Introduction

Introduction to flying and the course.

Elementary Pilot

Phase 1 – Pre-flight

  • Introduction to the Equipment
  • Preflight Checks
  • Flyable Weather

Phase 2 – Ground Training

  • Forward Launching
  • The Glider Controls
  • Airspeed, Windspeed, Groundspeed

Phase 3 – Initial Flights

  • Initial Flight
  • Landings
  • Essential Briefings

Phase 4 – Theory 1

  • Airmanship and Human Factors
  • Flight Theory
  • Flying Weather
  • Rules of the Air
  • The BHPA Pilot Rating System

Phase 5 – Exercises

  • Reverse Launching
  • Landing Approaches

Club Pilot

Phase 6 – Equipment

  • Buying a Paraglider
  • Harnesses
  • Helmets
  • Emergency Parachutes
  • Instruments
  • Care & Maintenance

Phase 7 – Extended Flights

  • Ridge Soaring
  • Towing
  • Top Landings
  • Mountain Flying

Phase 8 – Improving Skills

  • Rapid Descents – Big Ears
  • Side Slope Landings
  • Co-ordinated Turns
  • Speed Systems

Phase 9 – Instability & Emergencies

  • Sticky Situations
  • Active Flying & Collapses

Phase 10 – Theory 2

  • Site Assessment
  • Wind Gradient & Venturi
  • Weather Assessment
  • Big Weather
  • Surface Pressure Charts
  • Clouds
  • Airflow around Terrain
  • Intro to Valley Winds
  • Intro to Thermals
  • Drag
  • Speed to Fly & Polar Curves
  • Air Law 1
  • Avoiding Military Traffic
  • Air Charts

Phase 11 – Leaving School

  • Leaving the Ridge
  • BHPA
  • Brief History
  • Clubs
  • CP & Continuation Training
  • Other Training Systems
  • Dealing with an Accident

Pilot

  • Aviation Forecasts
  • Anabatic / Katabatic flows
  • The Daily Convection Cycle
  • Wave & Sea Breezes
  • Lapse Rates
  • Aeronautical Charts
  • XC flight with a Chart & Altimeter
  • Instruments 2
  • Radios
  • Low Flying Rules & Displays
  • Pod Harnesses
  • Advanced Glider Control Training
  • Spins
  • Spiral Dives
  • B-line Stalls
  • Emergency Parachute Deployment
  • Stronger Wind Launching – Cobra
  • Human Performance
  • Touching Cloudbase and XC