Hang gliding coaches and instructors: BHPA Tow, Aerotow and Instructor routes
The BHPA coaching and instructing routes open to hang glider pilots, from Club Coach to Senior Aerotow Coach and Instructor.
In this guide
- What you need first: Club Coach: CP with 10 hours (hill) or 50 flights (tow) logged since CP. Each route below lists its own.
- Cost: BHPA fees from 1 April 2026: Club Coach course £35 (£25 retake), Instructor course £450, Senior Coach course £450, Senior Instructor course £200. Trainee Instructor registration is £40 and the Instructor exam is £50. Costs can vary by location.
- What's next: Coaching track: Club Coach > Tow, Aerotow or Power Coach > the senior coach licences. Teaching track: Trainee Instructor > Instructor > Senior Instructor. Pilot track: Advanced Pilot, which needs the Club Coach course anyway.
Coaches help pilots who already have their CP. Instructors teach beginners in registered schools. Every coach and instructor licence is renewed each year with a declaration of support from your Chief Coach or CFI.
Club Coach
Be an Annual Flying Member, hold CP with 10 hours (hill) or 50 flights (tow) logged since CP, attend a Club Coach course, and have your club's backing. Club Coach isn't tied to hang gliding or paragliding. The BHPA lists upcoming courses on its courses page and recommends coaches re-attend at least every five years.
Tow Coach HG
Pilot rating with a tow environment, age 18 or over, 50 or more tow-launched flights since CP, the Club Coach course, a current first aid certificate (a one-day course of at least 6 hours) and club backing. Then training and an assessment. You can then authorise tow pilots and winch operators when your Chief Tow Coach puts you in charge.
Aerotow Coach
Pilot rating with an aerotow environment, age 18 or over, 50 or more aerotows, at least 50 hours on hang gliders, the Club Coach course, a current first aid certificate and club backing. Then training and an assessment.
Power Coach (powered hang gliders)
Pilot rating with a power environment, age 18 or over, 50 or more power-launched flights, the Club Coach course, a current first aid certificate and club backing. Then training and an assessment.
The senior coach routes
- Senior Coach: Club Coach, the Pilot rating with good active experience, the Instructor course and club backing, then an assessment. Like Club Coach, it isn't tied to one discipline.
- Senior Tow Coach HG: the Senior Coach requirements, a Tow Coach and Operator licence in hang gliding, the Instructor course, 300 launches as an Operator (150 if you're already a Senior Tow Coach in paragliding), 100 flights as pilot, first aid and club backing, then an exam.
- Senior Aerotow Coach: the Senior Coach requirements, an Aerotow Coach licence, the Instructor course, 100 flights as pilot, 200 flying hours, first aid and club backing, then an exam.
- Senior Power Coach (powered hang gliders): the Senior Coach requirements, Pilot with a power environment, 200 flying hours including 75 under power, age 18 or over, first aid and club backing. Training includes at least 4 days' instructing experience and a supervised day as Duty Instructor, then an exam.
Senior Tow, Aerotow and Power Coaches can train pilots for that launch method, so along with instructors they run the environment courses.
Instructor
The hang gliding licences are Hill, Tow, Aerotow and Power. You need to:
- Be a BHPA Annual Flying Member, 18 or over, with your CFI's support.
- Hold the Pilot rating and 25 launches in the environment, then register as a Trainee Instructor.
- Do first aid (a course of at least 12 hours), a BHPA Coaching Course and an Instructor Course, and reach 50 launches.
- For tow, qualify as an Operator.
- Do at least 10 instructing days, at least two at each of two schools, and at least 3 as Duty Instructor.
- Be signed off by your CFI for every exercise up to CP, pass a mock exam with your CFI, then an independent exam.
Once licensed, you can teach a group of up to six students. You can add hang gliding launch types to your licence later. Moving to paragliding counts as a new licence.
Senior Instructor needs 25 logged days as an Instructor, the SI course, your CFI's sign-off and an independent exam.
Source: Technical Manual (Amendment 24) (sections 4.1.1, 4.1.5, 4.1.6, 4.2.1 to 4.2.3, 4.3.3 and 4.3.4), BHPA Courses and BHPA Fees, BHPA, checked October 2026.
Governing body: British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA). It sets the UK safety standards and training awards for hang gliding, 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.
