How can I learn to paraglide?

To learn paragliding you should go to a professional paragliding school. There is no such school in Luxembourg. But there are a few here in the region. Of course, you can also do your training during a holiday in the mountains. You should expect to pay around 1600 € to get your license. Very often, the first license can be obtained during an intense two week course.

Equipment

Most of the time, you can use the training equipment for free. Once you are out of school you will need to buy some equipment, either second hand or new. The mandatory equipment is:

• The wing: The actual paraglider that provides the lift for flying (~3.500€)

• Harness: The "seat" that you sit in and that connects to the wing (~1.000€)

• Reserve parachute: This might one day save your life (~500€)

• Paragliding helmet: Accidents happen and helmets crashing safer. They also protect your head against wind and cold. (100€)

• Leather gloves: Protects you against cold and more importantly allows you to handle the paraglider lines safely

Optionally, you can get boots, Radio for communicating, Sunglasses and a flight instrument that allows you to know important parameters like speed, altitude, rise and sink rate

Law

In Luxembourg, paragliding is not well regulated. In order to fly on one of our official sites, you are however required to have an internationally recognized license. In most other countries in Europe, you are also required to have a license. There is an international grading system that makes comparing licenses from different countries possible, the IPPI level. Once you got a national license, you can also get an IPPI card, certifying your level in an international context.

Health

You don't need to be a top athlete but should generally be healthy and not be prone to suddenly become unable to maneuver your aircraft. Depending on the meteorological conditions you fly in, paragliding can be either very smooth or physically demanding. People with vision impairment (using glasses or lentils) are allowed to fly.

Schools in the area

There are differences between the training programs in the various countries. In Germany you can get the first level license (A-Schein) quickly but will only be a very novice pilot who can fly in calm conditions. In France on the other hand, training might take a little longer since you are allowed to fly without a license. This also means that once you get your license, you are probably a better pilot.