Pilot Entry Requirements for British Competitions

The British Paragliding Opens Competition Rules are documented in full here.

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

Pilot Identification

The identity of a pilot will be proved by an identification document issued by or on behalf of the government of the pilot’s country or country of residence according to Section 7 rules.

Pilot Age

Qualified pilots aged under 18 are allowed to compete, provided they are supervised by a parent/legal guardian.

Flying Experience

‘Championship’ Open

  • Pilot must have flown a 50km flight to goal in a FAI competition in the past 2 years
  • Made a 100km XC flight in the past 2 years

‘Winter Open’ Open

  • Pilot must have flown a 50km flight to goal in a FAI competition in the past 2 years
  • Made a 100km XC flight in the past 2 years

‘Sports Championship’ Open

  • BHPA pilots must have previous competition experience in the prior 3 years (for example FAI Cat2, BPCup, GWO, Chabre Open, etc), and have finished in the top 50% of the rankings of that event.

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

If you are in doubt whether you meet the pilot entry requirements, then please Contact Us with a full declaration of your flying experience to date. In either event, if you are not known to the organisers then please send us links to the relevant qualifying events.

Championships and Advance Registration

For entry into the British Paragliding Championship the pilot must hold a UK FAI sporting licence issued by the BHPA. These must be obtained prior to the start of the first event that the pilot will compete in.

If the pilot already holds a Sporting Licence at the time of registration, it must have been issued by the BHPA in order to obtain any advantage offered to British pilots, such as early registration, discounts etc.

There will be 15% of places reserved for female pilots.

Documents

Licences

All participating pilots must hold the following:

  • BHPA ‘Pilot’ or ‘Advanced Pilot’ rating, or International license with IPPI card level 4 or 5
  • One of the following:
    • British FAI Card (Championship)
    • International FAI Card (Championship Open/Winter Open)
Insurance

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

  • Proof in English of third party liability insurance (Euro 750k minimum)
  • Proof in English of medical evacuation and repatriation

Your insurance certificate and supporting documentation in ‘English’ must be shown at registration, proving that you have met the insurance requirements and must include a 7 day 24 hour contact number in case of accident. It is highly advised your insurance certificate explicitly states you are covered for ‘Amateur Paragliding Competitions’. If you do not present a valid insurance certificate at registration you will not be allowed to compete.

Gliders

Any LTF/DHV, SHV, EN or CCC certified glider is permitted to enter the competition.

Glider Classes
  • Overall Class is for any glider up to CCC.
  • Sports Class is for any glider up to EN C or LTF/DHV2.
  • Reynolds Class is for any glider with a maximum certified weight of less than or equal to 95kgs (all gliders must be flown within certified weight range).
Changes to Gliders

Certified 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 and Helmet

These should be suitable for paragliding and should meet the requirements as defined in FAI Section 7.

Reserve

All pilots must carry a ‘certified’ emergency parachute on all flights. Only one reserve is demanded by the rules for 2014 however we recommend if pilots are changing their harness that they consider purchasing one that can accept two reserves (or one handle reached by either hand), in line with the CAT1 requirement which may be adopted in the future by the British Paragliding Competitions.

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. Altimeter and air map (to comply with air traffic restrictions)
  3. 2M Radio
  4. SMS text phone

Right to Refuse Entry

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

The organisers of the British Paragliding Competitions reserve the right to refuse entry to any pilot.