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9 Day Intensive Dual Training Course

Aug 24 - Sept 1, 2024 : Our Turkey trip has great potential for pilots looking to get their dual licence with a focused training session.  We plan to use Sakarya in North Turkey as our base for this trip, which is about 150km east of Istanbul. It is a lovely grassy dome shaped bowl with a height difference of 200m between takeoff and landing, making it ideal for tandem training. It offers quick turnaround for top to bottom flights, soaring conditions from the laminar sea breeze and a great top landing practice area. Once the sea breeze sets in, the predominant winds are N-NE, ideal for this site. We will also be using a few other sites within a short driving distance to allow for training variation. 

Our course is designed to comprehensively cover the training required for a BHPA Tandem Pilot licence with our team of experienced instructors. Once you are ready and confident, we will assist you in booking an exam slot with a BHPA examiner once back in the UK. 

There will be opportunities to solo fly on the trip and it’s just a great holiday in the sunshine. Partners are welcome too!

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Travel & Itinerary

The plan is to fly into Istanbul Airport in Turkey. Servidan is about 2 hours drive from Istanbul and we will organise airport transfers based on your flights. Cost of this will be additional and split between pilots sharing the same vehicle.

Daily transport will include lifts to and from the flying sites and any recreational trips.

Accommodation

We will be staying at Continental Luxury Suites in Sakarya,which is about 30mins drive from the launch. We have booked rooms for our group on a twin sharing basis with breakfast. 

Fees & Dates

  • Dates : Aug 24 - Sept 1, 2024 (9 days)
  • Fees : £1350

  • Includes
    - Instruction, site briefings,
       debriefings and in-flight guidance
    - Mountain transport and retrieves
  • Not Included
    - Accommodation
    - Airport Transfers
    - Equipment hire
    - Lunch / Alcohol / Drinks
    - Any extra site costs
    - Cost of extra activities
  • Partners are welcome
    at a supplement cost. We can arrange air experience tandem flights for them and other cultural activities for the day.

  • BOOK NOW >

What is covered in training ?

Designed to comprehensively cover all the training required for the BHPA Tandem Pilot licence with our experienced dual instructors, this intensive course includes all the theory and practical work you will require to become a safe and skilled tandem pilot. This includes developing your interaction with the passenger prior to and during the flight.

You will have an opportunity to carry out plenty of launches, short flights and landings, exploring a variety of techniques. The course will involve flying as the pilot and as the passenger.

When you have completed sufficient flights and reached the required standard, a mock examination will be conducted by your instructors. This involves an interview, practical flying exercises and a multi-choice written exam. The training will prepare you for an independent examination by the BHPA.

The BHPA dual examination fees are not included and need to be paid separately to BHPA.  The standard required by the BHPA is very high and there is no guarantee of a pass.

Pilots will need to book a slot for the BHPA exam once back in UK.

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Preparation


Pilot introductions and aims

Paperwork check

Equipment discussion and check


Flight Training


Solo flying practice

Groundhandling (dual system)

Pre-flight briefings & rehearsals

Passenger position flights 

Pilot position flights


Theory & Exam


Interview discussion and practice

Mock Exam

Confirmatory Q and A session

Paperwork update

BHPA exam application

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This course content is structured on the assumption that the solo piloting level is ‘Expert’. Additional training days beyond the scope of this trip may be recommended by the CFI, based on individual aptitude and skill levels. Training order may vary depending on weather conditions.

If you are serious about becoming a tandem pilot, purchasing and practicing with your own gear is a definite advantage. There will be a surcharge of £300 on the trip fees if you need to use our school tandem equipment for training. Pilots will be responsible for paying any damage or repair fees caused to the equipment whilst training.

We will also like to see your solo handling skills, so do bring your personal solo flying kit along.

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The Sky Summits Advantage

This is an intensive tandem training tour, where the weather is more predictable and you can get a repetitive practice
to perfect your technique

We aim to provide the highest standard of training whilst ensuring that risks to your safety are kept as low as reasonably practicable

Our well established training methodology ensures
you get the best practices nailed down

Provided you have the right aptitude, our holistic and intensive training will prepare you and greatly increase your chances for clearing a very tough independent examination by the BHPA, which is in 3 phases :
- an interview
- practical flying exercises
- a multi-choice written exam

BHPA Training Pre-Requisites

Full annual BHPA membership with a Pilot rating and
in current flying practice

You must be a BHPA Pilot rated paraglider hill pilot, have logged at least 200 flying hours in the hill environment, acquired over at least 50 separate flights and have carried out at least 20 solo or tandem flights in the previous 6 months

You will need good communication skills and be able to brief your passengers clearly. The standard of piloting required is 'Expert'

You must have completed and logged a solo advanced glider control course (SIV) in the past

You must hold a valid first aid certificate that shows that you have completed a (minimum) 1 day first aid course.

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Meet Your Air Experience Instructors

Our team of highly skilled instructors have hundreds of hours of experience flying solo and tandem, and are all BHPA qualified Air Experience Instructors

Pete

Pete Gallagher

Chief Flying Instructor

Pete is a legend and the Chief Flying Instructor at Sky Summits. He is a BHPA senior instructor and has been flying paragliders for 20 years.  He had a long career in the Army before settling in to teaching paragliding in all forms. Pete is a keen cross-country pilot, tandem pilot and speed flyer. He is also a massively experienced skydiver and BASE jumper. He has done it all.

Jerry Thwaites

Jerry Thwaites

Instructor, Tandem Pilot

Jerry has had a lifelong love affair with aviation. He first learned to hang glide in 1978 before taking up paragliding in 2004. He flew helicopters and fixed wing aircraft in the military for 25 years.
He has thousands of flying hours and a broad wealth of aviation experience. Jerry has competed successfully in many paragliding competitions and is an instructor and dual pilot.

Ben

Ben Wyatt

Instructor, Tandem Pilot

Ben has been paragliding for 10 years, beginning his flying career on the stunning coastal sites at his home town in the south west of Australia. Since moving to Morocco where he now lives full time, he has started doing tandems, guiding and working as a BHPA instructor. Ben takes great pleasure in helping pilots learn and progress with their skills and knowledge so they can be better and safer pilots.

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Tandem Gear

If you are serious about becoming a tandem pilot, purchasing and practicing with your own gear is a definite advantage.

We are dealers for most brands of paragliding equipment, so do feel free to talk to us and get good advice.

Tandem Shop

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