Paragliding is a truly unique experience. Who hasn't dreamed of taking a tandem flight and fly like a bird in the sky without any engine? But being in the air and flying in 3 dimensions in the sky requires precautions to ensure that you can cohabit with other civil and military aircraft without risk of accident, and requires a certain amount of insurance cover in the event of a problem.
What licence do I need to paraglide?
Paragliders and hang-gliders are considered by civil aviation to be PULs: (ultra-light gliders). As such, the DGAC does not impose any diploma or compulsory training to be able to fly a paraglider or hang glider, even if an initial training is essential to discover the practice in safety and avoid injury on the first flight. The FFVL has put together a very interesting document to help you understand the aviation regulations here >>.
However, while the DGAC is flexible on the issue of pilot training, it does make it compulsory for pilots to take out an insurance policy. aviation liability insurance.
RCA: Aviation Civil Liability Insurance:
This paragliding insurance is simply designed to cover any damage that a paraglider or hang glider may cause to other people or property. This RCA is therefore different from the usual civil liability insurance for private life. It is therefore necessary to take out a specific policy dedicated to hang-gliding.
IA: personal accident insurance :
In addition to this RCA, you can opt for complementary personal accident insurance, which covers bodily injury suffered by the paraglider pilot in the event of an accident. This specific insurance will provide you with optimum cover and a good level of reimbursement.
Civil liability insurance is included in borrower's insurance for a mortgage loan.
Some conventional mortgage insurance policies may provide different levels of cover for pilots in the event of an accident. It is therefore important to check the level of cover provided by your conventional civil liability insurance to see if there are any exclusion clauses for paragliding.
FFVL licence :
The Fédération Française de Vol Libre offers a full paragliding licence for paragliding and hang-gliding. This licence not only includes very good third-party liability insurance (including RCA), but also very good insurance for outdoor sports.
When you take out an FFVL licence, you are also supporting the federation that manages the free-flight sites in France and helps to develop the sport in the best possible conditions.
More information on the FFVL licence >>
FFCAM licence :
The other licence that incorporates a qualitative RCA is the FFCAM licence (French Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs). This federation is more mountain-oriented. It is not involved in hang-gliding sites, but does play a major role in mountain refuges, mountaineering and climbing, and offers an RCA for paragliders and hikers.
Europe and worldwide repatriation option
The medical repatriation represents a considerable cost that can run into tens of thousands of euros. Appropriate cover with good repatriation assistance is essential if you want to fly abroad with peace of mind.
The standard repatriation guarantee only covers the European Union and North Africa for stays of up to 90 days. For flights outside these zones, an additional world extension is becoming essential.
The 9-day course licence: a special package at an attractive price for a first introductory course
The FFVL offers a special licence for first-time fliers. introductory course. This 9-day insurance policy costs €35 and can be extended to an annual first-time licence to continue flying after the end of the course.
How do I take out an FFVL licence?
You can sign up for an FFVL licence quickly and easily online at federation.ffvl.fr. Go to the section "Taking your licence then follow the steps on the online form.
To validate your application, please bring your medical certificate stating that you are not contraindicated in paragliding. The documents can be downloaded directly from your personal space.
Once payment has been validated by credit card, your licence will be activated within 48 hours. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you with your insurance certificate and your FFVL membership card.
You can also apply via an affiliated club or accredited school, which will guide you through the administrative procedures and help you choose your paragliding insurance.
