BHPA paragliding Instructor and Senior Instructor: teach new pilots

• What it is: Licensed instructors train novices to CP level and beyond, at BHPA registered schools.
• What you need first: Annual Flying Membership, age 18+, your CFI's support, a Pilot rating, and 25 launches in the environment.
• What you'll learn: Every training exercise up to CP, plus BHPA operating procedures.
• Cost: Trainee Instructor registration is £40 (insurance included), the Instructor course is £450 (can vary with location), and the first Instructor exam is £50 (BHPA fees, 1 April 2026).
• What's next: Senior Instructor, then Instructor Training extension or Chief Flying Instructor.

Imagine watching your student's first flight leave the hill. Instructors make that happen, and the BHPA training is thorough.

Before you start

• Be a BHPA Annual Flying Member.
• Be 18 or over.
• Be supported by the Chief Flying Instructor (CFI).
• Hold a Pilot rating in the discipline.
• Have 25 launches in the relevant environment (hill, tow or power).
• Register as a Trainee Instructor with the BHPA.

The training programme

• Gain a recognised valid first aid certificate. For instructors that's at least 12 hours, including spinal injury, incident and casualty management.
• Attend a BHPA Coaching Course and a BHPA Instructor Course.
• Build up to at least 50 launches in the environment.
• Complete at least 10 days of instructing experience, with at least two days at each of two schools.
• Log at least 3 days as Duty Instructor, under supervision.
• Get signed off by the CFI on every exercise up to CP. The CFI runs a mock exam, then you pass an independent exam.

Once licensed, you can train a group of up to six students, or eight with a signed-off Trainee Instructor helping.

Senior Instructor

• At least 25 days logged as a licensed Instructor, having taught every ab-initio exercise several times.
• Pass a BHPA Senior Instructor course and keep an Instructor Log Book.
• Get signed off by the CFI and pass an independent exam.

The Senior Instructor course is £200 a person (BHPA fees, 1 April 2026). With 50 days logged as a Senior Instructor, you can go for the Instructor Training extension. A school's Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) must hold a Senior Instructor licence.

Every school needs at least one Senior Instructor in each discipline it offers. Moving between paragliding and hang gliding counts as a new licence.

Staying licensed

Licences are renewed every year with your membership. Your CFI checks that you have:

• At least 25 flights or 15 hours in the last 12 months.
• At least 10 days of instructing in the last 12 months, in each discipline and environment.
• A current first aid certificate.
• An Instructor Competence Assessment within the last 12 months.

Source: Technical Manual (Amendment 24), BHPA Fees and In an Emergency, BHPA, checked October 2026.

Governing body: British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA). It sets the UK safety standards and training awards for paragliding, so it's the official place to find out more.

Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.

The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.