Organisation profile

Paragliding Holland

• School

Paragliding Holland starts its winch training in Wijk bij Duurstede, combining classroom work and ground preparation on the first day. The basic course comprises at least two teaching days and five flights; the first is a tandem with an instructor. It includes equipment hire, radio guidance from two instructors and a theory evening covering flight practice, aerodynamics and meteorology. Students receive a logbook with a training plan.

Progression uses packages of ten or twenty winch flights or individually booked flights. The school describes its route to Brevet 2 Lier as training involving at least forty flights and the required exercises. It uses Houten on the island of Schalkwijk and Terlet in winter; operations depend on both weather and team availability. Pilots with mountain experience can take conversion training for winch launching. A separate beginner mountain course also accepts students without previous winch training.

On a regular winch day, equipment is selected for the pilot’s weight and experience, and launches follow a start list. Participants help with field operations; the instructor signs off completed flights at the end of the day. Paragliding België describes itself as a collaboration between Vincent Verbon of Paragliding Holland and Philippe Vangeel, making the Dutch school’s course programme available to Belgian customers.

Paragliding Holland also runs week-long courses in Bassano, Italy, below Monte Grappa. The mountain course is for beginners and semi-advanced pilots, the thermalling course for pilots close to or holding the Brevet 2 licence, and the cross-country course for Brevet 2 holders. The group flies from several take-offs on the Monte Grappa massif and stays together at a paragliding hotel near the main landing field. Some weeks are taught entirely in English.