Hi All

For those of you in the Zurich area who would like to try paragliding first hand, I am organizing another round of "Schnuppertags" May 19th and 26th.

Please check the pdf for complete details !

regards

Peter

Peter, you might want also to give a breakdown of kit costs and requirement for solo flyers should someone be interested in taking it to the "next level"

For those who continue... that's a tough call. Getting paragliding gear is like acquiring any kind of kit (same can be said of cars or skis). You can purchase new, slightly used or very used.

I have seen people get super deals and get in for 1500 CHF used, and others go full Rolls Royce for 5K and more. Getting a tandem fully outfitted is also quite a bit more.

So in rough ranges (new or slightly used):

Harness: 400 - 1200 CHF
Glider: 1500 - 6000 CHF (i.e. high quality tandem is 6K)
Reserve Parachute: 500 - 1200 CHF
Helmet: 100 - 400 CHF
Flight computer (vario): 130 - 1600 CHF
GPS: 140 - 600 CHF

I also note here that most schools offer a discount if you buy from them (having already paid for the course).

If there any more information that anyone wants ?

regards

Peter

Hey Peter,

I'm interested, but I am only there for the 19th... Is this a one day thing, or a 2 day course?

Thx.

i saw the photos - great!

i am moving to Zurich in July/August - any trip organized then?

i used to fly in Croatia - but never completed course...

myabe i could do it now )

Quick update - it looks like we don't have enough for the 19th; I will most likely cancel that date in the next day or two (sorry CoreyH).

@bibadlab - we can certainly hook you up with an instructor so can fly supervised. Nothing special organized for late summer, but if the weather is nice I am out almost every weekend. What awaits you can be seen here

Although.... I have organized schnuppertags for companies that have hosted "team building" events. If anyone wants to set one of those up, just drop me a line.

c u in the sky,

-Peter

I'm seriously tempted to join you. You guys are always flying over our house, close enough for a quick chat and it looks amazing. Not really sure if I have the balls, but keep me updated on future dates

Mike

Yes I would love to try this, is the 26th booked up yet?

hey Peter,

for Corey's sake I'll be there. I don't want him upset at work that he didn't get to throw himself of a cliff.


so as my Mum used to say....... if "X" threw himself over a cliff would you do it to?

hell yeah!

easy

Nic

that is why I threw myself over a cliff. I thought if "X" can do it , so can I!

Hey Peter,

I would really like to try paragliding this year, however I'm down in Fribourg which is quite a trek for me.
Could you recommend any schools/clubs in this area that I could get in touch with.

Thanks,
Nick.

You could try http://www.airturquoise.ch/ they are in villeneuve 10 mins from montreux.

Thanks Sparks,

Will check them out.

Nick.

Hi Peter

I'm trying to get a Swiss PG licence sorted out. I bumped into George of flugschule Zueri a few weeks ago at Hoch Y Brig and he kindly let me fly with his school for the day. I have an IPPI IV card and am currently trying to get an IPPI V card (I should qualify for one) as I have been led to believe that with this card, I only need to do the Air law part of the exam and omit the practical.

I have a couple of questions:

1. Do you know if I can take the exam in English?
2. Is there a good book or other guidance on Swiss air law available in English?

Thanks!

All this paperwork is a bit of a pain as it looks like I may miss independent flying for the summer.

Tom

Hi Tom,

If you still maintain an address outside of Switzerland then you can fly independently on IPPI 4, I read somewhere that as long as you are on an L permit you'd be ok,

You are right, if you have IPPI 5 then you only need to take the therory part of the exam, however, I understand it is only available in French, German and Italian,

Where did you do your training? In the UK? I am about to contact the BHPA about options for getting my IPPI card upgraded to 5, however as I haven't flown in the UK with a school or club for about 5 years I'm not sure I can find anyone to sign off the tasks necessary to get it upgraded. I need to know if they'll accept a sign off from someone here in Finland

Information about licensing can be found at: http://www.shv-fsvl.ch/e/verband/index_einstieg.htm

Oh and leave your 2M radio at home

Thanks for the reply. I have a B Permit and have been told I cannot fly here anymore without a Swiss licence.

I had better get my German up to scratch It's rubbish!

I did my initial training back in 1991 with Northern Paragliding. I spoke to the BHPA a couple of weeks ago. To get IPPI V you will need a signed statement from either your PG club chairman in the U.K. or from the CFI at the school where you learnt. You will need to let them see your log books to show that you have completed 100 hours flying and have 5 non-ridge soaring cross-country flights under your belt. I think as the IPPI is administered by the controlling organisation for each country, you need to get the IPPI tasks signed off in that country. You had bettter speak to the BHPA to be sure.

Yep that was my understanding as well, Typical that they would rather have someone who hasn't seen me fly in 5 yrs take a look at my log book and sign it off, rather than a person who has actually been flying with me

I might have to do both parts of the exam, although it isn't that much extra hassle, although you are meant to do min 40 flights I understand if you go to a school for a day they will assess your level and sign off the flights without having to do them, then you just need the 2 test flights and the exam,
This would also mean I don't have to renew my BHPA membership this year (Which would be good as I have had bugger all off them since I left the UK 5 years ago)

hey Peter,

so Corey are trying to rope another 2 guys into paragliding on the 19th....

did you have enough other interest to warrant running the day?

cheers mate.

Nic

Hi guys,

@hayley - Yes, plenty of space left on the 26th. Just give me a definite yes, so I can put you on the list. If there is later interest (June), I can arrange to put another date together.

About conversions - yes, if your primary domicile is in Switzerland, you really need to get a Swiss license. Rumor has it that the test is available in English, but the study materials are not. I did try to get the SHV to let us translate the questions (all 1000 or so) but no luck. You may get some grace on the 40 required flights based on your log book (I had 460 something or another at the time of the Swiss test). I find the SHV to be quite reasonable of you want to talk to them directly (in person). They are in the Seefeld area, and easy to get to by tram.

And a clarification - there is NO jumping off of cliffs (ever). For the schnuppertag, everything happens on a gentle grassy slope. After your first few hundred flights we can discuss the proper way to do a cliff launch (running off the edge).

As George is now an examiner, we should probably revisit the "test materials and exam" in English issue. If the weather holds I will see him this weekend.

Anyone else for the 26th ?

regards and let me know!!

Peter

I am definitely interested - put me down for the 26th!