Beginner Paragliding Course
Cape Town
A confidence-first pathway from complete novice to first solo flight. No gear to buy. No long-term commitment before you know this is for you. Three sessions designed to remove fear, build real skills, and get you flying solo before the course ends.
This is not a conventional beginner course
Most beginner paragliding courses start on the ground. You practise kiting — dragging a wing back and forth — until you are reasonably competent at it. Only then do you progress to tandem, then to solo. That is a logical sequence, but it has a structural problem: the first thing you experience is the most technically demanding and least exciting part of paragliding. Students who struggle with it, or find it discouraging, sometimes quit before they ever get airborne.
This course inverts that. You go up first.
Session 1 puts you in the air with the instructor before you are asked to do anything difficult on the ground. You feel the controls. You understand lift. You get to experience what you came for. That early success experience matters enormously — it shifts the frame from “this is hard” to “I can actually do this.”
During those tandem flights, Ria can observe your micro-movements — hand position, brake pressure, body alignment — in real time and correct them immediately. That is not possible from the ground. It is a fundamentally different quality of instruction.
On the collapse demonstration
The single most common fear among new paragliding students is not heights — it is equipment failure. “What happens if the wing collapses?” is the question almost everyone is thinking but not always asking.
During Session 1, Ria performs a controlled collapse demonstration while you are a passenger. You experience real wing behaviour — the sensation, the recovery, the normalcy of it — with the instructor fully in control. Not a party trick. Deliberate exposure to the unknown, so it becomes known.
By the time you solo, that fear has been replaced with first-hand experience. That is worth more than any amount of theoretical reassurance.
No gear. No long-term commitment.
Everything you need is included in the course fee. You do not need to buy equipment or commit to further training before discovering whether paragliding is right for you. If you love it, the pathway to a licence is clear. If you decide it is not for you, you have lost nothing except the cost of a course — and gained the experience of having flown solo.
Course structure
Tandem Training
Signal Hill
- 3 tandem flights, each with a specific learning objective
- Turns, approach setup, landing, posture, brake technique
- Instructor observes your micro-movements in real time — not possible from the ground
- Controlled collapse demonstration: experience real wing behaviour with the instructor in full control
- Most students land the tandem on flight 3 — student on controls, instructor guiding
Ground School & Simulator
Ground training
- Introduction to kiting and takeoff procedure — familiarity, not mastery
- Harness simulator: rehearse in-flight manoeuvres before you are at altitude
- Turns, body position, big ears, speed bar usage, PLF (parachute landing fall)
- Reserve parachute briefing
- Weather theory and site assessment
First Solo Flights
Langebaan dunes
- Full day at the Langebaan dunes — a forgiving, confidence-building solo site
- Ria assists with gear preparation and launch setup — you focus on flying
- Up to 7 solo flights, more if conditions allow
- Per-flight debrief after each flight
- Sessions 1 and 2 are behind you — this is applying what you already know
What students say
“Ria's expertise in weather forecasting and safety-first approach completely changed my perspective. I highly recommend AirSchool for anyone looking to learn paragliding!”
Edward Bowora
Beginner course to solo licence graduate
“Cannot recommend AirSchool enough! Ria's knowledgeable, attentive, and had me flying on day 2 — my friends were so impressed!”
Jordan Bohinc
Beginner course
“The last flight over the dunes with a view of the ocean… It was simply amazing! Thanks, Ria!”
Daan Wenger
Beginner course
The pathway to your SAHPA Basic Licence
The beginner course is Phase 1. Phases 2 and 3 follow at your own pace.
Beginner Course — this course
3 sessions. Tandem training, simulator, first solo flights. All gear, transport, SAHPA registration included.
R12,500
Theory & Online Exam
Self-paced online theory course and open-book SAHPA exam. Theory exam preparation is provided at no extra cost as part of Phase 1.
Low cost
Licence Flights
Additional supervised flights to meet SAHPA Basic Licence hour and skill requirements. April–September only. Gear hire available at R235/flight, though purchasing your own equipment before Phase 3 is strongly recommended — ground handling practice between sessions is the biggest factor in how quickly you progress. SAHPA and SACAA licence fees are paid directly to those bodies after training.
~R13,000
Total training cost (Phases 1–3): approximately R26,000–R27,000. Training cost estimator →
What’s included
- 3 tandem training flights (Session 1)
- Ground school and custom simulator training (Session 2)
- Up to 7 supervised solo flights — more if conditions allow (Session 3)
- Full paragliding equipment hire (wing, harness, helmet, reserve)
- Transport to all flying sites
- Site fees at all training locations
- SAHPA membership registration
- Radio communication throughout all flights
- Theory exam preparation for Phase 2 (no extra cost)
Gear costs after Phase 1
Gear hire is included through Phase 1. Used airworthy equipment starts at R20,000–R50,000. New gear is around R70,000. No need to buy before you know you love it.
Pricing
All gear, transport, site fees and SAHPA registration included
Where this takes you
A paraglider is an aircraft — the most accessible one on earth
Six months from now you could be soaring Lion’s Head on a summer afternoon, watching thermals build above the Twelve Apostles. A year in, pilots typically start looking at Porterville mountain flights, the Western Cape’s XC routes, and the competition calendar.
The Basic Licence gives you access to registered flying sites across South Africa. The Sport Licence removes the supervision requirement — fly independently, anywhere. Beyond that: hike-and-fly expeditions in the mountains, coastal XC routes, international competitions, and destinations that most people only ever see from a plane window.
Your instructor
Ria Moothilal has been in the air since 2004 — 1,300+ skydives, 200+ BASE jumps, 2,000+ paragliding flights, big XC in the Himalayas and Western Cape, vol biv crossings, and international competition in China, Réunion, and South Africa. He built this course having personally navigated every stage of the progression his students are working through. With a BSc in Engineering and a background in data science, the approach to instruction is systematic, precise, and built on understanding rather than repetition.
Air School Paragliding holds a Declared Training Organisation certificate from the SACAA — the highest civilian aviation training accreditation in South Africa. You are not learning to paraglide from a hobby enthusiast. You are being trained by a professional aviation educator with verified credentials.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience to start?
None at all. The beginner course is designed for complete novices. The only requirement is a reasonable level of physical fitness and a willingness to learn.
What happens if the weather is bad on my training day?
We simply reschedule. Sessions are booked around suitable flying conditions — if it's not right on the day, we move it at no extra cost. Cape Town flies year-round and suitable conditions are common even in winter.
Is paragliding safe?
Paragliding has real risks, which is why qualified instruction from a SACAA DTO matters. At Air School Paragliding, safety is built into the curriculum — not as a disclaimer, but as the foundation. You will understand the risks, how to manage them, and how to make good decisions in the air before you solo.
What fitness level do I need?
You should be able to run short distances, carry a pack, and handle some physical exertion. You do not need to be an athlete. Age is not a barrier — students range from teenagers to retirees.
What do I need to bring?
Comfortable clothes suitable for running, solid shoes or boots (no sandals), sun protection, water, and a light snack. All flying gear is included in the course fee.
Will I definitely fly solo on this course?
Session 3 is a full day dedicated to your first solo flights — up to 7, sometimes more if conditions allow. Progress is student-dependent: if additional preparation is needed before Session 3, that is arranged. The goal is always your first safe solo, not a fixed number of sessions.
What is included in the R12,500 fee?
Everything: full paragliding equipment hire (wing, harness, helmet, reserve), 3 tandem training flights including collapse demonstration (Session 1), ground school and in-flight simulator training (Session 2), up to 7 supervised solo flights at Langebaan dunes — more if conditions allow (Session 3), site fees, and SAHPA membership registration. Theory exam preparation for Phase 2 is provided at no extra cost.
How much does it cost to get my full SAHPA Basic Licence?
The beginner course (Phase 1) is R12,500. After that, Phase 2 is an online theory course and open-book SAHPA exam — low cost and self-paced. Phase 3 (April–September only) is the additional supervised licence flights — budget around R13,000 for training. Total training cost across all three phases: approximately R26,000–R27,000. SAHPA membership and SACAA licence fees are paid directly to those bodies after training and are not part of Air School's training costs.
Full licence pathway breakdown →What does gear cost after Phase 1?
Gear hire is included through Phase 1. For Phase 3 you can continue hiring at R235/flight, but purchasing your own equipment is strongly recommended — having your own glider lets you practise ground handling between sessions, which is the biggest factor in how quickly you progress. Used airworthy gear starts around R20,000–R50,000. New gear is around R70,000. Ria will advise on suitable equipment once you've completed Phase 1.
What licence do I get and what can I do with it?
After completing Phases 1–3 and passing the SAHPA theory exam, you receive a SAHPA Basic Licence. Paragliding sites in South Africa are graded according to licence level — the majority of sites around the country are graded for Basic Licence. A Sport Licence is required for more demanding sites; for example, Table Mountain is a Sport Licence site due to the skill level required for that launch. The Licensed Pilot Mentorship Programme helps you work toward the Sport Licence once you hold your Basic.
Ready to fly?
Your first solo flight is three sessions away. The beginner course is available year-round — gear, sites, and SAHPA registration all included.
Or call +27 78 095 8136