See if they have a designated office and classroom to give you the best start in the sport, and see if their personality suits you. Some schools have “more distinct advantages over others”. Instructors that speak badly about other operators or schools say a lot about their professionalism. Stick with those that give facts about their operation.

Schools that are organised have set dates to ensure that your training is not disrupted and that you have continuity in your training. It’s best to seek out a school that has options in its training with a variety of flying and training sites that cover many wind directions, so that you don’t loose days waiting on a certain wind direction. This is called Para-waiting. If the school only has one hill and it’s blown out on that hill, you then have no other options as a back up do you?!

What Time of Year do I learn

Coastal Paragliding Schools have the distinct real advantage of the predominant consistent cool sea breezes in the warmer months and always experience milder winter conditions than in most parts of the country. That is why you see many paragliders soaring headlands on the coast in the warm months when the smooth sea breezes blow in like clock work nearly each day. Many hours flying can be had on a course soaring these headlands in the smooth laminar air. During the winter the winds tend more westerly and hence the flying is on hills facing inland Australia, or in a west direction. Spring, summer and through to early winter provide the best time to learn and you will find nearly all professional schools are open and training during these times of the year, as the days are warm for flying and more enjoyable for learning than mid winter.

Each area has its best times of year and the schools can you let you know which is best. Most students should complete more than the license requirements during these months in a 7 – 9 day program. The Hanggliding Federation of Australia will confirm this is a common time frame for a course to meet the requirements.

Choose wisely a program and an area that will suit your time frames and desires. You must consider if you don’t get your course completed in the time frame booked due to not passing the practical skills that:

1. If I have to come back, how easy is it to come back to that school, what would be the cost of travel and time?
2. Ask the school in the last 2 years how many courses they have lost due to bad weather, speak to pilots about areas that provide good weather.
3. Does that school operate full time all year in case I need to come back?
4. Are there other things to do in that area if the weather turns bad and what’s the accommodation offered really like, if bringing a partner, these are important questions.
5. What are the real class sizes? The days are only so long and if class sizes are large and you struggle in the training you will be left behind.

Choosing equipment

There are over 20 main manufacturers of Paraglider wings around the world today. Seek a product that offers a real warranty, not a verbal ‘she’ll be right’ from the seller. A good school will offer more than one brand of wing or gear. If they don’t, then they can’t say they are unbiased in recommending gear then can they? A school selling only one brand of gear can’t give the student the choice. Ask any Paraglider pilot, not one manufacturer makes the best gear for everyone’s needs, you must have choice.

Be aware of 2nd hand gear that is not sold through a school or a registered member of the HGFA… EBay is the worst for purchasing. We have seen many pilots waste money before seeking advice from the qualified. There are simple tests and websites to go to, to check that the product is airworthy and is suitable to your skill level. Remember it’s aviation, your life depends on a good airworthy wing. High Adventure offers these tests for free to its clients. See the Market Place on this website where private sellers sell their gear on our site at no commissions.

Many new pilots will tell you that a good school that is open all year that offers good advice and service will be worth more to you than the initial course, as the learning really starts after you get the novice license.

At High Adventure…. Our Fly team come from varied backgrounds from Base Jumping, Sky Diving and other forms of Motorised and Non–motorised Aviation expertise. Our team of instructors are some of the highest ranking Pilots in Australia, you won’t find this anywhere else.

It’s this vast experience spanning over 30 years now that will give you the advantage of being taught to the highest standard. That is why High Adventure has been in business teaching people to fly and we still are as we offer a 1st Class service. Come see why we teach the most pilots in Australia