Hang gliding in the UK: kit, prices, who's in charge and safety

• What you need first: Nothing. This is background for anyone thinking about starting.
• What's next: Pilot track: Club Pilot course. Coaching track: coaches and instructors.

Typical prices

• One-day school taster: usually £180 to £220. A tandem, where a school offers one, is in the same band.
• Elementary Pilot plus Club Pilot: usually £1,300 to £1,600. BHPA membership is extra.
• A school day: £140 to £200, about £25 to £35 an hour of contact time.

BHPA fees (from 1 April 2026):

• One Day Introductory Membership: £33, or £5 if you're under 21. It's only valid on the day it's issued, so don't apply the night before.
• Trial Membership: £120 for 3 months, with no joining fee.
• Annual Flying Membership: £192, plus a £35 joining fee. It's £172 for concessions (21 and under, 67 and over, or disabled).
• Each rating (CP, Pilot, Advanced Pilot) or added environment: £20.
• IPPI card for flying abroad: £20.

Membership includes £5 million third-party insurance, but not personal accident cover. Get personal or travel insurance from an independent broker.

Who's in charge

• BHPA: oversees pilot and instructor training standards and registers the schools for hang gliding and paragliding in the UK. Your first training must be at one of its schools, where instructors are licensed by the BHPA.
• Clubs: look after flying sites and offer coaching once you have your CP.
• CAA: the BHPA's manual says the CAA requires its permission to tow launch inside an aerodrome traffic zone (ATZ) or above 60m. Aerotow tug pilots also need a pilot's licence on top of their BHPA Operator licence.
• FAI and CIVL: the international level. The IPPI card and Delta badges come from the FAI, through the BHPA.

Kit rules for hang gliding

• The BHPA expects members to fly certified gliders. In schools, hang gliders must be certified by the BHPA, LTF or HGMA.
• Any change to a school glider needs written approval from the maker or the BHPA. Taking the tip struts off, even for a while, counts as a change and isn't allowed, whatever kind of flight it is.
• In schools, harness karabiners in the main suspension should be screw-gate or twist-lock with the UIAA mark.
• School students' helmets must meet a listed standard, such as EN966. Boots need a firm sole and ankle support, with lacing hooks avoided or taped over.
• Wheels at least 9 inches across go on the control frame until you have your CP.
• Power hang gliders fly solo only. Hang gliders can't be towed on a fixed-length line behind a vehicle.

Age and health

• By law you must be 14 to fly solo, and the BHPA won't issue a rating before then. Many schools set their own limit, often around 16.
• There's no upper age limit if you're reasonably fit.
• You don't need a medical, but you should be in good health. If you have a condition such as epilepsy, fainting, high blood pressure, a heart condition or diabetes, ask your doctor first.
• You need the Pilot rating to fly cross-country under BHPA rules.
• Poor signal? Register for emergency SMS before you go by texting "register" to 999.

Source: BHPA home page, Registered Schools, Learn to Fly, BHPA Fees, Who can fly cross-country?, In an Emergency and Technical Manual (Amendment 24) (sections 1.3, 2.1, 3.4.6, 4.2.5 and Section 1 Chapter 2 Appendix B), 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.