P2 - Novice Pilot Rating - 30 Flights

Some people were just born to fly. Perhaps you have already flown as a hang glider, recreational sailplane/airplane pilot, or skydiver.  Or maybe you already participate in a number of adventure sports where you catch "big air": windsurfing, snowboarding or mountain biking.  Then again, perhaps you are in one of the highly sophisticated, technological, mind-expanding sports such as scuba diving.  In the end, it could be that you have never done any of these sports but have dreamed of them continually and it's time to get out there and "just do it".  If you are one of these people, and have always had a yearning to be up in the sky with the birds, you can be confident you will absolutely love this sport.

Why not just cut to the chase with our Novice (P2) Rating program, comprised of 30 flights during 64 hours (minimum) of intensive training. It will teach you to become a competent, certified pilot, empowered with the magic of solo flight.

The purpose of the Novice (P2) Rating is to provide you with all the necessary skills to safely fly solo in novice atmospheric conditions (light winds and light thermals: generally daily before 11:30am and after 4:30 pm, at times of reduced solar heating) at novice rated sites (generally gentle slopes with wide open places to lay out and launch and with large fields to land in).  Allows the pilot to fly most novice sites worldwide.

Beyond that, pilots training for their Novice (P2) certification will be assisted in the selection and purchase of all of their required paragliding equipment.  We take pride in selling only the very finest, state of the art equipment.  We make no compromises when it comes to your paraglider.  We don't believe in the principle of second-class flying equipment.  We have done all the careful research and price comparison in selecting the brands we sell, so you can enjoy the best value for your money.  We remain current, acquiring and replacing brands consistent with this philosophy.  We also buy/sell our used equipment from/to our customers provided the gear is in excellent shape, has been properly serviced and maintained, and is not more than one equipment-generation old.

The Novice (P2) training program is intense, but also a lot of fun, and will take a minimum of 30 flights to accomplish.  You may chose to take a Big Escape Holiday to learn how to fly based in Beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  The intent will be to have a great holiday while completing your pilot training. Or you may chose to conduct your training on weekends only, selecting one day a weekend or two days a weekend training to complete your course in 1 or 2 months.   

Our novice course is limited to a maximum of four students per instructor, to give you and each flight the attention it deserves.  The course is designed to exceed the HPAC and USHGA requirements.  We operate a structured training environment.  We will issue and execute our daily training objectives in a timely, efficient manner.

Your comprehensive training will implement a variety of teaching methods throughout the course depending on your stage of progress and specific needs.  Before we begin we will give you the "big picture" of our course structure so you can pre-visualize where we are and where we are going.  The following key learning modules will be implemented throughout the course:

• Theory.  We use state of the art techniques, including multimedia and interactive presentations to explain micrometeorology and aerodynamics to you visually and in plain English.

• Ground Skills.  You will not apply skills in the air until you have mentally and practically rehearsed and mastered them from the safety of the ground. We will do several sessions of slope soaring and will also include the use of simulators.

• Flying Skills.  Each flight will have clearly defined "mission" objectives.  Each flight will repeat learned skills and introduce new ones in synergistic, progressive manner.  Your progress in achieving critical milestone skills will be carefully monitored.  We will vary the terrain and conditions of your flights to teach you to use the different approaches that work in particular situations.

While free from the ground up in the air, you will experience true free-flight, with no windscreen to separate you from total immersion into the sky.  You will feel the air rushing softly around you.  At these times you will live truly in the moment, with no stray negative or imposing thoughts about your day-to-day life to distract you.  You will be comfortable in a secure seat-harness as you soar high above the tiny, mere mortals below, unaffected by their petty troubles, like some sky god from Greek mythology.

Your course of study will take you to some of the most beautiful, pristine views known to man.  You may launch from a glacier high in the alpine of a jagged mountain peak to soar above the meandering rivers in the valley below.  You may soar the cliffs along the ocean, like a bird, playing in the sea-breeze.  You may climb a thermal and become one amongst the clouds.  You may fly, gently gliding out across the valley, as the sun fires up a blazing red sky behind the mountain range beyond.

At the end of our time together, you will be empowered with the fulfillment of man's oldest dream: the joy of flight.  And you will be free to embark on that quest on your own. 

The sky will be your playground.  And you will be free to go play with the birds.

Novice Pilot (P2) Rating: $1597* ...SIGN UP!

* Price includes: 64 hours of training conducted in 8 days spread between 4 weekends or 8 weekends. Pilots not attending scheduled days will be charged $200/day for extra days. Comprehensive novice-level class study and demonstrations; written exam (requires a minimum of 80% to pass); novice ground school; minimum of thirty (30) instructor supervised flights, and flight test.  To participate in this course, equipment must be purchased from us separately. We ask that you bring your own sturdy, agile footwear with ankle support (ex. hikers) and warm athletic clothing providing full body coverage. Full payment of the course and time commitment to specific dates must be received prior to commencement of training, with no refunds for partial course completion. We reserve the right to discontinue training any student not following directions or conducting themselves in a manner that may endager themselves or others. On course completion, requires student payment of: $10 CAD novice registration fee and $140 CAD yearly insurance to HPAC; or $15 USD novice registration and $70 USD yearly insrurance to USHGA. Some landing sites require a $5/day fee payable by the student to the land owner and/or yearly dues of $50 landing fees and $50 local paragliding club fees.

Upgrade from Student (P1) Diploma: + $997** ...SIGN UP!

** If you have completed a Student Diploma with us and would like to complete 25 more flights to get your Novice Rating, we will credit $600 from the Student Diploma against the Novice Rating course.  So your upgrade to Novice will be an additional $997. We will only do this if you sign up for the Novice Rating within 3 days of your Student Diploma, and continue with the flights within 6 days, while the knowledge is still fresh.  Terms in * above apply.

Novice Big Escape Holiday Value Package: Novice Pilot (P2) Rating with 9-day Big Escape Holiday: $2087*** ...SIGN UP!

*** If you conduct your Novice Rating while on a 9-day Big Escape Holiday Tour with us, we will give you a special price of only $2087 (value $1497 Novice + $1387 Big Escape = $2884) which includes your novice rating, ground transportation and accomodations (but not airfare). Terms in * above apply.