Long-distance flying is every paragliding pilot's dream. Sooner or later, you will feel the urge to fly away from your usual flying area.
At Parapente Pirineos, we offer you the opportunity to learn this incredible paragliding discipline through our specialized XC courses.This course is aimed at pilots who are autonomous in takeoff, landing, ridge soaring and thermalling procedures.
Mandatory experience in mountain flying and at least 1 basic SIV course completed.
Goals
The goal of the XC course is to accompany you on several cross-country flights along various planned routes in the Pyrenees, both to introduce you to this type of flying and to help you improve your efficiency and enjoyment.
During the course you will do 2 to 5 distance flights. The flight conditions will always be evaluated by our qualified XC instructors and the flight plan and the area will be studied with the students before each flight. In addition, you will receive theory lessons on safety and efficiency specific to XC flying, as well as a post-flight briefing of each flight performed.
XCountry in the Pyrenees
The weather conditions in this area of the Pyrenees are particularly suitable for XC flights, which are mountain cross-country flights with different routes of varying difficulty. Our location on the southern slopes of the mountain range provides many days with excellent updrafts, as it receives more sunlight and is protected from humid air masses invading from the NW. Our latitude gives us a good balance of thermal quality and many flyable days with less turbulence and wind throughout the year. The wide take-offs with an elevation of 1400m allow you to profit from the best thermal currents, as you can catch them when they are well established and with adequate clearance from the ground.
Qualified instructors and XC specialists
Distance flying is a wonderful discipline, but it demands mastery of several skills. Taking a group of pilots on an XC journey requires experienced cross-country instructors like the ones who will accompany you at Parapente Pirineos. Our instructors know what small details to pick up on, are experienced in the routes in the area, and know how to correctly assess the forecasts and the evolution of conditions along the route. We will also have a team member on the ground who will be responsible for keeping track of each pilot's position and picking them up as they land, minimising waiting times. We want you to enjoy yourself, but most of all we want to finish the course with more tools in your belt than you started with!
Cross/XC course program
Preparation
Every morning we will analyse the day's conditions and possible routes to be flown according to geography, landmarks, landing zones. Our goals and alternatives are usually set according to what we feel once in the air. A briefing will be delivered before each flight to set any code words for the day and to fly safely along the intended route.
XC Flights
After the take-off briefing, we will set our expected take-off schedule and limits. The students will accompany the instructor on a route suitable to the possibilities of the day, as previously briefed. The instructor will supervise each student along the flight, keeping them in safe flying areas and sending them to suitable landing zones. Once landed, we will organise aquick pick-up with the ground team.
Theory
Back on the ground, we will complement your flights with theory lessons applied to XC, evaluation of flying conditions, lapse rate diagrams, cloud base calculation, thermal behavior, and other concepts. We will also explore team flying, how to find lift and how to manage transitions, good safety habits and flight analysis.
Post XC Talks
Once the flight is over, or the following day if we finish late, it is time to debrief the work done during our flight. Our decisions, both good and bad, will be analyzed and improvements will be sought to help us be more prepared for future distance flights.
DURATION
- Monday to Friday:
Five consecutive days
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
- Complete flight equipment if necessary.
- Theoretical and practical training.
- Recording and analysis of flights, tracks, maps and weather apps.
- Transportation to the flying areas.
- Quick pick-ups.
- Liability and accident insurance.
- Possibility of obtaining APPI CROSS/XC – Discover (FAI Safe Parapro 5B) certification.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING
- Mobile phone for location purposes.
- Appropriate footwear and clothing:
- Long pants.
- Trekking boots or sports shoes.
- Anorak or windbreaker jacket.
- Long-sleeved sweater / sweatshirt.
- Gloves.
- Complete paragliding equipment.
- Variometer.
- Radio.
- GPS (recommended).
Equipment can be supplemented with school gear.
POSSIBLE ADVERSE WEATHER
The instructor will assess the weather conditions and decide if they are suitable for the activity.
If the minimum course objectives are not met, the student can choose between two options:
- Complete the remaining flights later (even use the days following the course to reach the objectives, if possible for both parties).
- Discount on the course (ask us).
INSURANCE
Parapente Pirineos is registered as an active tourism company in the community of Aragon and, as such, has the mandatory civil liability and accident insurance, as well as the necessary qualifications to carry out the activity responsibly and in accordance with the law.
You are covered by our policies during the course, but we can inform you, if you need it, about the different options that exist (federation, private insurance, etc.) for when you fly outside of the school.
SCHEDULES
Classes start between 8 and 10 in the morning. The end time will depend on the conditions of the day and the pick-ups.
WEEKDAYS
925€
VAT included
5 consecutive days from Monday to Friday
2/5 flights of at least 20 km
Exhaustive planning of the day
Driver and pick-up vehicle exclusively for the course
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