To fly you will need a medical certificate dating back less than one year showing no contraindications to the practice of paragliding in order to take your FFVL licence: here.
We are an EFVL school, the FFVL licence and civil liability insurance is compulsory for all our courses. Here you will find the procedure for obtaining your licence.
If you want to start training before joining us, we recommend the book "Paragliding, initiating and progressing" by Pierre-Paul Menegoz and Yves Goueslain published by Amphora. Please contact us if you would like to buy a copy.
- Certified rescue completed less than 6 months prior
- Paragliding or Mountaineering approved helmet
- Smartphone charged (and possible second battery)
- Radio charged (please contact us if you do not have one)
- Water, lunch & snacks
- Suncream, sunglasses & hat
- Mountaineering clothes: base, mid and waterproof layers
- Mountaineering boots & crampons
- Liner sheet, change of base layer/underwear, basic toilet bag
Wild take-off from Loriaz (Vallorcine)
Weather & Aerology
The ideal conditions for paragliding are: low wind (<15kmh), no precipitation, no clouds from take-off to landing. Our location allows us to have rapid access to aerologically very different flight sites (Chamonix, Annecy, Passy, Italy, Switzerland etc.). Therefore enabling us to adapt to (almost) all conditions.
On the internet there are dozens of weather sites and this is the subject of a full part of training on our course. But to keep it simple and anticipate wind/precipitation/clouds and know if possible to fly:
As an EFVL school we are able to teach these certificates. They are composed of practical and theoretical parts. These certificates may be taken during one of our training courses, please contact us if these certificates are your goal
Here you will find all the useful information to help prepare for your course
Getting to the school
Our main meeting points and accommodation
The meeting point on the first day will most probably be at Alpwind: 115 Chemin de la Source de l'Arveyron, 74400 Chamonix
During the course we will provide transport.
To get around the Chamonix valley you can use the (free) bus and train, find the timetables here and of course car sharing between us.
Accommodation
The supply of accommodation in Chamonix is immense. You will find apartments, hotels, lodges, etc. on all the usual booking sites.
Our recommendations for very affordable accommodation:
Campsite - Camping de la Mer de Glace
Hostel - Le Chamoniard Volant
Hostel - Chalet Ski Station
Prepare for your course
To fly you will need a medical certificate dating back less than one year showing no contraindications to the practice of paragliding in order to take your FFVL licence: here.
We are an EFVL school, the FFVL licence and civil liability insurance is compulsory for all our courses. Here you will find the procedure for obtaining your licence.
If you want to start training before joining us, we recommend the book "Paragliding, initiating and progressing" by Pierre-Paul Menegoz and Yves Goueslain published by Amphora. Please contact us if you would like to buy a copy.
Equipment required
Initiation / Progression
Thermal Flight / Long Distance
- Licence / FFVL Insurance
- Water & Lunch
- Sports shoes (ideally above the ankle)
- Trousers & T-shirt
- Thermal layer
- Windbreaker jacket
- Gloves
- Sunglasses, suncream, hat
- Notebook & pen
- Licence / FFVL Insurance
- Wing & Harness
- Certified rescue completed less than 6 months prior
- Long distance course: SIV/Piloting course less than 18 months prior
- Paragliding approved helmet
- Smartphone charged (and possible second battery)
- Radio charged (please contact us if you do not have one)
- Flight instruments if you have them
- Water cambelback, lunch & mid flight snacks
- Flight clothing and equipment
- Sunglasses, suncream, hat
- We recommend: Emergency bandage/ Israeli bandage
- We recommend: Emergency harness safety kit
- We recommend: Survival blanket
Bivouac Flight
Mountaineering Flight
- Same equipment list for Long Distance course
- Camping mat & sleeping bag
- Tent or tarpaulin
- Extra battery with cable
- Change of clothes (first layer, underwear, socks)
- Hiking poles
- Basic toilet bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap)
- Headtorch
- Licence / FFVL Insurance
- Wing & Harness
- Certified rescue completed less than 6 months prior
- Paragliding or Mountaineering approved helmet
- Smartphone charged (and possible second battery)
- Radio charged (please contact us if you do not have one)
- Water, lunch & snacks
- Suncream, sunglasses & hat
- Mountaineering clothes: base, mid and waterproof layers
- Mountaineering boots & crampons
- Liner sheet, change of base layer/underwear, basic toilet bag
Wild take-off from Loriaz (Vallorcine)
Weather & Aerology
The ideal conditions for paragliding are: low wind (<15kmh), no precipitation, no clouds from take-off to landing. Our location allows us to have rapid access to aerologically very different flight sites (Chamonix, Annecy, Passy, Italy, Switzerland etc.). Therefore enabling us to adapt to (almost) all conditions.
On the internet there are dozens of weather sites and this is the subject of a full part of training on our course. But to keep it simple and anticipate wind/precipitation/clouds and know if possible to fly:
1. Carte de fronts map
2. Meteo-parapente.com
3. Meteociel.fr
4. Spotair.mobi
FFVL Qualifications
A pilot who trains continuously is safer. This is our philosophy. The FFVL offers multiple training courses and certifications:
- Initial Certification
- Pilot Certificate
- Advanced Pilot Certificate
As an EFVL school we are able to teach these certificates. They are composed of practical and theoretical parts. These certificates may be taken during one of our training courses, please contact us if these certificates are your goal
You can revise the QCM theory here.
The practical skills to master are outlined here.