admin (Simon W)

Cheers dude. I seemed to have a row of drinks ready for me when I went to the bar to buy one, AND you and James were both stood offering me more!! lol I had to say no to someone lololol SW

PMC Sylibuss attached for those interested. Reading replies with great interest. SW 2019_07_3.1_TPG_Ed11.pdf

It's not about the instructors or the way they teach. It's about the way that it is sold to excitable people. Zero to Hero is something I keep seeing... (for example) When the reality is, that person may only get 1-2-3-4 flights done. The 'learn to fly in a few days type courses should be classed as an introduction holiday. This would better align expectations with the reality. SW

And so it begins... I have just taken our first booking of the year from someone who has already paid for and attended a training 'holiday' in Spain. It will now cost him over twice as much in total to get his training done properly, over a period of time and in varied weather conditions. I am actually thinking of putting a course together specifically for people who have been on a Spain 'Intro' which is pretty much all they seem to be getting for their money in most cases. We have more and more people each year (as do the other instructors) that contact us complaining about the standard of training received overseas. Examples of 'actual complaints' include: Not enough time, instructors complaining about pay, and or sleeping while people fly, no confidence, signed off after having only had a single flight, and of course the ones that go over for a week and get 1 flyable day. These poor guys that have quite frankly been miss sold a dream are being sent home to find a field and fly without an instructor after only 1 flight on a radio in another country. Thankfully, it's normally at this point that I get a call. So if you are booked in to a course in Spain, please do get in touch when you return so we can add the vital missing information and skill set you need to fly with confidence and actually enjoy it. :-) SW

Mate in all honesty, I am not 100% sure it will solve the issue.. I am though 90% sure it will. I have mentioned this to the guys as PJ who I suspect did not test the idea for whatever reason. Happy to help if needed, but it is a simple test (Just make sure the pipe is secured and cant reach the prop or exhaust) Can't wait to hear your findings. SW

If you want to take a spin down tomorrow, we can just do a quick check of your primer. (bypass it temporarily, to see if it solves the problem) which I am convinced it will. SW

I think most countries (including the UK and Aus) have 'visiting pilots' conditions. (Normally 30 days) Most countries ask for the origin country equivalent. The PMC with insurance was acceptable in Aus in 2008 (for 30 days) but I don't know if that situation has changed. SW

Thanks Mike. We had a mini software drama in December where the system shows about 10 members as paid 'pending' but the payment has clearly gone through. No one who 'knows' they are up to date need worry I will have the 'pending' list with me and obviously try and sort it long term for you guys. Annoyingly it happened just after I announced the dates for the event! SW

If you actually mean Ops manual, rather than sylibuss... I think my post remains accurate. I was honestly unaware of anyone in the UK teaching the APPI courses. I thought they were all overseas. SW

There are currently NO legal requirements to have training in the UK. Options that exist here for a path to learn are varied. Paramotor Club offer training BHPA Offer training And there are Indi instructors We have a set of ops manuals, the BHPA has a set also. SW

I can’t personally vouch for Rob but he seems like a sound guy and is now working with us to stock the WASP Paramotors in the shop but if Rob were to decide to move to NZ or something tomorrow, the team at EOS are great to work with directly also. SW

Every time I get parts from EOS, they arrive quickly and without and invoice. It was actually this service level that made us add them to the online shop.!! (coming soon but being loaded up slowly but surely.) If you need bits and can't get them, give me a shout SW

Exactly then two things happened. BHPA lowered there guard against paramotor pilots, and independent insurers came in to play all good for the sport but I honestly think the uninsured are few and far between now. SW

Not for AXA I’m afraid. Personally I don’t know any pilots that are not insured anymore. Anyone else??? I think it's socially frowned upon now to not have insurance and most land owners are clued up to the fact it exists so tend to ask. SW

So I just spoke to the BHPA who have 786 PPG pilots on the books. 786 + 800 odd AXA, = 1586 Add to that the people who are not insured by either of the two companies and that's as close a number as you can hope for It was also noted by the BHPA that it's a very steep curve. Indeed, the PMC can say the same. So a worthy exercise once a year to stay semi accurate. SW

Not sure of the value of those FB stats... we have 5000+ UK members but there is no way that it’s the number of UK active pilots. SW

Hi Graham, and welcome to the Paramotor Club You may like to check out the Member Map https://www.paramotorclub.org/membermap/ It looks as though there are a couple of people you can chat to locally. Click the people near you and send them a PM, add your own location and people will contact you also Again, welcome to THE Paramotor Club. SW

Alan, When I last heard.. AXA have almost this number (it was like 800 and something) of UK pilots insured. Add to that the non insured Add to that the BHPA members My guess would be closer to 1500. (which is about the same number as the unique visitors the PMC site has when I send out an email) By no means scientific of course. SW

What again??? 'Neilzy No Show' SW

Wasp Paramotor now in the shop. SW