You want to learn to paraglide, but you don't know where to start. A first flight, an introductory course, a pilot's licence: the stages are there, they're accessible, and they don't require any previous experience. Paragliding is a sport that can be learnt progressively, under the guidance of state-qualified instructors, with equipment provided from the very first day.
The complete training course is divided into several stages. Most students make their first solo flights during the introductory course (5 days). The pilot's licence is generally obtained after two or three courses, depending on the regularity of the training and the weather conditions. The total budget for a complete course varies between €1,500 and €2,500, not including equipment - the purchase of your own wing comes much later.
At the’Ailéments paragliding school, Based in Gréolières in the Alpes-Maritimes, the courses take place at an altitude of 1,800 m on the Cheiron ridges, with views of the Mediterranean and the Mercantour peaks. The instructors know every breeze in the region. That's what makes all the difference when you're just starting out.
The most common misconception is that paragliding is reserved for seasoned sportsmen and women or those who enjoy extreme sensations. The reality is quite different. Paragliding is a free-flight discipline that is accessible to the vast majority of people in good general physical condition - you don't need to be an athlete.
During the introductory course, everything is progressive: you start with ground training, inflating the wing and taking your first steps on the training slope. The first flights are made at low altitude, always supervised by a qualified paragliding instructor, with a radio headset for real-time corrections. Autonomy comes naturally, step by step.
No experience. You don't need any previous flying experience or theoretical training. All you need is to be in good health, have no major medical contraindications and be keen to learn. Everything else is learned during the course, under the guidance of the instructor.
Paragliding can be learnt from the age of 14-15 for solo courses, with parental consent. For the tandem paragliding experience, It's possible from the age of 6. There is no upper age limit - the main thing is to be in good physical condition.
Paragliding training follows a structured path, validated by the Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL). Each stage has its own objectives and pace, and prepares you for the next.
Before committing to a placement, many people choose to start with a first paragliding experience tandem flight. You fly in tandem with a qualified instructor, with no piloting required. It's an opportunity to test the sensations, to understand what it's like to take off and land, and to confirm that paragliding is for you. Ailéments offers several packages: from 15 to 20 minute discovery flight at prestige flight of 45 to 60 minutes for those who want to enjoy the thermals of the Cheiron massif for longer.
This is the heart of the learning process. Over 5 days, you'll learn how to inflate the wing, control its direction on the ground, take off and land safely on the school slope, and then make your first big solo flights. The programme alternates theory (weather, aerology, paragliding equipment) with intensive practice in the field. By the end of the course, most students have completed between 20 and 40 flights. All the information on the Ailéments courses are available on the website.
This second 5-day course focuses on flying techniques: managing thermals, flying in a variety of conditions and precision landings. This is the stage that transforms a beginner into a pilot who is starting to fly with ease on a variety of sites.
The initial pilot licence (issued by the FFVL) validates that you can fly alone, in complete safety, on approved sites. It is generally obtained after the progression course, depending on the progress of each student. It's not an end in itself - it's the starting point for independent paragliding.
The paragliding budget for a complete course (from first flight to initial licence) is generally between €1,500 and €2,500. This figure varies according to the number of courses required, the region and the options chosen. Here are the prices charged at’Ailéments School to give you a concrete reference point.
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Discovery flight (15-20 min) | from €100 |
| Climb for the first time (20-30 min) | from €140 |
| Prestige flight (45-60 min) | from €250 |
| Discovery day course | 300 € |
| Introductory course (5 days) | from €690 |
| Progression course (5 days) | from €750 |
These prices include supervision by a qualified instructor and the loan of flying equipment (glider, harness, radio helmet, reserve parachute). No personal equipment is required to get started. You can also find full details on the price page of the site.
No. During the courses, all equipment is provided by the school. You only need to buy your own wing and harness after you've passed your certificate, once your flying preferences have been defined. You should expect to pay between €2,500 and €5,000 for a complete set of new equipment, or less with second-hand equipment - a subject on which our partner Aerotech, specialist in paraglider servicing and sales, can advise you directly from Gréolières.
The choice of school and flying site has a profound effect on the quality of learning. A well-exposed site, with regular conditions, instructors who know every feature of the terrain - these are factors that speed up progress and enhance safety.
L'Ailéments paragliding school is based at Gréolières, on the edge of the landing zone on the Cheiron massif. Take-off is at an altitude of 1,800m, with stable aerological conditions and generous thermals for much of the year. The view stretches as far as the Mediterranean on one side and the peaks of the Mercantour on the other.
The landing is in the village, two minutes from the school and workshop. Aerotech. Everything is centralised on site: briefings, loan of equipment, lifts - the logistics are designed to maximise flight time and minimise waiting time. To find out more about the different Ailéments flight sites, A dedicated page presents the characteristics of each site.
Ailéments operates in a small structure, with a personalised approach. Groups are limited, and each student is monitored individually. The instructors adapt the programme to the conditions of the day and to the profile of each student. This is confirmed by 500+ Google and TripAdvisor reviews at 5/5, without exception - you can check them out on the Ailéments opinion page.
«His small family structure is just perfect».», «reassuring, attentive, caring».», «We will return on the basis of affinity and total trust».» - these are the words that come up most often in the testimonials.
The question always comes up before the first course: should I buy any equipment? The answer is clear - no. Not at the start. Here's what you need to know before you start.
The school provides all the necessary flying equipment:
All you need is walking shoes, a windbreaker and sunglasses. The rest is taken care of by the’Ailéments School.
The purchase is justified once you have obtained your licence and your flying style and preferences have been established. The wrong choice of glider at the outset can slow your progress. Our partners Aerotech, a paragliding sales and service centre based in Gréolières, can help you make the right choice with real technical expertise. If you would like to see a selection of equipment, the Ailéments boutique also offers facilities to suit all levels of ability.
Obtaining your initial licence means you have the right to fly on your own. But the progression doesn't stop there - it really starts from that moment.
Le Ailéments progression course goes deeper into the basics: flying in dynamic conditions, reading thermals, managing unexpected situations. This is the course that transforms a qualified pilot into a confident paraglider pilot on a variety of sites. For pilots who also want to discover the special features of the PACA region, the PACA paragliding school course allows you to explore several flying sites in the Alpes-Maritimes.
Once they're comfortable flying, many pilots want to explore more of the Alpes-Maritimes. Ailéments offers an approach that doesn't exist elsewhere in the region: combine a day's paragliding from Gréolières with an outing in the mountains. canyoning in the Gorges du Loup, just a few kilometres away. The paragliding and canyoning combo is a natural way of experiencing the mountains from two complementary angles - air and water - with the same team, the same high safety standards and the same spirit.
Learning to paraglide is a gradual process, marked out and accessible. From the first first two-seater flight Each stage is completed with a qualified instructor, checked equipment and an exceptional site.
The Alpes-Maritimes is a rare place to start out, with regular air conditions and views of the Mediterranean and the Mercantour, school set up on the edge of the landing at Gréolières for over ten years.
You can also offer this experience - a paragliding gift voucher is available for all formulas, valid for 12 months. If you have a question about the right internship for your profile, the Ailéments team answers the phone directly, 7 days a week.
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