From your first runs on the practice slope to your pilot’s licence, a structured course accredited by the FFVL. On average, 3 to 4 courses over one or two seasons, supervised by DEJEPS-qualified instructors at Gréolières (1,800 m). Equipment provided until you obtain your licence.
Formation · FFVLParagliding training follows a structured path recognised by the French Federation of Free Flight (FFVL): from your first runs on the training slope to the confirmed pilot's brevet, each stage validates specific skills before opening up the next.
Achieving independence — the initial pilot's licence, which authorises you to take off alone from a known training site — requires on average 3 to 4 5-day stages spread over one to two seasons, with a budget of €2,000 to €3,000 (including tuition fees, FFVL license, and medical certificate; personal equipment not included). The training is aimed at anyone aged 14 and over, with no sporting prerequisites, and is supervised via radio by a state-qualified instructor.
At Accessories, we have been training since 2013 on the ridges of Cheiron at Gréolières 1,800m, one of the most favourable training sites in PACA, with 19 years of field experience and a DEJEPS team. To test before committing, the first paragliding experience remains the best gateway.
A course overseen by the FFVL that takes a complete beginner to the status of an independent pilot. It combines practical learning (paraglider inflation, local slope training, guided long flights, landings) and essential theoretical knowledge (aerology, regulations, risk management). You don't just learn how to fly – you learn how to make decisions.
Visit baptism, you are a passenger in a two-seater plane and the instructor is flying solo. While training, you are under your wing alone from the very first days, with your harness and helmet, connected to the instructor by radio. The progression is slower in terms of sensations, but it builds the true reflexes of a paraglider. The educational flight is a good indicator before committing.
From 12-14 years (Parental consent for minors), no maximum age as long as physical condition allows. Riding weight 45 to 110 kg, no sporting performance required. Two conditions must be met for the first flight: a medical certificate of contraindication and a FFVL licence (approx. €75/year). For families, see the guide Minimum age.
The FFVL structures progression through successive stages, each validated by a level or a certificate corresponding to practical skills assessed in the field.
Le Green level (end of introductory internship) attests to the basics: inflation, first long guided flights by radio, landing in a clear zone. Blue level (stage progression) marks the beginning of autonomy: you prepare your flight alone, perform coordinated turns, and the first thermal ascents begin to appear.
Le BPI is the first official FFVL qualification: flying autonomously on a known training site, in calm conditions. It combines a Theory test (Multiple-choice quiz of around forty questions: aerology, weather, equipment, regulations) and a mock exam (full volume evaluated). Cumulative cost up to this stage: approximately €2,000 excluding materials.
Le Pilot's licence opens autonomy on unknown sites (analysis of an active air mass, thermal updraft): one season after the BPI, with an SIV internship. The Pilot's Licence (long-distance flying, bivouacking, mountains) requires several hundred flights and a full SIV course — 2 to 3 seasons after the basic pilot's training.
Each level corresponds to a precise internship format. Here's what each one actually covers, beyond the trade names. Comprehensive list of placements Centralise all formulas.
The mandatory introductory course. A half-day theory session, followed by 2-3 days of school slope time (facing and back inflation, short ground-skimming flights), and finally, long guided flights via radio from the 3rd/4th day. At the end of the course: 3 to 6 large flights on average according to the weather.
You are no longer discovering, you are consolidating: cleaner inflation, smoother take-offs, longer flights, active piloting (coordinated turns, targeted approaches) and flight preparation. Two to three progression courses may be necessary before perfecting.
Le Further training aims for the BPI: harness piloting finesse, advanced aerological analysis, exam preparation. The course autonomy (post-BPI) supports progression towards pilot licence: thermal soaring, technical take-offs, first distance flights at varied sites.
Le SIV (Flight Incident Simulation) takes place over a body of water, with support boat: asymmetric and frontal stalls, unrecoveries, reserve parachute. Mandatory for the confirmed pilot licence, in specialised centres (Annecy, Montpellier, Organyà). The walking and flying complete the offer for patentees.
The prices shown on the homepage never state the full cost. Here is the realistic breakdown to achieve autonomy (initial pilot's licence). The updated detail is on the price page.
A 5-day internship costs 600 € to 750 € TTC, all-inclusive (supervision, school equipment, activity insurance). For the BPI: 1 introductory course (~€700), 1 to 2 progression courses (€700 to €1,400), 1 advanced course (€450 to €700). Total stages: €1,850 to €2,800.
La FFVL licence (Third-party liability in aviation + insurance): approximately 75 € per year. Medical certificate of no contraindications, issued by your doctor: €25 to €50, valid for one year. Total budget required (internships + license + medical): £1,950 to £2,925.
Personal equipment is only to be purchased'after the GCSEs €2,000 to €3,500 used, €4,500 to €7,000 new (servicing possible at our partner workshop). Accommodation not included: €40–€80 per night for Gréolières (Ailéments partners). Available financial assistance: ANCV vouchers, Pass'Sport, gift voucher CSE.
Before booking, several practical points are crucial for the success of your training. Anticipating them avoids unpleasant surprises and accelerates progress from the very first day.
Not an athlete's sport, but correct mobility and the ability to run ten metres with it 15 kg on my back. Rare contraindications (unstable heart disease, uncontrolled epilepsy). Vertigo is not an obstacle In flight, the body is suspended without the ground-void reference that triggers discomfort.
Paragliding is practised by Light to moderate breeze (ideally < 20 km/h on take-off), without rushing. The programme adapts in real time (theory in strong winds, otherwise the training slope). At Gréolières, the southerly aspect and altitude offer a favourable ratio of flyable days. Check Météoblue before the internship.
All the technicalities are provided. On the intern's side: high-top shoes, long trousers, fleece + windbreaker, thin gloves, goggles attached, light backpack. Documents: recent medical certificate, FFVL license (obtained via the school), parental authorisation for minors. Conditions on the Page CGV.
All FFVL schools issue the same certificates, but the quality varies considerably. Here are the concrete criteria to check before booking, without being distracted by marketing.
Le FFVL label guarantees federal standards (qualified instructors, checked equipment, insurance). Demand instruction by a qualified instructor DEJEPS Paragliding, the highest state qualification. At Ailéments, Pierrot holds a DEJEPS qualification and has 19 years' experience; the'The team is presented here.
A good site: clear takeoff, vast obstacle-free landing, calm morning conditions, at least 500m of elevation change. Gréolières, the Cheiron ridges (1,800 m) offer one of the best training sites in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, with sea views and Mercantour. Gourdon and Roquebrune serve as weather alternatives. See all flight sites.
Demand a rate ≤ 6 trainees / instructor Beyond that, waiting times explode. Prioritise Educational continuity same team from one internship to another. Concrete asset: a school multi-activities Turn a no-fly day into a canyoning trip. Check the opinion across multiple platforms.
Whether you're looking to test the waters or become an independent pilot, there's a suitable entry point. Three ways to get started with our DEJEPS team.
Le baptism for the first feeling, or the educational flight where you take orders under supervision: the best indicator before an introductory placement.
The training flight
Le Stage initiation, then progression leads to the first solo flights and the licence. Three pages detail the training by sector: PACA and Var.
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The only school in the Alpes-Maritimes to offer paragliding and canyoning with the same team. When the weather cancels the flight, the day can turn into Canyon exit — trainer and in the same outdoor logic.
The comboThe real choice isn't made on the displayed price, but on three criteria: FFVL accreditation, DEJEPS instructor diploma, school site quality. Add pedagogical continuity and a reasonable staffing ratio, and you have the foundation of a course that delivers on its promises.
We have been accompanying this progress since 2013 Since Gréolières (1,800 m), with a DEJEPS-qualified team (Pierrot and Pierre-Yves) and 19 years of field experience. Introductory sessions can be booked by phone or WhatsApp; courses can be booked directly online.
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From introductory sessions to a full course leading to a certificate. Instruction by DEJEPS-qualified instructors, equipment provided, at a ratio of one instructor to one student. Full pricing details can be found on the prices page.
Pilotage guidance and enhancement: an overview of our courses on the French Riviera.
Duration, budget, qualifications, requirements: answers to the most frequently asked questions before starting a course.
Reaching the initial pilot's licence (autonomy on a known training site) requires on average 3 to 4 5-day stages, over one to two seasons. One full season by chaining placements, two by spacing them out. The confirmed licence (cross-country flying, mountain flying) requires 3 to 4 seasons. Weather, availability and paragliding practice between placements are the key variables.
For the initial pilot's licence, count £2,000 to £3,000 3 to 4 stages (each costing €600 to €750), equipment provided, the FFVL licence (approx. €75/year) and the medical certificate (€25 to €50). Accommodation included, this rises to €3,000 – €4,000. Personal equipment (€2,000 to €7,000) only needs to be purchased after obtaining the certificate.
Visit baptism, you are a passenger in a two-seater plane and the instructor is flying solo. While training, you are under your wing alone from the first days, connected to the monitor by radio. The training combines practical and mandatory theory (aerology, regulations, safety): you learn to fly and, above all, to decide.
Yes : one medical certificate of no contraindication (GP, valid for one year) and a FFVL licence (Civil aviation liability + insurance, approx. £75/year, taken out via the school on the first day). No serious school will let you fly without these two items.
For initial training, insist on an instructor DEJEPS Paragliding : the highest state-recognised professional qualification for teaching in France (pedagogy, safety, aerology). Also check that the school has FFVL accreditation. At Ailéments, Pierrot holds a DEJEPS Paragliding qualification and has 19 years’ practical experience.
Le SIV (Aircraft Incident Simulation) takes place over water with an assist boat: you'll learn to manage stalls, spins, and reserve parachutes. Duration 2 to 4 days, €300 to €500. It is mandatory for the advanced pilot certificate and takes place in specialised centres (Annecy, Montpellier, Organyà).
The minimum age is 12 to 14 years Depending on the school, with parental consent for minors. There is no maximum age as long as physical condition allows – paragliding is one of the most accessible air sports after 50, with a favourable medical opinion. Practice weight between 45 and 110 kg. See guide. Minimum age.
No. All reputable schools provide complete equipment (school sail, harness, helmet, parachute, radio) during the initial training and progression stages. Wait until you have your initial licence and a few dozen flights before investing. A complete package ranges from €2,000 to €3,500 second-hand, and €4,500 to €7,000 new — advice and Revision from our partner Aerotech.
A long but signposted route, one of the safest of the aerial sports when practised within the federal framework.
Initiation (beginner) → progression (intermediate) → advanced → Initial pilot's licence → Autonomy → SIV. Each level validates skills before opening the next.
The autonomy (BPI) requests 3 to 4 5-day stages for 1 to 2 seasons. Budget €2,000 to €3,000 (courses + FFVL licence + medical certificate), equipment provided up to the certificate.
Three decisive criteria: FFVL label, DEJEPS instructor, school site quality. Plus the educational continuity and a rate of ≤ 6 trainees per instructor.
Take-off at 1 800 m at Cheiron, with sea views and a Mercantour rating, one of the best training sites in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. And a multi-activity school (paragliding + canyoning) for days without flights.
