MIDLAND PARAGLIDING
Offering the highest standards as Irelands first Irish Aviation Authority, Registered Training Facility, Midland Paragliding is the longest established and currently the only legally operating Paramotoring School in Ireland.
Using the highest quality, user friendly training paragliders - harnesses - radios - helmets etc.....whilst working flexible teaching hours(we don't just hurry off at 5 o'clock).
We use the IPPHA training syllabus and ratification system (BHPA mirrored) which has been accepted by the IAA. This enables students to be trained, insured and fly legally in Ireland.
The IPPHA ensures high standards of safety and training in the sport by carrying out audits of our student/school log books and this is reinforced by the IAA's remit to not just inspect our registered instructors but also to inspect our school and it's equipment.
Jerry Parles, CFI, Midland Paragliding
is the only Irish instructor that is IAA (Irish Aviation Authority) registered to instruct in our sport in the Republic of Ireland and Midland Paragliding is the only official RTF, reg. 262463 D.
Jerry is also the most senior paramotoring instructor/pilot in Ireland starting in 1997. He flies tandem paramotor and has completed many years of hill tandem flying in Ireland and in Europe.
As a British Hanggliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA) trained Instructor, Jerry operates his school to internationally recognised standards, offering quality training combined with the highest safety standards. He started paragliding in 1993 so has many years of instructional experience behind him and boasts a zero accident record.
From his entry into the sport he has been campaigning tirelessly on ratification issues for students and for higher school and instructional standards. Developing the sports of Paragliding and Paramotoring here in Ireland has always been his vision.
Safety and Skills
We run most of our training courses in the Comeragh Mountains in the Clonmel/Waterford area. We provide all your Flying equipment; you need to bring strong walking boots with good ankle support and clothing for the weather conditions. You will also require a packed lunch and plenty of water.
As with any skilled, risk sport there are a vast number of potential dangers hidden to the novice. When paragliding first started, many of us learned by trial and error.
Relative to today, our progress was slow and we used low performance paragliders. Now you can quickly gain access to higher performance paragliders which give you longer more exciting flying. These paragliders are generally less forgiving and rapidly force you into a range of situations that require you to be forewarned to enable you to fly safely.
Our detailed record system of your progress will highlight any inexperience requiring attention and take you right up to Club Pilot rating.
Safe and Legal Training
Progression through the different skill levels will enable you to continuously update your piloting skills while gaining more and more experience. Gaining the basic skills of decision making, air law, and canopy handling is vital and will stand you in good stead.
Experience has taught us and we recommend all would-be paramotor pilots to sign up to a paragliding course, preferably EP and/or CP first, after which they then progress to the discipline of paramotoring.
Paramotoring is a very enjoyable and exhilarating sport however it is advisable to sign up to an approved training course as this will minimise or eliminate the risks involved of trying to self-instruct, which can lead to serious injury or even death to yourself or other innocent parties.
Training with the only Irish Aviation Authority, Registered Training Facility, guarantees the student very safe progression in a very structured learning environment and enables students to be trained safely, insured and fly legally whilst training in Ireland.
