Licensed Pilot
Mentorship Programme
After the beginner course, most pilots find themselves flying only when conditions are obviously safe — or only when a group is going. The confidence to fly independently, read unfamiliar sites, and make good decisions alone takes guidance most pilots don’t have access to. This programme changes that for R8.30 a day.
The problem with being a licensed pilot
The beginner course ends. You have a licence. You can fly. And then you are largely on your own.
Many newly licensed pilots only fly when the conditions are obviously benign, or when a group is going — because flying independently feels like a different, harder thing. Others stop flying regularly, and skills fade fast when sessions are infrequent. Some push into conditions they aren’t ready for simply because there’s nobody to tell them what they’re not yet ready for.
Is tomorrow’s forecast actually flyable, or are you just hoping it is? Should you attempt that cliff launch at a new site, or come back when you know more? Is that wing a genuine step forward or a lateral move that creates new problems? Why did that thermal feel wrong? These questions matter — and most licensed pilots have nobody qualified to ask.
Getting an experienced pilot’s time costs money. Supervised flying at an instructor’s rate adds up fast, and that rate covers physical presence — standing at the hill while you fly. Most of what shapes pilot development doesn’t require anyone to be at the hill. It requires honest, qualified answers to the right questions.
This programme exists to make that accessible. R250 a month gives you direct access to a Grade B & C instructor via the school Telegram group — for flight planning, post-flight analysis, gear decisions, weather interpretation, and everything in between.
What online mentorship can do
You don’t need an instructor at the hill for most of the decisions that shape your flying. You need someone qualified to give you a straight answer. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
Weather & conditions
Is this forecast worth the drive? Pre-flight weather interpretation, site-specific condition reading, and honest go/no-go assessments. Learning to read RASP and sounding data yourself so you stop relying on guesswork.
Flight analysis
Send your IGC track after a flight. Find out where you lost the thermal, why the glide fell short, or what the air was doing when things felt wrong. Without feedback, bad habits form and solidify — post-flight analysis is how pilots improve between sessions, not just during them.
Gear & equipment
Wing selection, harness, instruments, reserve choices — equipment decisions informed by real site and condition knowledge, not a manufacturer's margin. Advice from someone who has flown the same sites in the same conditions as you.
Confidence & independence
Hesitating to fly without a group, avoiding cliff launches, intimidated by sites you haven't flown before — many of these are solvable with the right conversation before you go, not just experience after. Building the judgment to fly independently is the goal.
Licence pathway
SAHPA Sport Licence requirements, which skills genuinely matter versus which are checkbox-ticking, and how to approach the assessment when you're ready. Honest advice on what the standard actually requires.
In-person flying
If you're in the Cape Town area, join Ria's training and recreational flying days when conditions align. Experience different sites, fly alongside someone who knows those sites well, and apply what you've been working on.
Who this programme is for
Recent paragliding graduates who want to build on what they learned rather than slowly forgetting it. Pilots who only fly when a group is going and want to develop the judgment to fly independently. Pilots who fly infrequently and feel skills slipping between sessions. Pilots new to the Western Cape who need to understand the sites, conditions, and community. Anyone whose progression has stalled and wants honest input on why.
You don’t need to be in Cape Town — the programme works anywhere in South Africa. If you are local, the physical flying component adds value. If you’re not, the mentorship still stands on its own.
Winter (Apr–Sep)
Peak student training season in Cape Town — ideal for thermal flying technique, mountain sites, and landing precision. Join training days and work on the skills that matter in mixed conditions.
Summer (Oct–Mar)
Thermal-heaven in the Western Cape. XC coaching for pilots ready for it, or dune site flying for those still consolidating the basics. Either way, there is flying to be done.
Good fit
- SAHPA Basic Licence holders
- IPPI 4 or foreign equivalent
- Pilots anywhere in South Africa
- Recent graduates wanting to keep progressing
- Pilots hesitating to fly without a group
- Pilots losing skills from irregular flying
- Pilots new to the Western Cape
- Anyone whose progression has plateaued
Start with the Beginner Course instead
- Complete newcomers to paragliding
- No current SAHPA or IPPI licence
- Never flown solo before
Your mentor
Ria Moothilal has 2,000+ paragliding flights across Cape Town and Western Cape sites, holds both Grade B and Grade C instructor qualifications, and flies competition. His background in engineering and data science produced the automated forecasting system used by the Cape Town flying community — and the same analytical approach applies to mentoring pilots through the decisions that actually determine their development.
Most pilots improving after the basic licence need honest, qualified feedback more than they need more hours. That is what this programme provides.
What’s included
What this programme is not
Not a full-time, every-weekend-with-an-instructor programme. Physical flying sessions happen when conditions are suitable and schedules align — they are not guaranteed on demand.
Not a “tell you where to fly every day” service. The daily forecast summarises flying options each morning. This programme builds your ability to interpret it yourself, and gives you someone to discuss it with when you want a second opinion.
Not a Sport Licence guarantee.Ria will advise on how to become a competent pilot ready for the Sport Licence assessment — but the licence depends on you meeting SAHPA’s skill and flight requirements, and there is no shortcut to that.
Not an SIV course. A full SIV course over water is strongly encouraged as a separate step. It ticks key Sport Licence requirements and gives you active safety experience that no amount of ground coaching can replicate.
Not a structured training programme. There is no fixed curriculum, no timetabled sessions, and no staged progression framework. The value is access — qualified, honest guidance when you need it.
Pricing
R8.30 per day — cancel anytime
- Monthly subscription — no lock-in
- All year round (winter and summer)
- Cancel whenever you want
If you haven’t done the beginner course yet — start there. R12,500 with all gear, site fees, transport and SAHPA registration included.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be based in Cape Town?
No. Most of what this programme offers works wherever you fly. Weather interpretation, flight track analysis, gear decisions, fear and confidence — none of that requires you to be in the same location. If you are in the Cape Town area, you can join flying days when conditions and schedules align, but that is a bonus rather than the foundation.
What can I actually get help with online?
A lot. Send your IGC track and get an honest analysis of what happened. Screenshot the forecast and ask whether it's worth the drive. Describe the landing that went wrong and get an explanation. Ask whether that second-hand wing is a sensible choice for where you're at. Talk through why a certain site makes you nervous. Most of the decisions that shape pilot development don't require an instructor standing at the hill — they require someone qualified to give you an honest answer.
Do I need a Basic Licence to join?
Yes. This programme is designed for pilots who already hold a SAHPA Basic Licence or a foreign equivalent (IPPI 4). If you're a beginner, the right starting point is the Beginner Course.
How is this different from asking in a public flying group?
A public group gives you a range of opinions from pilots with varying experience, different risk tolerances, and no knowledge of your specific skill level or goals. This programme gives you access to a Grade B & C SACAA instructor who can give you a specific, honest answer calibrated to where you actually are — not a consensus from a forum thread.
Is there an in-person component?
If you're in the Cape Town area, yes — you can join Ria during student training days and his own recreational flying when conditions and schedules align. But the programme is designed to deliver value primarily online. Physical presence is an opportunity, not an obligation.
How long will it take to get my Sport Licence?
That depends entirely on your starting point, how frequently you fly, and your specific skill gaps. The mentorship helps you work toward the requirements with purpose rather than just accumulating hours. Ria will advise on what actually matters for the assessment versus what's checkbox-ticking — but the licence depends on you meeting the SAHPA skill and flight requirements.
I fly irregularly — is this programme still useful?
Yes, and irregular flying is exactly the situation where mentorship matters most. Skills fade when sessions are infrequent, and the gaps between flights are when most pilots' judgment drifts. Being able to discuss a site or conditions before going, and review what happened after, helps you stay sharp and learn more from fewer flights.
Is there a fixed schedule or timetable?
No. Paragliding is weather-dependent and so is physical coaching. Online mentorship — answering questions, reviewing tracks, discussing gear — happens when you need it. There is no fixed calendar.
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