Whether you want to fly anywhere in Europe or other terrains around the world, you should always prepare by getting information about the legal conditions for paragliding in the country. Preferably through their official organizations and local flying clubs.
Some of them can be found at this link: http://start.fai.org/hg-federations.asp.
For legal flying abroad you will need:
– Valid Pilot license,
– IPPI card (International Pilot Proficiency Identification)
– Liability insurance for damage caused by a paraglider operation,
– Often a paraglider certified by an internationally recognized testing institution and labeled (usually stuck inside the middle cell or on the ear of a canopy),
– Medical expenses insurance for paragliding.
So if you are going on a trip, check the validity of your Pilot license. If you do not have an IPPI card, contact your PG operations inspector who can issue you one. And buy a liability insurance. The minimum amount of liability insurance cover will vary by country, and sometimes it is not even set by the law. But be aware that if you cause damage you probably cannot avoid the compensation. Travel insurance of medical expenses valid also for paragliding is a must. Doctors, medical centers and especially rescue services get it checked immediately, and if you are not insured, you are usually required payment in cash.
What is it IPPI card?
Since 1992, the IPPI Card (International Pilot Proficiency Identification Card) provides a standard reference by which all national rating programs may be compared. When you travel abroad this card, together with your national rating card, will identify your pilot skills. It gives flying site managers, instructors and others responsible for hang gliding and/or paragliding flight operations an easy way of verifying your pilot experience level prior to approval of flight activities.
The SafePro Delta and/or ParaPro stage on your card reflects your pilot proficiency. Please note that SafePro Delta is for hang gliding and ParaPro is for paragliding. You can see from the enclosed synopsis of SafePro Delta and ParaPro what the different stages are.
The card is valid only together with a current national license or rating card.
There are 5 levels of IPPI rating called Para Pro. (Designation Safe Pro Delta is designed for hang gliders). Here is a brief overview of the classification of individual stages according to the flight experience:
Level 1
Students who don’t fly higher than they would care to fall.
Level 2
Students who have altitude and space to maneuver but no soaring.
Level 3
Pilots soaring in a generally undemanding conditions.
Level 4
Pilots soaring or thermal flying in difficult conditions (turbulence, thermals, steep and more complex slopes).
Level 5
Cross county pilots. This stage can only get a pilot licensed Sport pilot or Competition pilot.
Examples of conditions for foreign pilots in some countries:
AUSTRIA
Is the IPPI Card accepted?
Until summer 2014, the IPPI Card was tolerated. Not any more. At the time being, the Austrian federation is collecting data from several countries, to find out whose licenses are acceptable for the ministry of transport. The new rules should be published soon, showing the specific and accepted countries.
The only one that might be accepted by our ministry of transport seems to be: CZE, GER, ROM, SLO, SUI.
According to El Speedo experience nowadays (2016) flying can be legalized by obtaining a Guest Pilot license from a local school for a small fee.
The minimum legal insurance coverage is for HG/PG: EUR 1.235.000 Third Party Liability, Tandem HG/PG additional: Passenger Liability EUR 218.000; passenger accident insurance: EUR 40.000,-.
ITALY
The IPPI Card is accepted in the country.
The minimum insurance coverage of a third party liability insurance required is 500.000 EUR but FIVL recommends and provides to its members 1 Million EUR.
UNITED KINGDOM
The IPPI Card is accepted in the country.
There is no minimum legal insurance coverage required by law in the country. But BHPA (http://www.bhpa.co.uk) strongly recommends to have both liability and medical expenses insurance for guest pilots.
IRELAND
The IPPI Card is accepted in the country.
All pilots are required to have Personal Liability insurance cover for €1,500,000 or more if they wish to fly in Ireland.
FRANCE
The IPPI Card is accepted in France.
Although there is no minimum insurance coverage requirement, third party liability insurance is mandatory in France.
FFVL (http://federation.ffvl.fr) offers to its members a 4,6 Million EUR coverage for body injury and/or damage to third parties. Search, rescue and repatriation are included in the basic insurance. Through its membership FFVL offers the same coverage to all pilots from any country.
POLAND
IPPI is not recognized by Polish authorities, however it is honored by non-government entities, associations, takeoff site owners etc. According to Polish Aviation Law (Article 95), to fly without instructor’s assistance, a pilot from the EU needs only to have his national license.
You need to be insured against civil liability for at least 350.000 PLN, which is approximately 80.000 EUR.
SLOVAKIA
IPPI is not accepted by law.
Foreign pilots of flying sport devices (FSD), who own their national documents required for flying need an approval of the Traffic Bureau of Slovak Republic for admission to the area of the Slovak Republic.
That means instructors, site managers and event organizers in Slovakia are recognizing IPPI proficiency and experience levels, but it doesn’t allow foreign pilots to fly legally in Slovak airspace. Those who want to fly legally in Slovakia should follow instructions on this website:
http://www.laa.sk/flying-of-foreign-pilots-over-the-area-of-slovak-republic/
Applications should be issued promptly (few working days).
Minimum required legal third party liability insurance coverage is 16.600 EUR. Medical expenses insurance including cover of emergency-rescue and helicopter transport is strongly recommended.
SLOVENIA
According to safety regulative by CAA, level 4 is required for local unsupervised flying and level 5 for XC flying. Pilot with no IPPI card or with IPPI stage below 4 can only fly under supervision of the instructor.
