COME LEARN WITH US
BASIC LICENSE COURSE
SAHPA PILOT LICENSE
WALLEND-AIR IS A REGISTERED SAHPA PARAGLIDING SCHOOL
SAHPA BASIC LICENSE
Congratulations on choosing the best SAHPA registered school in South Africa.
This is where everything changes. You are now 11 days away from becoming a licensed, confident, independent pilot.
The SAHPA basic license is the minimum requirement to legally fly without supervision or instruction at all the basic rated flying sites in South Africa. It is a thorough and intensive paragliding course, designed to give you the basic building blocks from which to develop and enhance your paragliding skills, after the course.
Our instructors have trained hundreds of pilots since 1987.
We don’t just follow the SAHPA training manual, we wrote it.
TELL ME MORE WHAT TO EXPECT
Learning to fly is a progression — and we guide you through every step
In a safe learning environment (Wilderness, Kleinkrantz and Sedgeview), with a stepped progression, we will take you from:
– Ground handling and wing control
– To short controlled flights (dune hopping and ground skimming)
– To solo flights – soaring confidently along the ridge
– To higher take-off flights
– To becoming a fully licensed paragliding pilot
Our training is hands-on, immersive, and unforgettable — building confidence, skill and control with each step.
Enquire now and we’ll send you all the details.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Before and during your course, you’ll cover:
– Ground handling and canopy control
– Equipment setup and safety checks
– Launch and landing techniques
– Wind assessment and site awareness
– Ridge soaring and basic thermalling
– Flight planning fundamentals
– Airspace rules and safety procedures
– Real-time decision-making in the air
This is about more than just flying.
It’s about becoming the BEST PILOT YOU CAN BE !
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
BASIC LICENSE COURSE – SAHPA
EQUIPMENT
Get to know the equipment, features and controls, in both a theoretical and practical way. Learn to unpack and repack your equipment and about the maintenance thereof.
GROUND CONTROL
Control the glider overhead in different wind conditions. Learn the importance of under-running the glider and progressively convert to bigger wings suitable for your first flight.
WIND / TOPOGRAPHY
Assess wind direction, wind strength and topography and the position and responsiveness of the glider relative to the wind and topography of the area.
SAFETY
Understand the necessity for safety checks before and after a flight and how to conduct them.
PULL-UPS
Practice forward launches and reverse pull-ups with and without the front risers, using body weight to steer the glider while getting a feeling for the wing.
GROUND SKIMMING
Progress to doing ground skimming flights off the dunes in Wilderness.
UNDER RUNNING
Learn the importance of underrunning the glider and progressively convert to bigger wings suitable for your first flight.
MANOEUVRES
Complete all the manoeuvres required to qualify for the basic licence application.
TANDEM
Nothing beats Tandem instruction. Hand on, personal tuition while you fly.
SOLO FLIGHTS
Complete a minimum of 35 solo flights before submitting your basic license application.
MAINTENANCE
Learn to unpack and repack your equipment and about the maintenance thereof.
THEORY
Attend theory lectures on aerodynamics and micrometeorology and write the basic license test at the end of the course.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
TRANSPORT
There are shuttles between Cape Town and Wilderness.
Note, you can also fly into George Airport and arrange transport from there.
On the days that we train, our Wallend-Air vehicles will run you up and down the flying site.
ACCOMMODATION
We offer our fellow flyers, students, guests and friends accommodation in our home on an informal Bed & Breakfast basis. Wallend-Air Base Camp has 4 rooms, and can comfortably accommodate ten people.
Click here to find out more.
Alternatively, Bed & Breakfast, Hotels & Backpackers are plentiful in the Wilderness area. We can assist with confirming accommodation.
WHAT TO BRING
* Closed shoes like trainers or hiking boots.
Flip flops.
* T-shirts. Long-sleeve top. Jacket.
* Long or mid-length longs or shorts.
* Sunglasses, hat, and buff, sunscreen.
* Lots of water, snacks (apples, nuts)
* Basic license manual, pen, and attachable camera phone.
Basic License Course
SAHPA Basic Pilots License- 11 Days (Sunday to following Friday)
- Safe training environment
- Location: Wildnerness, Kleinkrantz, Sedgeview
- Includes: Rental of all equipment, all transport to and from flying sites
- Excludes: SAHPA & site fees (breakdown of all fees on request)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own glider?
No, Wallend-Air provides all your training equipment.
What if I have my own glider, but I am rusty?
If you are rusty, or have not had enough flights to renew your paragliding license, join our refresher course. If your licence has not been renewed for 5 years then you will have to redo your full basic paragliding course.
We take you through the steps to become a confident pilot again.
How does training work? What can I expect?
At Wallend-Air we start our students off with ground training on the beach and incrementally progress from there to ‘bunny hops’ and ground skimming flights off the dunes. Once this is mastered, we progress to higher take off sites for the students to fly their first high solo flights.
Our instructors do instructional tandem flights with our students.
In between flights, we focus on theory and ground training, which is the basis for safe flying. Paragliding is weather dependent, so we adjust the course accordingly.
Expect to laugh a lot and have fun. The initial dune flights can be physical and an average fitness level is advisable.
What if the weather is bad?
Our courses run during the summer months to ensure the best possible weather. Unfortunately we do not control the weather and we try our best to work with the weather, using every hour of the day productively.
How many times will I fly?
The minimum requirement to complete your course is 35 flights. Our philosophy is: do as many flights as you can, as safely as can be done, daily. Repetition builds muscle memory and confidence, ensuring you become the safest pilot you can be.
What if I fail?
If you do not complete your course, you have six months to return and complete the course before you have to re-register with SAHPA as a student pilot. Our instructors will discuss your options before and during your course. Age, fitness and weather play a role in completing your course. If you have to return for a second course then a ‘return’ discount will apply.
