Before You Sign Up for Paragliding Lessons

A Guide to Learning Paragliding in Hong Kong

If you have started to look for paragliding courses, then you’ve already taken that first step to achieving your flying dreams. While your heart is in love just thinking about how wonderful it would be to spend your weekends floating in the air and flying like a bird, your mind might be telling you to slow down on the other hand, because you are probably uncertain of many things.

If this is you, then READ THIS BEFORE YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY.

Paragliding is an inherently dangerous sport, and it’s in the best interest of your health to do careful research before you commit to any course, and especially before buying any equipment. Perhaps the most important decision you will make is to choose the right instructor for you, after all, your life will be in their hands. So here are some of the things I wish I knew BEFORE I signed up for a paragliding course:

Paragliding in Hong Kong

Paragliding sites in Hong Kong are generally small rugged fields which require good kiting skills in order to take-off and land safely. What this really means is that you should be prepared to spend the time and effort to practice kiting your glider on the ground before your first flight. Good kiting skills mean you will have safe launches every time. In general, if you practice ground handling once a week, expect to take at least 2 months before you are ready for flying.

“2 months?! But other schools promise to get me flying on the first day!”

In some areas of the world, they have much bigger, well-groomed take-off sites which are very forgiving to any mistakes made during take-off (as a student you will make many mistakes). In these places it certainly is possible to start flying on your first day - but not in Hong Kong. If you want to guarantee a safe successful take-off the only way is to improve your ground handling first - and the more difficult a take-off site is, the more you will have to raise your ground handling game. Which brings us to our first point

Avoid: Schools that promise to get you flying as soon as possible

Any person strapped onto a glider with an instructor telling/yelling at them what to do over the radio will probably be able to fly and probably land uninjured. If you’re lucky and extremely talented then maybe you can learn how to fly like this.

But when it’s your life on the line, would you settle for “probably I’ll live”? or '“maybe I’ll learn”? No? Good!

Choose: Schools that promise to teach you the right skills to be ready for flying

Your training is an investment, the money and effort you spend now to learn properly will generate returns for years to come - but only if you gain the necessary understanding of how paragliding works, instead of just doing everything the instructor says. A good school spends the time with you to explain what’s happening, so you can take control of the glider for yourself.

Avoid: Schools with dodgy accreditation

Some schools will claim to issue you a licence upon finishing their course, but what they don’t tell you is that their ‘licence’ is not recognized by a World Air Sports Federation association.

This creates problems if you ever wish to fly or compete in other countries, join associations, or get insurance.

If you are going to be putting in all that money and hard work - make sure what you are getting is authentic. Check to see that the Instructors are appropriately qualified by a recognized association.

Choose: FAI Recognized license and CAD Approved Schools

Licenses from APPI, HKPA, USHPA, and BHPA are a few examples of the licenses recognized by the World Air Sports Federation. Additionally, any paragliding school that teaches for hire and reward must also be approved by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department.

Be assertive and ask to see their accreditation.