Pilot Entry Requirements

IMPORTANT: A pilot will NOT be allowed to compete unless they have a certified harness AND helmet. See full details below.

Flying Experience

Pilots as a minimum must have either flown a 50km XC flight, or a 50km goal flight in competition, and must have sufficient flying experience. If in doubt please Contact Us with a full declaration of your flying experience to date.

It is also highly recommended that all pilots have completed a wing control/SIV course.

Documents

Licences

All participating pilots must hold the following:

  • BHPA or International license
  • One of the following:
    • British FAI Card
    • International FAI Card – You must show an IPPI card at level 4 or 5.

Insurance

All participating pilots must have a valid medical health care insurance (covering all hospital expenses, rescue and repatriation), including:

  • Proof of third party liability insurance (£2,000,000 minimum for the UK or Euro equivalent for Europe)
  • Proof in English of medical insurance (including medical evacuation and repatriation, £400,000 minimum)

A statement from your insurance company in ‘English’ must be shown at registration, proving that you have met the insurance requirements and must include a 24 hour contact number in case of accident. If you do not present a valid insurance document at registration you will not be allowed to compete.

Gliders

AFNOR, LTF/DHV, SHV or EN certified gliders are permitted to compete at the British Paragliding Championships 2013. There will be no distinction between the older and newer generation EN-D Wings.

Open Class Gliders will NOT be permitted to compete at the British Paragliding Championships 2013.

Glider Classes

Serial Class: LTF/DHV 2/3, AFNOR Performance or EN D.

Sports Class: LTF/DHV2, AFNOR Standard or EN C.

Changes to Gliders

Certified serial or sports class gliders must be flown in their certified configuration and cannot be changed in any way. A glider that has been changed in its configuration even slightly in comparison with the tested model or a glider that has not been tested will not be allowed in the competition.

Glider Checking

A glider may be checked at any time throughout the competition. After protest or incident gliders will be inspected. It is always the pilot’s responsibility to prove that the wing conforms to certification requirements, and that the pilot is flying within the certified weight range. The pilot must provide manufacturers diagrams and certificates if required to do so. Failure to meet certification requirements will result in disqualification of the pilot from the competition.

Harnesses

All pilots must fly with a harness certified to EN1651, LTF09, or LTF03 and back protection certified to LTF09 or LTF03.

View FAI List of certified harneses

Helmets

All pilots must wear a helmet certified to EN966 (HPG) at all times whilst flying.

Reserves

All pilots must carry an emergency parachute on all flights.

Other Equipment

All participating pilots must fly with the following equipment, which will be checked at registration:

  1. GPS which records a 3D track log. 3D tracklogs are mandatory.
  2. SMS text phone
  3. Altimeter (to comply with air traffic restrictions)
  4. 2M Radio

If you do not have ALL the required documents and equipment as listed above, you will NOT be permitted to compete.