are reinforced: the syllabus includes flight plans and landing approaches with emphasis of you making your own solo landings, though Dennis is always on hand with the radio when help is required. Making at least 4-5 flights is today's goal.

• Day 4. More of the same today as those ever important flight plans, launches and landings need to be perfected. At least 5 flights are today's goal. Today, flight instruments will be introduced.

• Day 5. Advanced glider control is introduced , including some pitch and roll control, efficient turning, 360's hill soaring and basic thermalling. We will also be looking at 'active flying and rapid descent techniques'. Today your glider will be upgraded from the beginner wing to an intermediate glider that has a little more speed, better glide and more responsive handling. 5 flights are the order of the day!

• Days 6 and 7. We concentrate on thermalling and soaring, with the view of climbing and staying up longer in more varied flying conditions. We discuss how thermals form, where they are triggered and how to find them.

• The more time booked with us the more we can achieve. If all has gone well after 7 days we are starting to look at high flights with the view of flying some short cross country flights, every pilots dream!

The learning curve in paragliding training is continuous and often quite steep, and after 7 days you should reach a stage where you would be reasonably confident to free fly. Of course you may book more training days and most clients go for 8-10 days giving them time to gain more confidence!

During the training period most days will start with some classroom work with briefings for the day ahead. Debriefing after every flight and at the end of the day are mandatory.

For British students included is the necessary classroom theory required to sit the written exams for the BHPA - EPC and CPC licenses. The exams can be taken any time during the training.

In the United Kingdom the 'British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association', the BHPA controls the training, the licensing structure, the clubs and schools, similar to the French FFVL. Pilots free flying in the UK are required to belong to the BHPA and a flying club and hold the BHPA 'Club Pilot Certificate', the CPC licence. This licence is the second of four. It is preceded by the 'Elementary pilot Certificate, the EPC licence and followed by the Pilot Licence and Advanced Pilots Licence.

In Europe some registered schools with locally qualified instructors work closely the BHPA and their training syllabus. Fortunately we are one of them and we have the ' BHPA European Training Log Book' for the completion of the tasks for the EPC. In the same book there are the tasks for the CPC certificate and a number if not all of these tasks can be completed depending upon the time available. Any CPC tasks not completed here could be completed in the UK. We work closely with a UK school ' Beyond Extreme' based in Shropshire where final CPC tasks can be completed. Upon completion of either the EPC and CPC levels it is necessary to join the BHPA to claim the licence. Membership details can be found at www.bhpa.co.uk

  When is the best time?

The training program changes throughout the year, depending upon the weather. During the spring and summer months most solo flights will take place early in the morning and/or from 16.00 onwards. The flying periods at lunchtime are often a little too strong for new pilots, until progression is made. However, there is plenty of daylight during these periods and we often work late into the day. The stronger lunchtime periods are not wasted as there are valuable launch techniques and strong wind ground training to learn. Later in the year, August onwards, the midday flying conditions are gentler: it's then possible to fly throughout the day making up for the slightly shorter periods of daylight.

  How much does it cost? 

It's 250 Euros a day per person (about £165), for clients that stay in the Flyers Lodge and 275 Euros for non resident clients. There's an additional 20 Euros for 7 days training insurance. #

If you consider that many schools in the UK charge around £120 and more a day for school group courses where progress could be slow then our charge of 250 Euros a day (£165) for personal tuition is very good value.

 # The training insurance is for third party risks and only has a little medical cover included. It is advisable to take out a good holiday insurance from your country that includes medical, repatriation and cancellation cover and bring an EHIC card. A 'European Health Insurance Card' (EHIC) entitles you to reduced-cost and sometimes free medical treatment if it becomes necessary while you're in a European Economic area (EEA) country.

Please note that the French training insurance requires a doctor's letter stating that you are basically fit. Just ask for a basic health check for blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and general fitness. A full medical check is not required unless you feel it's necessary or that you are over 50!. It's worthwhile obtaining this before your visit as you will need it the first day when enrolling and before you start training. If you already have a letter then it's valid for 3 years for the under 40's and two years for the over 40's.

  What is included with 'Direct Instruction'?

For the training we provide the glider, harness, safety helmet, radio, log book and transportation to and from the launch/landing sites, but not cable car costs. As equipment is of limited size there is a naked weight limit of 100kgs.

For your part; you will need to bring ankle high/supporting walking boots, long sleeved top and long trousers, a lightweight windproof top, gloves, sun tan cream, plenty of bottled water and lunch, though there are restaurants at the training area.

  Not included in the course!

Accommodation and personal health insurance. Please go to the 'Accommodation' page for our details.

Air sports Insurance Bureau Ltd is a good option if insurance is required. Tel. +44 01983 298480 or e-mail to airsports@bhpa.co.uk

  Training assistance...

There are a number of very interesting books available covering our sport that are well worth reading and ideally before a course commences. 'The Art of Paragliding' by Denis Pagen is explanatory and very educational, an excellent read for the new pilot! Printed in A4 with 360 pages of very useful information, diagrams and photos. It costs just 40 Euros plus postage and is worth every centime.

For those who prefer watching a DVD. Here is the 'Learn to Fly' paragliding film. This DVD is perfect for all new pilots with 3D animation bringing to life many of the hard to visualise concepts which are so important for us to understand. Details on airflows around hills and mountains, turbulence and convergence, dynamics and thermal lift plus aerodynamics of lift and drag, speeds to fly and so on! This excellent DVD is just 39.95 Euros. plus postage!

  Non UK Clients..

The French/BHPA training books are offered to you at the end of the course. These could be presented to your local school, club or association as proof of the work completed here. It is possible to continue under the French syllabus though the French written exam is tricky and your written and spoken French language would need to be word perfect!

  Other considerations.. 

'Direct Instruction' isn't just limited to beginner courses. If you feel that you would like to improve your flying abilities, thermalling and XC potential with exclusive instruction then booking Dennis or Gillian on a daily basis for the same cost is possible.