Training & Development

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One of the stated aims of the RAFHPA is to develop the skills of its members. There are numerous training events run each year by the RAFHPA, its sister Service Associations and local clubs.

The RAFHPA runs overseas sports tours and expeditions which together with advanced flying weeks, UK meets and training weekends are all good examples of funded events which are open to Association members. Some of these events have a competitive element but this is always within a friendly and carefully supervised environment to maximise the challenge whilst maintaining safety.

Club Pilot Rating

For newcomers to the world of free flying the Joint Services Hang Gliding and Paragliding Centre (JSHPC) run all of the courses necessary to attain BHPA Club Pilot rating for both hang gliding and paragliding. Details of all of these courses can be found in your unit gymnasium. Alternatively, the list of scheduled JSHPC courses for 2010-11 can be viewed at the following link.

Like much of the adventurous training run by the armed forces these courses will cost you next to nothing to attend; compared to the £1100 plus that you can expect to be charged in a civilian accredited school this really offers a marvellous opportunity that should not be missed if you think that either hang gliding or paragliding may be for you. It is always worth giving JSHPC a call (Admin Office number 94354 3260 or (01873) 810386) as additional courses to those published in the DIN are sometimes scheduled.

Pilot Rating

The BHPA Pilot Rating is an excellent stepping stone for any free flier. The syllabus and task requirements dovetail naturally with many of the events described above. Pilot Rating is a prerequisite for flying unsupervised cross country and therefore should be a goal for any free flying pilot. To that end JSHPC runs a Pilot Rating Course, normally in Europe, every year; for further details please contact Maggie Smith in the Admin Office at JSHPC. Additionally many of the planned events such as sports tours and expeditions are designed to allow members to complete Pilot tasks.

Details of all of these events and more will be published on this website or via the Joint Services HG and PG Yahoo Group. All Association members are strongly encouraged to register for the group by contacting the group owner, Matt Tandy, via membership@rafhpa.com or via using the button below.

Click to join JSHPG

The BHPA Pilot Exam Syllabus is available to view and download from the following link: File Here.

Revision Notes

Available below are links to download a setvof revision notes for the BHPA Pilot Examination. The files are in Adobe PDF. Please note that these files are several years old and may not reflect the very latest syllabus contents. The airspace information in particular changes very rapidly. They are however, still very useful for brushing up on the basics. Due to the out of date airspace information within the Airlaw document, a separate file detailing the latest UK Airspace Classifications is also provided.

Airlaw: File Here.

Flight Theory & Instruments: File Here.

Meteorology: File Here.

UK Airspace: File Here.

Expedition Leaders Course

JSHPC are now running Joint Services Hang Gliding and Paragliding Expedition Leaders (JSHPEL) Courses. The inaugural course was run in autumn 2007. Part and parcel of the course is the BHPA Club Coach qualification. Interested pilots should contact Maggie Smith at JSHPC.