Training Program   

When you are ready to fly on your own, PARAFLY Paragliding offers complete instruction from the ground up--allowing you to enjoy paragliding safely at any level.  As Seattle's premier paragliding school we offer the most comprehensive, safety-focused training available.  You will start with a tandem flight and progress on to your solo rating as a novice (P2) pilot after 25 solo flights.  Instruction does not stop there.  We will continue to provide instruction and support for your P3 and P4 advanced ratings as you progress.  In order to acquire the skills and knowledge required to achieve your novice (P2) rating you will receive training in a number of ways:

• Ground Handing:   You can learn much of what you need to fly safely without leaving the ground.  A paraglider can be flown like a large kite and this is where a new pilot learns the complete canopy control which allows them to launch safely.

• Tandem Flights:   You will fly with an experienced pilot and receive hands-on training in the air.  You can experience most of what you will encounter in solo flight in this way and progress quickly and safely as a result.  You will be flying the paraglider and learning how to fly and land safely.

• Ground School:   You will learn how to read the weather so you can judge appropriate flying conditions.  You will also learn about the mechanics of flight and how you can be as safe a pilot as possible.

• Solo Flights:   Once you have mastered canopy control on the ground and basic turning and landing in tandems you will be ready for your first solo flights.  Your first high solo flights mark the end of your P2 rating, but only the beginning of your progression in paragliding.   

• Ongoing Training:   PARAFLY Paragliding will continue to provide support and instruction well after your P2 rating is complete as you progress to more advanced ratings and skills.  Paragliding has been called the simplest form of aviation to learn, but the most difficult to master.    

Fee:  The cost of the program is $1,800.  This includes the use of training gear for ground handling and initial flights, although students are expected to purchase their own before the completion of the P2 rating. A basic package of gear (wing, harness, and reserve parachute) is $3,000-$6,000 depending on whether it is new or used.

Timing:   The time required to complete a P2 certification varies greatly depending on the individual, their schedule and the available flying conditions.  It can be as short as a week or as long as several months.  Our primary concern is safety rather than speed.