PARAMOTORING COURSES AND PARAMOTORS IN THE UK AND SPAIN

Paramotoring
Paramotoring is Paragliding with an auxiliary motor attached to the pilot. The CAA has defined
this recently legitimised form of powered flight as a foot launched self-propelled Hang glider (SPHG).
This does not mean that paramotors are deregulated, They still have to comply with all U.K
aviation law, and some specific restrictions of their own (see PDF syllabus below). However these small aircraft allow you
the freedom of the skies, with less red tape and costs than any other powered aircraft. With the
ability to be able to take off from a small flat field and climb a Paramotor can fly just like any other
aircraft. Paramotors can have enough fuel to fly for between 2.5 - 4 hrs, can climb to around 500' per minute and fly at between 35 to 45 mph. At Axis we have a lot of experience with Paramotoring, our first flights were in 1993 on Scobojets, and we have learned a lot and developed great teaching techniques ever since. We prefer if possible to have most of our paramotorists, learn as much on the paraglider as they can prior to flying a Paramotor. This helps them become much better, safer and more confident pilots. It is no coincidence that nearly all of the worlds top pilots started this way.

The beauty of Paramotoring is that this tiny aircraft can fit in the boot of a car, take off from a very small field and land almost anywhere. A Paramotor will cruise at a similar speed to a paraglider, about 25mph, perhaps 40+ mph on the fastest wings! And so is still only useable in fairly light winds. This slow flight characteristic means that very low level flying 'hedge hopping' is possible, and great fun. It is also possible to climb to great heights (UK record over 11,000ft) and to travel distances- Southern Spain to Tenerife has recently been achieved in one flight of over 1000km.

To learn Paramotoring we believe that there are no shortcuts. Do not believe anyone
who tells you that you need no instruction, or just a couple of days! They are probably
just trying to sell you some equipment! Any form of aviation can kill if practiced in error.
Knowledge is the key to safe flight! We now have a new syllabus from the BHPA with
a first step "restricted qualification" which is achievable in around 6 days or so of training.
This new easier to obtain rating means you don't have to take a full paragliding course
Your first big flights and circuits will be solo on the Paramotor. The restricted qualification
will allow you to fly from your "own" field. If you wish to fly Cross Country and further
afield, then you will need to continue to the Full rating which may take another 2 or 3 days.
At Axis we are a BHPA registered school, and are covered by third party Insurance to
teach you.You will also be Insured as the pilot!
BHPA Paramotor training syllabus, Read this to find out what the course entails

up, up and away

DO NOT BUY EQUIPMENT BEFORE TRAINING!
You do not need to, as we will provide everything you
need during training. You will make a much better and
more informed choice after your course. (We often
have to tell pilots who buy first, that the equipment they have bought, is either unsuitable, or dangerous or both)

Do you need a special Paraglider to use with a Paramotor?
No, but the selection of wing is very important when using a Paramotor,
the size should just be your normal paragliding size and no bigger (i.e. body weight + 15-20kg to the upper end of the weight range- No motor weight unless the manufacturer has allowed for this). There are several
manufacturers of paramotoring wings, most will free fly well, and be
good with the motor. There are also some specialist Paramotor specific
wings ( Reflex) that do not free fly so well, but are fast and stable under power,
however these wings are not usually suitable to learn on, or to buy for your first wing We often have nearly new wings in the School that we teach you on, and you can buy these to get you started, as the take off and landing characteristics are so much more forgiving. Then when you have done 50 flights or so and are ready to move up we can give you a guaranteed part exchange price against a Paramotor specific wing!

How much does it cost to learn?
Its not going to be the same for everyone, as people are different, and have different skills and different rates of learning,
some are luckier than others with the conditions they get, when trying to achieve the tasks. To make it as fair as we
possibly can, we charge for all training by the day. So you will only pay for what you do. Someone with good skills,
or previous aviation experience, may only need 5 days on the paraglider and then 2 days with the Paramotor to get to
the BHPA Club Pilot Power rating. So this could cost from £900, up to about £1500 maximum (capped), for the full "BHPA Power Pilot Rating" which gets you up to dross country flying standard. This includes all equipment whilst learning, but not insurance and fuel. Equipment will cost roughly £1400-£2000 for a wing, and
approximately £3400-£4000 for a motor.