The course fee includes all equipment hire, one-day mandatory BHPA membership and tuition fees. We usually stop for a leisurely lunch and there are frequent tea & coffee breaks!

If you want to buy a 1-Day Introductory Course as a gift voucher please contact us so that we can personalise the voucher for you.

Within a short space of time on Day-1, you will be learning the basics of pre-flight checking, learning how to ground handle the wing and getting connected to the glider. We then move on to simulated launches and landings before venturing onto the winch where you will defy gravity for the first time and fly!

2-Day Introductory Course - £275 (including BHPA Membership)

On Day-2, we build on the basics learnt on Day-1 and take you slightly higher on the winch to give you more airtime.  By the end of the Day-2 you will have achieved a number of flights - all under the direct supervision of your Instructor.

At Mahony Aviation we like to keep the student to Instructor ratio low to ensure a rapid, but above all, safe progression.  At all times you will have either visual and / or radio contact with the Instructor.

Even if you decide not to continue your training, we are sure you will go home feeling that you have really achieved something quite unique and the memory of flying one of these remarkable aircraft will remain with you for a long time to come.  If you do decide to continue training with us, the 2-Day Introductory Course will have given you a taste of what is to come.

What is achieved on this 2-Day Introductory Course is obviously dependent on the conditions, your level of
fitness and rate of progress.

The BHPA Elementary Pilot Certificate (EPC) Tow Course - £495

At Mahony Aviation we will teach you to fly in a relaxed, fun, safe and beautiful environment!  Our Instructors teach to the British Hangliding & Paragliding Association's (BHPA's) Paragliding syllabus which consists of a series of tasks, both practical and theoretical on subjects such as Meteorology, Air Law and the Principles of Flight.  Our aim is to teach you the basic skills of flying a paraglider, how to steer it and turn it through 180°.  You will be taught a different launch technique enabling you to launch in stronger winds and how to formulate simple flight plans so that you can make a controlled landing in a designated place.

All students are issued with their own Student Training Log Book which is kept by the school and is completed by both the Instructor and student at each stage of the training syllabus to ensure that students understand
their briefing.  Students will only progress when they are completely satisfied with their understanding of the
task, the demonstration given and their capability to undertake the task.

Students will be taught to complete all the tasks in the EPC syllabus culminating in the award of the BHPA Elementary Pilot Certificate (EPC) which simply passes you as "“fit for further training" and qualifies you to enrol on the BHPA Club Pilot (Novice) Course.

Typically, the BHPA EPC course takes about 4 - 5 days to complete.

Please note:

• You must have completed an EPC Tow Course with us or another BHPA registered school before you can enrol on a CPC Course.
   
• If you wish to enrol for an EPC & CPC Tow Course with us, the cost is only £1,245*
  

*If you would like to use our school equipment for your BHPA CPC Tow course, we charge an additional £25 per day for equipment hire.  Please see the price list below for Mahony Aviations“Best Deal” Scheme where HUNDREDS of pounds can be saved!!

Following seamlessly on from the EPC, students will continue their theoretical and practical instruction whilst working towards their Club Pilot (Novice) Certificate (CPC).  Naturally, the syllabus is more advanced and teaches you more skills and how to become more self-reliant as a pilot.  However, there is nothing too difficult about it. 

By the end of the CPC course, your Instructors will have given you enough knowledge and skill to confidently
leave the school and fly your paraglider unsupervised, safely & competently both solo and in the company of
other pilots.

It would be wise to say at this point that, just as when you passed your driving test, the learning really starts
after you have achieved your CPC.  Pilots are strongly advised to join their local BHPA Club and enlist the advice of the Club Coaches to further develop their flying skills!!


If you have committed to starting a CPC course, then this normally means that you have made the decision to take up the exciting sport of Paragliding.  Therefore, it makes sense that you should be using your own equipment for this.  A new paraglider costs about £1,800 - £2,300; a harness costs from £385 - £450 and emergency parachutes vary in price from £349 - £475.  However, before buying some bargain off ebay or the like, please speak to us to see if you are really getting a fantastic bargain or a pig-in-a-poke! 

Buying your own new equipment has several advantages:

Typically, the BHPA CPC course takes about 4- 6 days. 

    
* After EPC level, a pilot wishing to continue training will be quite serious about the sport and will therefore require his own personal flying equipment.  If you would like to use our school equipment for your BHPA CPC Tow course, we charge an additional £25 per day for equipment hire.  However, please see below for Mahony Aviations Best Deal Scheme where HUNDREDS of pounds can be saved!!

(1) "Membership of the BHPA is mandatory as this provides 3rd Party Legal Liability Insurance and can be obtained at the start of your flying. Inclusive with BHPA Annual Membership is a monthly subscription to SkyWings magazine."

(2) Experienced Pilots undertaking the Hill or Tow Conversion Courses must bring their log book (if possible) and have proof of their BHPA CPC rating on a current BHPA Membership Card.

NB: All potential students should be aware that Paragliding, as with most adventure sports, is potentially
hazardous and in that knowledge, they should accept the risk that personal injuries or damage could be suffered.  The BHPA insurance DOES NOT include Personal Accident cover.  Personal Accident cover is available from the Airsports Insurance Bureau.

Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Please see the Booking Form for all our Paragliding courses