Interested in Learning?
FAQ'S
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How can I learn to fly & do I need a licence?
Yes you do need a licence and you will need to enroll at a paragliding school. Please click HERE for a list of paragliding schools in each state (unfortunately there is currently no school in South Australia). When choosing a school, please be aware most of our flying in SA are coastal.
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How much does is it cost get my licence?
To learn to fly at a SAFA registered flying school (see link above), the cost will be around $3000 for a nine day course (please contact your preferred school for confirmation of course fees). This will give you a basic PG2 rating and allow you to fly some of our local sites with supervision from experienced local pilots.
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What equipment will I need & how much will it cost?
Once you have completed your course, if you want to fly in SA you will need to purchase the following essential flying equipment as a minimum requirement -
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Paraglider - your instructor will advise which wing is best for you to buy. Your flying school will be able to sell you a new wing or may have access to some second hand wings. A new wing is likely to cost you in the region of $4,000 - $8,000 and you may be able to purchase a good second hand wing for around $2,000 - $4000, maybe less if you are lucky. Be careful when buying a second hand wing and definitely take advice from your flying school or enlist the help of local experienced pilots.
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Harness - again your flying school can advise on this and offer you new/second hand options. A new harness will cost around $1,000 - $2,000 and a second hand harness around $500+.
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Speed System - a speedbar is an essential part of your flying/safety equipment. It enables you to increase your flying speed (should the wind pick up unexpectedly) and land safely. It should be fitted by an experienced pilot whilst your harness is hanging, to ensure full and free movement. You should never fly without a properly fitted speed bar. A new speed bar should cost around $100 - $150.
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Helmet - another essential piece of safety equipment. Your flying school should be able to offer advice on the different options available. Expect to pay between $150 - $400+ for a good quality helmet.
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Radio - The final piece of safety equipment required for safe flight. When you have just got your licence and are wanting to fly our SA sites, it is essential to be able to speak to other pilots in the air and on the ground, to assist you in making safe decisions or just to give you reassurance or general advice whilst you are in the air. There are many options when buying a UHF radio and you can pay up to $500 for a high quality option. Please speak to local pilots for advice prior to making your purchase.
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Do I need any thing else?
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There is a multitude of other equipment you can purchase to help with your flying, but the above is suggested as a minimum requirement. You should next purchase a reserve. This gives you the added safety of another parachute, in the event you get into difficulty with your main wing and are unable to recover it (note - this would be rarely used with coastal flying in SA). You can also buy flight instruments (will confirm the presence of lift, ground speed, height, etc), flying boots & clothing, anemometer (measures wind speed), flying gloves and stuff sack (for quick pack up of your glider). Again, please always speak to local pilots before buying anything and they will be happy to offer advice.
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How often do I need to fly?
For a new pilot the first 12 - 18 months are critical. This is not a sport that can be approached as a part time hobby and left for months between flights. Once you have completed your course, we recommend you fly as much as possible in this initial 12 - 18 month period to improve your skills, knowledge and safety. The more you fly, the more your confidence and skills will grow through experience and muscle memory. If you cannot commit, pick another sport.
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Where can I fly?
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There are two types of flying - inland (thermic) and coastal (dynamic). In SA, most of our flying is coastal. We have many fantastic cliff top coastal sites - please see our flying site guide for more details. We also have a number of ground tow fields for inland XC flying. These are all on private properties and prior permission is required to access them. There are many places to fly across Australia and the rest of the world. That is the big advantage of Paragliding, your aircraft is so portable and easy to take with you!
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Is paragliding dangerous?
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Although paragliding is considered an extreme sport, like any sport, if you complete a recognised course, are well practiced and follow the advice and recommendations of experienced local pilots, it is a very safe sport. If you do not follow advice and/or are reckless, then of course it will be dangerous and this is when the chance of an accident is significantly increased.
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General Advice
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Please see our contacts page for details of local South Australian pilots who will be happy to offer assistance and advise about flying in SA, learning to fly, paragliding equipment and all things paragliding related.
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