British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA), based in Leicester, is the governing body in the UK for hang gliding and paragliding.

The BHPA is recognised by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the Royal Aero Club, and the Civil Aviation Authority. The Association has registered schools across the country, where initial paragliding or hang gliding training must be undertaken.

The BHPA was formed in 1992 by the merging of the British Hang Gliding Association and the British Association of Paragliding Clubs. Since then the sport has grown considerably, and now has over 60 affiliate clubs with a combined total of about 7,000 individual members. The Association exists primarily to promote safety within the sport. Each month the BHPA publishes a magazine. "Skywings", which is provided free to its members.

The BHPA has an associated charity Flyability that aims to make hang gliding and paragliding accessible to disabled people.

The BHPA club system runs on a badge competency system similar to that of the British Gliding Association. "Ab initio" training is a two-stage process, with each stage costing about £600.

Training and badge award takes a complete beginner and gives them ground-handling training and first flights from the top to the bottom of a gentle hill.

This training and badge award takes the EP pilot to the final level of basic training. The CP training will take the EP pilot and give them experience in flying along the ridge among other more advanced practical areas of hang gliding or paragliding. The trainee pilot will also have to pass basic examinations in aviation law and some air navigation (i.e. rights of way in the air) knowledge. Once the CP badge is gained, the pilot can join a recreational club and fly outside of the school system.

The next level is the Pilot badge. The club pilot will have to show, within a club hill environment, that they have gained a certain level of skill and ability, and can pass examinations regarding aviation law among other subjects. The aim of this badge is to allow the club pilot to leave the hill and fly cross-country using thermal lift. For this the pilot needs a higher level of understanding on aviation law and how airspace priority works in order to avoid disruption or danger to mainstream airspace users such as the military, commercial or private airlines, and general aviation pilots. Flying cross country is not approved until the Pilot badge is gained.

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