Newsletters

1) Developments in 2015

Almost 30% of members in addition on the period of one year, but relatively few new instructors, following the most rigorous selection policy of our instructors.

More and more authorities contact us to use the APPI educational system in their country. Indeed, the full education system including various levels with the details of each one, the manuals and forms, online exam questions and the ability to check on the website the details of qualifications for APPI pros is a guarantee of reliability and quality. We created a representative committee to pool the efforts of those who deal with relationship with the authorities of a country.

In addition, 8 pro-workshops were organized during the year in Europe, America and Asia. These pro-workshops that certify the skills of those involved, are also a guarantee of quality and confidence in the team of the paragliding pedagogical committee. All APPI professionals must be certified by 2017 during a pro-workshop to not lose their level of qualification. It is a request of the insurance company in order to minimize the risk of accidents.

A disciplinary committee will be established soon to decide the cases of those who do not respect the rules of APPI and endanger pilots by their behavior.

Many other projects are in development, we will talk when they launched.

2) Reporting of the pro-workshop in Patagonia

From December 4 to 12 took place in El Bolson, Patagonia, the last pro-workshop APPI 2015.

This pro-workshop intended to instructors and tandem pilots from Argentine wishing to have their skills validated in the APPI system has also benefited to professional pilots from other horizons: Ecuador, Mexico, Croatia, Dominican Republic ...

The participants benefited from the contributions of Pablo Lopez, Argentinian specialist of piloting (co-founder of Team SAT), and Edgar Soria, one of the most advanced instructor in Ecuador.

Presence noticed of Marko Hrgetic, 6 times champion of Croatia, and who developed the local educational system.

This workshop allowed a sharp upgrade for local instructors, and validate promising some assistants instructors in APPI.

For tandem pilots who all had excellent technical level, the emphasis was on compliance with safety procedures.

A pro-workshop which took place in an atmosphere and exceptional framework 'muy buena onda en Patagonia'.

3) APPI Pro-workshops forthcoming

- APPI PPG Pro-workshop in Italy From 31 January 2016 until 7 February 2016 with Alex Ledger and the school SkySchool Flight Centre.
6 Day APPI PPG Instructor Workshop in Italy run by Master Instructors Alex Ledger and Zebur Mercan with the support of Raffaele Benetti.
For all enquiries please contact: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

- APPI Paragliding Pro-Workshop in Philippines at the beginning of February 2016 with David Arrufat.
Dates to be confirmed
For more information see the secretary.

- APPI PPG will be running a Paramotor Instructor Pro-workshop in India at the end of February 2016 run by Master Instructor Kester Haynes with the support of APPI Paragliding Master Instructor Avi Malik.
Dates to be confirmed
For all enquiries please contact the PPG secretary.

- APPI PPG will be running a Paramotor Instructor Pro-workshop in Thailand from the 23rd March to the 11th April with Alex Ledger and the school SkySchool Flight Centre.
For all enquiries please contact: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

- APPI Paragliding Pro-workshop planned in India at Kamshet from 28 March to 4th April 2016 with Avi Malik and Mathieu Abrard and the collaboration of the school Temple Pilots Paragliding.
For all enquiries please contact here.

- APPI Paragliding Pro-Workshop in Greece, Sikaminea, Mount Olympus area, 3-12 April 2016 with Asterios Makrovasilis and Manu Bonte, with the collaboration of Olympic Wings school.
More information and registration here or here.

- APPI Paragliding Pro-Workshop in Russia, Verhniy Chegem, North Caucasus area, 1-10 May 2016 with Mendo Veljanovski and Dmitry Gusev, with the collaboration of Extreme style school.
More information and registration here or here.

- APPI Paragliding Pro-Workshop in USA, 21-30 May 2016.
With Dale Covington and Manu Bonte, with the collaboration of Big Sky Paragliding School.
More information and registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Proposal for a job, SIV instructor in Switzerland from April to September 2016.
French mother language or at least really confident with Independent and able to work alone.
Already perform anyhow some SIV courses.
Contact Alain Zoller APPI master n° 11079 on this email.

- SIV course in Àger (la pobla de segur) on 10-14 April 2016 with Jordi Marquillas and the school Entrenúvols.
Course in English
For all enquiries, please click here.

- SIV course in Greece on 23 - 28 April 2016 with Alain Zoller and the school Olympic Wings.
SIV instructor workshop & SIV pilot training course.
SHV and APPI course certification.
Come & join our Flying Safari South Greece to fly with us in the best areas of Peloponese & Delphi directly after the SIV workshop with Alain Zoller – just enjoy and fly ! The SIV instructor workshop aimes for paragliding instructors to learn how to instruct SIV.
This workshop will teach you the professional techniques and method, you will improve your abilities to instruct your students with SIV.
Course in English.
For all enquiries, please click here.

- XC seminar with Bruce Goldsmith, Asterios Makrovasilis and the school Olympic Wings in Greece, Mountain Olympus on 4-11 June 2016.
Come on our Flying Safari East to West Greece and fly with us the best XC mountains Olympus & Pindos directly after the XC seminar with Bruce – cross Greece from coast to coast!
XC seminar topics:
. Heaps of tips to help you climb fast and efficiently
. Psychological techniques to help you perform at your best
. In-depth guides to flying the flatlands and mountains
. Advice to keep you safe while flying near clouds and terrain
. Skills and tactics to help you fly bigger cross country distances
. Straight-forward illustrations to help you maximize flying conditions
. Simple explanations of diverse wind and thermal flow patterns and structures
. Insights into paragliding design. What does the modern design features mean to the XC pilot
For more infos, click here.

If you organize or know any paragliding & paramotor festival or meeting, give us this info to share this with APPI community.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) APPI and people with disabilities

Sylvain Galérant is our expert for flying with disabled people, he is APPI Handifly master, and French instructor with specialty of certification for integration of people with disabilities "CREPS Bordeaux".

He created the association Han'vol which aims to promote and encourage the integration of people with disabilities in the world of free flight, it is the only school for people with disabilities in France.

This year, the association has permit to 38 pilots to fly alone and 81 persons to fly in tandem.

Sylvain offers courses for paragliding instructors wishing to teach how to fly to disabled people.

The association needs funds to build flying chairs and buy specialized equipment (equipped bus, quad biking, gliders...), your help is welcome.

See the video presentation on this page.

You can contact Sylvain or the association on their website.

2) Summary of the APPI general assembly 2015

Took place on 29 November 2015 the General Assembly of the Association APPI.

The following points were discussed:

- Summary of the progression of the APPI Association this year,

- Report of the action of the pedagogical committee, the meeting of this committee in Turkey and the APPI pro-workshops,

- Report of the PPG and paratrike activities for the current year by Alex Ledger,

- Creation of the Representative Committee in progress,

- Agreed to the proposal to establish a disciplinary committee,

- Presentation of a financial report by the treasurer,

- Renewal of the APPI board with the same members plus Alex Ledger for 2 years more,

- No change of annual contribution and certification card prices for the current year,

- Acceptance of contractual terms with sixpaypent company to allow the throughput of credit cards directly on our website, Chris is responsible for this task,

- Presentation of the progress of talks with an insurance company to offer insurance for pilots and instructors for paragliding and PPG in Europe and Turkey.

The report and statutes are available to our affiliated members on the APPI websites.

3) APPI workshops

We remind to APPI instructors and tandem pilots that as a professional you have to attend at least once a pro-workshop as soon as it takes place in your country or a neighboring country.

These workshops are provided by highly skilled masters of the pedagogical committee.

It is also important to us to allow us to know you better, and share our knowledge.

This is also imposed by the insurance company to allow soon to be assured via APPI in a large number of countries, in order to reduce the risks of accidents by certification of skills of each of you.

These workshops are intended for tandem pilots and instructors who are already working as professionals and not to those who want to become.

There are also for advanced pilots who wish to improve their skills.

Participation in the Pro workshop leads to a certification that will be dated, exposed on the profile, and will certify that the tandem pilot or APPI instructor in the latest technical knowledge in the field of equipment and pedagogic for the instructors.

APPI makes no profit on these workshops in order to keep the price as low as possible.

The price of these workshops may vary depending on location and masters in charge.

For a list of upcoming workshops, look on this page for paragliding, or this page for PPG.

4) News from the paragliding pedagogical committee

Following the meeting of the paragliding pedagogical committee, changes of APPI education system were adopted. The pro-qualifications (from Open Sky tandem pilot) can be provided only by instructors and masters certifed during an APPI pro-workshop.

For example the tandem pilot and instructor qualifications can be delivered by one master and one instructor, both certified during a pro-workshop.

Other modifications will be effective in January 2016.

See the page Registration rules for more details.

5) Job proposal in Switzerland

Proposal for a job, SIV instructor in Switzerland from April to September 2016.

French mother language or at least really confident with Independent and able to work alone.

Already perform anyhow some SIV courses.

Contact Alain Zoller APPI master n° 11079 on this email.

6) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Patagonia, Argentina, 4-12 December 2015 with Pablo Lopez and Manu Bonte.
More information and registration here.

- APPI PPG Pro-workshop in Italy From 31 January 2016 until 7 February 2016 with Alex Ledger and the school SkySchool Flight Centre.
6 Day APPI PPG Instructor Workshop in Italy run by APPI PPG Master Instructor Alex Ledger.
For all enquiries please contact: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

- APPI Pro-workshop planned in India at Kamshet from 28 March to 3rd April 2016 with Avi Malik and Mathieu Abrard and the collaboration of the school Temple Pilots Paragliding.
Dates to be confirmed.
For all enquiries please contact here.

- APPI PPG will be running a Paramotor Instructor Pro-workshop in Thailand from the 23rd March to the 11th April with Alex Ledger and the school SkySchool Flight Centre.
For all enquiries please contact: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Greece, Sikaminea, Mount Olympus area, 3-12 April 2016 with Asterios Makrovasilis and Manu Bonte, with the collaboration of Olympic Wings school.
More information and registration here or here.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Russia, Verhniy Chegem, North Caucasus area, 1-10 May 2016 with Mendo Veljanovski and Dmitry Gusev, with the collaboration of Extreme style school.
More information and registration here or here.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in USA, 11-19 June 2016.
With Dale Covington and Manu Bonte, with the collaboration of Big Sky Paragliding School.
More information and registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

If you organize or know any paragliding & paramotor festival or meeting, give us this info to share this with APPI community.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) APPI meeting Pedacom 2015

Most members of the pedagogical committee and the APPI board met last month for 3 days of intense brainstorming.

The pedagogical committee among others conduct a thorough review of the APPI educational system, developments will be places on the horizon in January 2016.

Working groups are working to details and formatting changes.

The pedagogical committee welcomes new member Avi Malik, APPI master instructor in India.

We also have a new master Sylvain Galérant, specialist teaching paragliding for people with disabilities. Sylvain will initially develop the educational content of the practice of tandem with a passenger with a disability. Then he will develop within appi procedures to teach paragliding to a person with disabilities.

2) APPI workshop in Turkey

From October 16 to 23 took place the Turkish pro-workshop in the fabulous flying site of Olüdeniz.

Approximately twenty instructors came to enjoy this pro- workshop. mainly Turkish, but some came from distant countries (Australia, China, England, Iran ...)

They received advanced knowledge that is dispensed in the pro-workshop.

Practical evaluations are still being validated, the final results will be given later.

3) PPG News

APPI PPG Master Instructors Alex Ledger and Kester Haynes have spent 3 weeks in the USA as part of the Race Committee for the Icarus Trophy, a Paramotor Race from Seattle to Sacramento.

The event consisted of 23 Pilots in two classes, the unsupported Race Class, which was won by David Wainwright who flew the 1300km in only 2.5 days, and the supported Adventure Class, which consisted of the majority of the pilots including Cayle Royce, a double amputee who was flying a bespoke ParaTrike.

The pioneering event was dreamed up by The Adventurists, a British company who are 'Fighting to make the world less boring’ and they’ve certainly succeeded with the Icarus Trophy!

For further information or to sign up for this challenging event visit here.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Paragliding Challenge by Teams & Southamerican ACRO meeting, at Ibarra, Ecuador, 28-29 November 2015 by Jorge A. Duque C. (10675) and the APPI school Flyecuador.
Come to Ecuador to enjoy a challenge by teams with tasks of : Paragliding, Bike, trekking, downhill and swimming !!
For more infos, see this page.

- Last APPI-PPG clinic of the year 2015 at Itanhaém - São Paulo, Brasil, from 30 November to 4 December 2015 with Ricardo Maciel and the school CAJU BRASIL.
Brasil is a very large country. Take the oportunity to do the Clinic.
More information on this website.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Patagonia, Argentina, 4-12 December 2015 with Pablo Lopez and Manu Bonte.
More information and registration here.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in USA, 11-19 June 2016.
With Dale Covington and Manu Bonte, with the collaboration of Big Sky Paragliding School.
More information and registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

- APPI PPG will be running a Paramotor Instructor Workshop in Thailand from the 23rd March to the 11th April with Alex Ledger and the school SkySchool Flight Centre.
For all enquiries please contact: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

If you organize or know any paragliding & paramotor festival or meeting, give us this info to share this with APPI community.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Icarus Trophy with APPI - The World’s Toughest Air Race

The Icarus Trophy, quite possibly the world’s toughest air race, kicks off near Seattle, USA, in October.

The event involves 45 Paramotor Pilots and 2 ParaTrike pilots racing 2000km from Seattle to San Diego.

It is being run by The Adventurists, a British Adventure Travel company, and they are working with APPI PPG Master Instructors Alex Ledger and Kester Haynes who have been training some of the competitors and will also be marshalling the event.

One of the competitors is Cayle Royce, a double amputee who lost his legs in an IED strike while serving in the British Army in Afghanistan.

Alex and Kester have taught him how to fly a specially modified ParaTrike and he hopes to become the first disabled pilot to complete this challenging race.

Updates about the race will be posted on the SkySchool page and APPI PPG Facebook page.

For further information about the Icarus Trophy and how you can take part in next year’s event visit here.

2) Various APPI infos

- Beware of online payments by credit card.
It was proposed to certain APPI instructors, course booking with online payment for groups.
We suspect that these reservations are fake.
We advise our instructors in case of group reservation, to request a deposit by bank transfer and accept payments by credit card only if you hold the card in your hand.

- 190 km flight from Austria to Italy and back by Pal Takats, APPI instructor and world champion in paragliding aerobatics.
To see on youtube.
Crossing the main alpine chains from the North side to the South and come back around. A long awaited route that I really wanted to try!

- Congratulations to Alireza Amidi, APPI pilot from Iran who won second place in the FAI competition.
I’ve participated in FAI Red Hats paragliding accuracy Cup International Competitions held from 31th July to 2th AUG at Kaliningrad- RUSSIA, with Tango and got the Second place with Silvers Medal and Cup. There were numerous pilots participating and the competition was in a difficult condition yet a friendly atmosphere. The event was perfectly arranged.
As for my experience it was not just a competition but a chance to get to feel the hospitality of people of Kaliningrad and enjoy the beauty of this lovely city.
I strongly recommend other pilots to visit this fabulous city and fly there.
Special thanks to ParAAvis Company, Mr. Sergey Nakovnik , Mr. Konstantin Pavlushko for their warm hospitality, and also the jury team and all who made this event take place in its best way.

3) PPG News

Next APPI PPG Instructor Course:

APPI PPG will be running an Instructor course in North East Spain from the 27th September to 4th October. To book the course email to PPG secretary.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- XC seminar in mountain Olympus, Greece, 12-19 September 2015 by Olympic wings.
Olympic Wings offers an exclusive XC seminar with Simon Kirsch.
For more infos, see this page.

- APPI workshop in Bulgaria, Sopot, 15-30 September 2015.
Supported by a grant from Switzerland through the Partnership and Expert Fund.
Advanced courses for pilots, courses for tandem pilots and courses for instructors.
With Mendo Veljanovsky, in collaboration with Sky Camp Paragliding School.
For more infos, contact Victoria.

- APPI PPG course in Spain, 27th September - 4th October 2015.
For more infos, contact PPG secretary.

- 1º PPG Safety Week at Três Lagoas MS, Brazil, 5-12 October 2015 with CAJU BRASIL - Escola de paramotor e paratrike.
6 day Instructor courses designed to qualify APPI PPG Assistant Instructors and APPI PPG Instructors.
Followed by PARAMOTOR SIV, 10-12 October 2015.
For more Information see on this page.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Oludeniz, Turkey, 16-22 October 2015.
Professional workshop for the validation of APPI tandem pilots and APPI instructors.
With Mathieu Abrard, Murat Tuzer, Manu Bonte, Bruce Goldsmith (paragliding world champion 2007), Mendo Veljanovsky, Zabdi Keen, David Arrufat... in collaboration with skysports paragliding.
For more Information and registration contact skysport or Murat Tuzer +90 532 6167008.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Patagonia, Argentina, 4-12 December 2015.
With Pablo Lopez and Manu Bonte, in collaboration with Safety Acro Team.
More information and registration here.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Colombia, March 2016.
More information and exact dates later.
For registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in USA, 11-19 June 2016.
With Dale Covington and Manu Bonte, with the collaboration of Big Sky Paragliding School.
More information and registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

If you organize or know any paragliding & paramotor festival or meeting, give us this info to share this with APPI community.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) APPI at ChengDu Art Creative Forum and Exhibition

APPI China attended Art Creative week in ChengDu, Sichuan on July 18-19.

Organised and sponsored by Cluster-Here (ChengDu), APPI PPG Secretary and Master Instructor, Alex Ledger from the UK was invited as a keynote speaker, the topic of ‘Linking Extreme Sports to Youth’s Life in China’ talked about the education system of APPI. Also how APPI and extreme sports bring positive significant impacts on youth in both personal and social lives.

The exhibition, for the first time ever, features installation art, extreme sports, and digital visual art in the city of Chengdu.

More than 200,000 citizens have been introduced to the sport of paragliding during this event.

Meanwhile, 6 paragliders were exhibited in the outdoor space of the city-heart of ChengDu for almost 1 month.

The ‘Paragliding Working Holiday Week’ is a follow up program offering to Chinese youth to gain life and work experiences in UK and of course the knowledge of paragliding. More details will be announced soon.

For enquiries, please contact APPI China Secretary, rebecca@flyappi.org

2) Welcome to Stelios as master of pedagogical committee

Following the participation of the Greek instructor Stelios Makrovassilis in an APPI workshop in Greece on last June, we are pleased to raise him to the rank of APPI Master Instructor.

Then following the decision of the pedagogical committee, he was elected member of this committee.

Pedagogical committee has to grow to represent different paragliding communities.

- Introducing to Stelios Makrovassilis:
In the Greek paragliding community, every pilot knows Stelios. He was one of the first Greek pilots, the first Greek instructor back in 1994. He has been an APPI instructor since 2011, and running the biggest Greek school for 20 years now (1800 students from all over the world). He has lots of experience in paragliding teaching, from first flights to XC, cooperates with lots of big schools from Europe offering special flying seminars.

Some words from Stelios:
I believe in the idea of APPI to be an international education system, for this I would like to give my support. With my contacts to many professional paragliding schools, I can help make APPI widely known and pass on the idea of APPI. I am interested to develop the pedagogic system especially for more advanced pilots and use my knowledge and experience from many years of flying guiding of pilots with different levels. The professional levels of APPI are very important and I would like to support the spreading of these seminars for APPI.

Thank to Stelios for his support to APPI community, and we wish to him to make us many new APPI pilots worldwide.

3) PPG News

Letter from Alex Ledger - APPI PPG & ParaTrike Secretary:

As the Founder and Secretary of APPI PPG I am very sad to report the death of Dean Eldridge after a Paramotoring accident which took place in North East Spain on the 7th July 2015. I taught Dean how to fly Paramotors in 2005, after which we worked together in my school in Spain as Instructors for over 3 years. Deano was a fantastic instructor and, as one of the founders of APPI PPG, he helped to improve the safety of the sport through his excellent instruction around the world. He was an extremely talented pilot and gained an international reputation as one of the best Pylon Racers and Aerial Cameramen in the world, as well as world record holder. An accident report is currently being prepared and will be published on the APPI PPG website soon. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, as well as by those he never met but influenced in his own unique and charming way. This obituary by XC Mag is a fitting tribute to him.

All PPG pilots need to know about the potential risk which occurs with low level Paramotoring on small canopies.

See the report of this accident:

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Advanced Coastal Clinic at Bali, Indonesia, 21-30 August 2015.
Organized by Temple Pilots Paragliding School.
The Course will include the following:
1. Cliff Launching Techniques
2. Coastal Soaring Techniques
3. Top Landing Skill Development
4. Ground Handling & Kiting Skill Development
5. Safe Flying under Supervision
6. Briefing & Debriefing Sessions
More infos here.

- Festival Flight & Fun, Vrachos Beach (Preveza), Greece, 8-9 August 2015.
Fun flights by the beach of vrachos/ water games/ grill / Music Party with djs at the beach at the night.
For more information, contact Fly & Fun APPI school.

- APPI workshop in Bulgaria, Sopot, 15-30 September 2015.
Supported by a grant from Switzerland through the Partnership and Expert Fund.
Advanced courses for pilots, courses for tandem pilots and courses for instructors.
With Mendo Veljanovsky, in collaboration with Sky Camp Paragliding School.
For more infos and registration, contact Victoria.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Oludeniz, Turkey, 16-22 October 2015.
Professional workshop for the validation of APPI tandem pilots and APPI instructors.
With Mathieu Abrard, Murat Tuzer, Manu Bonte, Bruce Goldsmith (paragliding world champion 2007), Mendo Veljanovsky, Zabdi Keen, David Arrufat... in collaboration with skysports paragliding.
For more Information and registration contact skysport or Murat Tuzer +90 532 6167008.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Patagonia, Argentina, 4-12 December 2015.
With Pablo Lopez and Manu Bonte, in collaboration with Safety Acro Team.
More information and registration here.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Colombia, March 2016.
More information and exact dates later.
For registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in USA, 11-19 June 2016.
With Dale Covington and Manu Bonte, with the collaboration of Big Sky Paragliding School.
More information and registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

If you organize or know any paragliding & paramotor festival or meeting, give us this info to share this with APPI community.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Report of the workshop in Greece, June 2015

From the 6th to 12th of June 2015 at the base of Mount Olympus (Greece), APPI held a Pro-workshop organized by Stelios Makrovasilis - Olympic Wings - and led by Manu Bonte, master instructor of APPI pedagogical committee.

This Workshop was intended primarily to very experienced instructors (with as many as 20 years experience) who wanted to validate their skills in APPI.

In addition to advanced information on the technical aspects (evolution in design of gliders and influences on piloting and equipment maintenance) they have received specific courses on pedagogy and psycho-pedagogy, with presentation of specific tools to organize and improve teaching sessions.

The practice of pro-tandem was also discussed: the customer relationship, civil and criminal responsibilities, and review of procedures.

All received concrete answers to their questions, and have acquired the tools and practical methods to fly and teach with greater security, with particular emphasis on the influence of human factors.

The 15 participants expressed great motivation.

One master instructor, 10 instructors and 4 tandem pilots had their skills certified in APPI.

2) Various APPI infos

- Update of APPI presentation slideshow for instructors.
This slideshow is now updated and succinctly presents the complete operation of the APPI web site for an instructor.
It allows you in less than 10 minutes to know almost all the possibilities available online.
Downloadable via the download page in the menu instructors, in PDF format or slideshow in "open document" format.

- Form validation on APPI educational system and APPI rules for instructors registered by equivalence.
Only for instructors recorded by equivalence, it is now possible to validate your knowledge of the rules and operation of APPI and its education system by completing a multiple questions questionnaire.
This form is also used in the pro-workshops to check your knowledge about APPI rules.
It will be issued during the validation process.

3) PPG News

In July, APPI PPG & ParaTrike Secretary Alex Ledger is visiting China as part of a cultural exchange between the UK and China.

During his trip, he will represent APPI at an Exhibition in Chengdu followed by a Paramotoring Masterclass for Chinese Paramotor pilots.

Then in August, a group of Chinese students will travel to the UK in order to learn how to fly, and experience British culture.

APPI hopes that this cultural exchange will help the rapidly developing sports of Paragliding, Paramotoring and ParaTriking in China as they are becoming more and more popular.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- APPI will be present at the exhibition of Chengdu, China, 17-19 July 2015.
Followed by a PPG workshop in China.
More infos contact the APPI secretary in China or for the PPG workshop, the PPG secretary.

- 2015 Iranian paragliding Kermanshah open, in Iran, 22-29 July 2015.
Iran Paragliding comptition 2015 is the Iranian national annual competition. This comptition is a Leg of Ir and the seconanian Leagued one .The purpose of the event is to provide safe, fair and satisfying flying contest so that the best pilots will be awarded and also to reinforce friendship among pilots and international sports cooperation.
More information and registration: here.

- Advanced Coastal Clinic at Bali, Indonesia, 21-30 August 2015.
Organized by Temple Pilots Paragliding School.
The Course will include the following:
1. Cliff Launching Techniques
2. Coastal Soaring Techniques
3. Top Landing Skill Development
4. Ground Handling & Kiting Skill Development
5. Safe Flying under Supervision
6. Briefing & Debriefing Sessions
More infos here.

- APPI workshop in Bulgaria, Sopot, 15-30 September 2015.
Supported by a grant from Switzerland through the Partnership and Expert Fund.
Advanced courses for pilots, courses for tandem pilots and courses for instructors.
With Mendo Veljanovsky, in collaboration with Sky Camp Paragliding School.
For more infos, contact Victoria.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Turkey, Oludeniz,16-23 October 2015 (to be confirmed).
Professional workshop for the validation of APPI tandem pilots and APPI instructors.
More information and registration: manubonte1@gmail.com.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Argentina, December 2015.
More information and exact dates later.
For registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in Colombia, March 2016.
More information and exact dates later.
For registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

- APPI Pro-Workshop in USA, April 2016.
More information and exact dates later.
For registration: secretary@flyappi.org.

If you organize or know any paragliding & paramotor festival or meeting, give us this info to share this with APPI community.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Relief for victims of earthquake in Nepal

We thank all those who have contributed their help and financial support to victims of the earthquake in Nepal.

We were able to collect 1,850 Euros that were used to buy 385 metal roofing sheets to rebuild destroyed houses.

We still have 400 Euros to be distributed, we will use this money soon left to purchase other goods for Nepalese destitute.

Thank you to Babu Sunuwar and the entire teams of karmaflights and thecloudbasefoundation who have given themselves fully to organize and deliver aid to remote villages. Without them those people would not have been rescued as quickly.

International aid was stuck in Kathmandu airport because of niggling procedures from the Nepalese customs that have not considered using an emergency procedure in this case.

So, part of the aid was simply refused by the government whereas the victims had no shelter and had nothing to eat.

Donations are still being accepted for future assistance, see this page.

2) QR code on APPI certification cards and temporary licenses

It is now possible for those who have received their APPI certification card recently to verify the authenticity of the card, and see the final qualifications obtained using your smartphone.

Simply scan the QR code printed on your APPI certification card or your APPI temporary license using your mobile.

You will need an Internet connection and an application to read QR Code, which you can find freely on your phone store.

We noticed that some temporary certificates and APPI certification cards were falsified, so when in doubt about the authenticity, always check online.

3) Significant increase of APPI workshops this year

Following a sharp increase in APPI-PRO applications, the pedagogical committee has made a significant effort to organize more APPI pro-workshops worldwide.

We should reach about 10 workshops for the current year.

Workshops are planned in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Nepal, Argentina and Ecuador by the end of the year.

All participants that get a certification during a pro-workshop, receive special mention with the logo of the current year.

This logo appears on their profile and shows what they have been recently updated.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- APPI will be present at the exhibition of Chengdu, China, 17-19 July 2015.
Followed by a PPG workshop in China.
More infos contact the APPI secretary in China or for the workshop, the PPG secretary.

- APPI workshop in Greece, Sikaminea, Mount Olympus area, 6-12 June 2015.
Theory course for paragliding pilots, tandem pilots & instructors pro-workshop, in collaboration with Stelios Makrovassilis, APPI instructor.
Accommodation: info@olympicwings.gr More information and registration: info@olympicwings.gr and manubonte1@gmail.com.

- APPI workshop in Bulgaria, Sopot, 15-30 September 2015.
Supported by a grant from Switzerland through the Partnership and Expert Fund.
Advanced courses for pilots, courses for tandem pilots and courses for instructors.
With Mendo Veljanovsky, in collaboration with Sky Camp Paragliding School.
For more infos, contact Victoria.

- Competition at Fribourg, Switzerland, from June 4 to June 7.
Organized by the APPI school Gruyere Parapente with APPI master Marc Pugin (10130).
4 days of walking and flying in the foothills and nights and refueling in shacks.
Followed by live tracking beacon on internet.
Open to any APPI Advanced solo pilot.
Info & registrations here.

- CNP3 - Congress for Paratrike Paramotor Pilots at Santa Helena City, Brasil, 23-28 June 2015.
Attention pilots from all over Brazil! And countries around....... There comes the 1st CNP3 - National meeting for Paratrike and Paramotor pilots.
Super SIV (Kurt), leveling pilots for national and APPI-PPG pilots, June Festival (Arraial Pilots), simulation and reserve course and first aid clinic... and more...
The purpose of this event is to raise the technical level of our pilots, bringing knowledge and improvement and new techniques.
We will also have Cross Country workshop, maintenance workshops and check equipment, SIV course with Kurt, among many other activities that will be part of this great meeting.
More infos here.

- Advanced Coastal Clinic at Bali, Indonesia, 21-30 August 2015.
Organized by Temple Pilots Paragliding School.
The Course will include the following:
1. Cliff Launching Techniques
2. Coastal Soaring Techniques
3. Top Landing Skill Development
4. Ground Handling & Kiting Skill Development
5. Safe Flying under Supervision
6. Briefing & Debriefing Sessions
More infos here.

- Festival Paramotor KELANTAN 2015, from June 5 to June 7 at Gunong, Kelantan, Malaysia.
More infos here.

- Parafest 2015 from June 12 to June 14 at Llangollen, North Wales, UK.
The biggest event of its kind in the UK. Paragliding, Paramotoring, Hang Gliders, traders, mountain bike tracks, market area, sideshow attractions, kids zone, zip line, on site bar, caterers, hog roast, live music, DJ, the list goes on....!!
If you are a flyer, thinking about learning to fly or if you want to see some flying, ride the downhill mountain bike tracks or just fancy a weekend away camping in Wales having fun and partying with the rest of us then you need to come here.!
More infos here.

- International Paramotor Meeting Blois, June 19-21 at Blois, France.
More infos here.

If you organize or know any paragliding & paramotor festival or meeting, give us this info to share this with APPI community.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) APPI at the exhibition of Chengdu, China

APPI will be present at the exhibition of Chengdu, China, from July 17 to 19, 2015.

There is an activity calls "City to People" that will be held in ChengDu, Sichuan Province.

This 1-week event aims to promote the two cities : London and Chengdu, including urban planning, city arts, creative design, and so on.

200,000 visitors are expected to come.

The event will have exhibitions, workshops and dialogs about the culture of England.

There are two parts of the event :

1. English artists will work together with Chinese children to paint the paragliding wings (see photo above).

2. Launch a 2-week working holiday in APPI schools / flying sites in UK, the Chinese young people will work in the schools or flying sites to learn about this sports and help in daily operation.

2) Previous APPI workshops in Colombia and Philippines

- From 9 to 15 March 2015 APPI held a workshop in Medellin, Colombia, organized by Ruben Dario Montoya Vargas, APPI school Paragliding Medellin and led by Manu Bonte, master instructor of APPI paragliding education committee.

This workshop was intended primarily for Tandem pilots of Medellin wishing to validate their skills in APPI.

In addition to cutting edge information on the technical aspects, they will have benefited from a specific course on customer relations, civil and criminal liability and the influence of human factors on safety.

It also helped autonomous pilots to acquire the tools necessary to improve safety, control and performance.

All received concrete answers to their questions, and acquired practical tools and methods to fly and move with greater security.

The 24 participants showed great motivation. 12 tandem pilots and three pilots had their skills certified in APPI.

- From 6 to 8 March held an APPI workshop at Mindanao, Philippines, organized by APPI and PPHGA, the Philippine Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association.

This small workshop was held in a friendly way.

Thanks to PPHGA and all the pilots for their assistance and cooperation.

Paragliding is emerging and starting to grow in the Philippines.

The pilots are just waiting for more info and advice for better and safer flights.

Only three main flying sites see regular pilots, many other mountains await for new pilots and new take-off areas.

The potential is great for a big future pilots community just waiting to expend their energy.

3) PPG News

- Master Instructor Alex Ledger has just run another APPI PPG & ParaTrike Instructor course in Brazil. Congratulations to all of the participants who attained the Instructor and Assistant Instructor licenses. Check out photos of the course here.

- We would like to congratulate the two newest APPI PPG & ParaTrike Master Instructors, Ricardo Maciel and Anderson Bech, who completed their second Instructor course, this time as Master Assistants on the course in Brazil.

- The next APPI PPG Instructor course takes place in Spain from the 14th - 21st June. Slots are still available, to book on this course contact us: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- APPI Workshop at Sarajevo, Bosnia, from May 5 to May 11, 2015.
Theory course for paragliding pilots and evaluation & validation for tandem pilots will be on the menu of this workshop.
Organized by APPI instructor Mirvad Zennuni with the support of APPI master Manu Bonte, in collaboration with the APPI school Paragliding Academy Sarajevo.
The course will be taught in English and practice will be held at Bjelašnica.
More infos here.

- Competition at Fribourg, Switzerland, from June 4 to June 7.
Organized by the APPI school Gruyere Parapente with APPI master Marc Pugin (10130).
4 days of walking and flying in the foothills and nights and refueling in shacks.
Followed by live tracking beacon on internet.
Open to any APPI Advanced solo pilot.
Info & registrations here.

- 22° South Brazilian Festival of Free Flight, April 11-12, at Timbé do Sul, Brazil.
More infos here

- Expo Paramotor Brazil 2015, from April 18 to April 21, at Araçatuba, Brazil.
More infos here.

- 2nd anniversary of the association 'Han'Vol, May 9 at Arette, France.
The program: workshops for all, food, aperitif, concert.
More infos here.

- Beach Blast 2015 "The World's Largest Beachfront PPG Event", May 13 at Panama City Beach, Florida, USA.
Come join us for the 5th Edition of what Paramotor magazine referred to as the biggest and the best.
More infos here.

- SLALOMANIA, World Paramotor slalom contests, May 15-17 at Dovera, Italy.
More infos here.

- Festival Paramotor KELANTAN 2015, from June 5 to June 7 at Gunong, Kelantan, Malaysia.
More infos here.

- Parafest 2015 from June 12 to June 14 at Llangollen, North Wales, UK.
The biggest event of its kind in the UK. Paragliding, Paramotoring, Hang Gliders, traders, mountain bike tracks, market area, sideshow attractions, kids zone, zip line, on site bar, caterers, hog roast, live music, DJ, the list goes on....!!
If you are a flyer, thinking about learning to fly or if you want to see some flying, ride the downhill mountain bike tracks or just fancy a weekend away camping in Wales having fun and partying with the rest of us then you need to come here.!
More infos here.

- International Paramotor Meeting Blois, June 19-21 at Blois, France.
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) New Tandem Record

Congratulations to the APPI tandem pilot Hunter Marrian, License N° 12644, who after having already broken the speed record in tandem last year, broke a new record in Kenya.

Hunter and his passenger, Evans, managed to crack two out and return distance records.

Clocking 211km for the free flight and 210.4 km for the declared.

Flying for 9 and 1/2 hours it was an exhausting flight but they enjoyed a very nice day in the Kerio Valley.

We wish him good luck for his next flight record.

2) APPI Tandem Pilots in China

We are happy to have had 3 Nepalese pilots visiting China in Mid of January to promote the paragliding sport. They shared the flying experiences with the local people in Guiyang city, and the following tandem flight activities did not only realize people's flying dreams, but could have bird-view of the astonishing Guizhou Karst landforms.

The local newspaper published these events and it has helped to raise the public awareness about paragliding.

We sincerely welcome pilots from all over the world to fly and have good time in China!

News references:
- Flying in LongLi, Guizhou,
- Flying in ZangKeJiang Lake, Guizhou.

3) Evolution of APPI rules

- It is now asked of tandem pilots engaged in commercial operations, to deliver a flight certificate to their passenger with the school name and contact, if possible the representative federation or association with name and contact, and a link to APPI International website for the pilot review, giving the opportunity to the passenger to fly again in tandem or learn all around the world with APPI.
Affiliate members can download the APPI flight certificate here and change if they want to add the logo of their school. We’ve noticed that the issuance of this certificate has greatly increased the schools attendance if it is delivered.

- Now you can choose to send your APPI certification card to your own address, to your current school address or to your working/teaching school address (only for tandem pilots and instructors).

- The instructors who are registered by equivalence just need to learn and pass a test to validate their knowledge of the APPI education system and APPI rules & regulations.

- Small change in the requirements to become open sky tandem pilot and tandem pilot: during the examination, fast descent for 5 seconds minimum compulsory. We remind you that tandem pilots and instructors must now follow a validation workshop.

- Safety information: Kortel Design has launched a security advisory about harnesses Kamasutra II, Karma II, and Krashbox Module Kuik II.
See details on this page.
Contact info@korteldesign.com if you have any questions.

4) PPG News

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Alex Ledger is currently in South Africa running another APPI PPG Instructor course. Next month he returns to Brazil to run a second APPI PPG & ParaTrike Instructor course.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge is back in Africa filming for another Aerials Documentary.

- APPI PPG’s new Master Instructor, Zebur Mercan, who is also the Assistant Manager, is off to Kuwait for the whole of 2015 provide Performance Flying coaching to the Kuwaiti Team.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Kester Haynes has been filming with Bear Grylls Paramotor in Scotland. Further footage to be released soon!

- PPG pilot and advanced PPG pilot examination questions are now online for affiliated members (see PPG Courses → Exams). The pilots can train online, and instructors can print the questionnaire to take the exam to their students.

5) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- APPI Workshop at Medellin, Colombia, from 9 to 16 March 2015.
This workshop is mainly intended for pilots and professional tandem pilots. Part of the workshop will also be open to recreational pilots of all levels who wish to acquire advanced theoretical knowledge. Organized by APPI and APPI school n°83 Paragliding medellin (Instructor : Ruben Darío Montoya Vargas).
More infos here.

- APPI Workshop at Safi ranch, Sarangani Bay, Mindanao, Philippines, from 6 to 8 March 2015.
During a 3 days evaluation workshop, APPI and PPHGA the Philippine Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association will be working together, an opportunity to verify and upgrade your pilot skills.
In collaboration with Armand Dard (10798) an APPI instructor, Randell ’Buko’ Raymundo a Filipino instructor (10774) and the APPI school Adventure Nomads.
David will give a free half-day short course for take off & landing safety.
For instructors, Tandem pilots, Advanced pilots and pilots, with possibility of exams for Tandem pilots and Advanced pilots.
To register and more info, contact pphga.email@gmail.com

- 24. Stubai-Cup, 5 - 8 March at Stubaital, Tirol, Austria.
More infos here.

- Winter Mazuria Paramotor Cup Orzysz, 14 - 15 March at Orzysz, Poland.
More infos here.

- Helico Drop Acro Show, 14 March at Tirane, Albania.
More infos here.

- VI Encuentro internacional de parapente, 21 - 23 March at valle del Risaralda, Apia Colombia.
More infos here.

- Open Argentino de Parapente 2015, 22 March at Cuchi Corral, Cordoba, Argentina.
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Notes from the APPI team

APPI wishes all members a Happy 2015.

We worked hard last year for the benefit of our dear members.

The number of APPI pilots and instructors increased approximately 40% in 2014.

The examination questions have been checked and new questions have been added. Now we have more than 850 questions.

The first phase of the pilot's manual is complete, however, we will continue to improve it.

The website, exam questions and messages are being translated into French, Spanish and Chinese.

We welcomed 2 new secretaries. Claire, who will print cards and oversee shipments, and Rebecca in China, for our members who speak only Chinese.

We started the activity paratrike, which is still low, but is expected to grow rapidly in 2015.

We have implemented a pedagogical committee for paragliding which is now fully operational. The masters of this committee have planned many APPI workshops for 2015 (Colombia, Bosnia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, China, Nepal, Iran ...).

We also conducted our first workshop for tandem pilots in China, and in 2015 we will return for a workshop for instructors. Paragliding is a relatively new activity in China, and demand is very strong.

We hope to offer a worldwide insurance policy (with the exception of a few countries) for pilots, tandems pilots, instructors and schools by the end of 2015.

We hope also to have time to refresh the site in 2015, to adapt it to tablets and mobile phones.

We will continue our momentum in 2015 to welcome more pilots and instructors in our community and to improve the security of our members.

2) Workshop Colombia at Roldanillo

From December 16 to 18 held in Roldanillo a workshop for pilots who wanted to acquire advanced theoretical knowledge.

Some came from afar to attend the course that swept many themes.

Autonomous pilot, high level crossman and some tandem pilots were able to acquire the tools to improve their safety, piloting and performance.

They benefited from the exceptional presence of French psychologist paragliding pole hope, who made a remarkable speech on human factors in paragliding and stress management.

The pilots had concrete answers to their questions, and acquired tools and practical methods to fly with greater security and making progress.

3) Evolution of APPI Education system and rules

There are many accidents with acro tandem above the ground, with clients, equipped with a single reserve (sometimes out date and wouldn’t handle line failure), using wings that are not designed for that.

Stall, spins, sats, big wing overs, inversions , super strong 360° stressing the gear...

All this happening in countries where there is no gear control.

Also ground proximity: death spiral at landing, death spiral on take off, wingover close to the ground...

To limit the number of this kind of accidents, the APPI Pedagogical committee has defined new rules:
- allow acro tandem only above the water, with a tandem certified for this use (12G certified), inside the weight range, with two reserves parachute or a tandem rogallo, and no radical move less than 200m above the surface ....
- forbid acro tandem above the ground,
- allow exceptional acro tandem demonstration above the ground with authorization of a master of the pedagogic committee that will engage his responsibility.

Above the ground we limit the maneuvers like this:
- no stall, no spin, no sat, no wingover above 90 degrees,
- no spiral dive stronger than -8 m/s unless emergency,
- no trick lower than 300m above ground (wing overs, deep spiral dive).

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- APPI Workshop at Medellin, Colombia from 9 to 16 March 2015
This workshop is mainly intended to professional tandem pilots and instructor. Part of the workshop will also be open to recreational pilots of all levels who wish to acquire advanced theoretical knowledge.
For more infos, contact APPI secretary.

- Rutas LA MUELA en Reyes, January 3 - 6, 2015 at La Muela. (Guadalajara), Madrid, Spain.
Aprovechando la Cabalgata aérea organizada por el Ecmo. Ayuntamiento de Alarilla y la Asociación Cultural de Alarilla, con la inestimable participación de todo el pueblo y del Club La Tienda de La Muela, qu ofrecen un espectáculo increíble desde hace más de 25 años, con Belén viviente, fuegos artificiales, descenso de los RR.Magos en ala delta y pajes en parapentes iluminados y con pirotecnia, y agasajo de visitantes con viandas propias de la época ...y aprovechando que el fin de semana será más largo de lo habitual, proponemos estas rutas en PARAMOTOR. Se harán durante el fin de semana 3 y 4 de enero y el mismo lunes 5, antes de la Cabalgata, y el martes 6, día de reyes, según los asistentes, que serán deleitadois como siempre se hace en este mítico enclave del Vuelo Libre en España. Os esperamos
More infos here.

- Australian National Hang Gliding Championships 2015, January 1 - 8 at Australia.
More infos here.

- Validation of pilots in Yunnan, China, January 12 - 13 with Mike Fougère (APPI instructor 10487).
For more infos, contact Rebecca.

- APPI pilot sharing session at Guiyang, Guizhou, China, January 16 with guest speakers Bal Krishna Basel (APPI Assistant Instructor 10010) and Shankar Parajuli (APPI Tandem Pilot 10067).
For more infos, contact Rebecca.

- Paragliding Road Trip Colombia January 2015, January 5 - 30 at Bucaramanga, el Cañon del Chicamocha, Medellin, Damasco, Ansermanuevo, Roldanillo, Bogota, Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Colombia.
Road Trip with a full size van in differents fly sites all around the country.
Visiting the world cup in Roldanillo, 12 pilots max at the time.
More infos here.

- 24. Stubai-Cup, March 5 - 8, at Stubaital, Tirol, Austria.
More infos here.

- SIV and XC Course, February 4 - 19 at Pokhara, Nepal with Mohammad Razeghi (APPI Master instructor 10607).
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) APPI Pro workshop certification

Participation in the Pro workshop leads to a certification that will be dated, exposed on the profile, and will certify that the tandem pilot or APPI instructor in the latest technical knowledge in the field of equipment and pedagogic for the instructors. View the APPI Pro Workshop logo on the right.

Many pro APPI workshops will be organized for 2015 in several countries (Colombia, Bosnia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, China, Nepal, Iran ...).

The dates of these workshops will be further disseminated.

These workshops are intended for tandem pilots and instructors who are already working as professionals and not to those who want to become.

There are also for advanced pilots who wish to improve their skills.

2) Evolution of APPI Education system and rules

The validation rules for Pro levels within APPI Paragliding are changing: validations of tandem pilots and instructors will be under the control of a pedagogical committee master.

The APPI instructors and master instructors will be invited to participate in a pro-workshops as soon as they’re organized nearby.

This will allow upgrading of knowledge and provide a common foundation for all APPI instructors.

This change became effective on December 1^st, 2014

Please see the new rules in the table of "registration rules": www.flyappi.org/?Registration-rules.

You can contact the APPI Pedagogical committee directly on a forum accessible to all APPI registered members on this dedicated page.

For other questions, you should contact the APPI secretary.

3) PPG News

- The APPI PPG & ParaTrike Instructor course in Brazil went very well and resulted in 9 PPG Instructors, 3 Assistant PPG Instructors, 3 ParaTrike Instructors and 3 Assistant ParaTrike Instructors.

- The next APPI PPG Instructor course is taking place in Brazil from the 20th - 29th March 2015.
To register contact: caju@cajubr.com.

- The next European APPI PPG Instructor course is scheduled for 14th - 21st June in Spain.
To register contact: zebur@flyappi.org.

- Master Instructor Kester Haynes has been running APPI PPG and ParaTrike Pilot courses in Oman recently for the Military and Police.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- SIV course by Flyecuador with Jorge A. Duque C. from November 1 to December 21, 2014 at Yaguarcocha Lake- Ibarra City, Ecuador.
Basic & Advance SIV course, training Tandem SIV for instructors, basic Acro course and Free Acro Training.
Courses each week from november to december. Languages available : english, spanish, french and portuguese.
More infos here.

- Encontro de Natal da Flyalvor, December 14 at Ferragudo, Faro, Portugal.
Convido todos os pilotos de paramotor que no dia 14 de Dezembro pelas 10h estejam presentes com o seu fato de pai Natal neste encontro.
O objetivo é fazer um passeio aéreo sobre a cidade de Portimão e Praia da Rocha, e um almoço com todos os pilotos num restaurante de modo a que todos possamos desfrutar de um bom dia..
More infos here.

- Open Placivel 2014 1era. Valida Nacional Venezolana FAI 2, December 14 -19 at Placivel, Venezuela.
Cross country, carreras con balizas y llegada a Gol.
More infos here.

- 9th Annual PlanetPPG Christmas Fly-In, December 26, at Pine Island Airport, USA
Great flight destinations, local hotels and attractions nearby.
Campfire each night – meet and get to know your fellow pilots and families!
More infos here.

- Australian National Hang Gliding Championships 2015, January 1 - 8 at Australia.
More infos here.

- Paragliding Road Trip Colombia January 2015, January 5 - 30 at Bucaramanga, el Cañon del Chicamocha, Medellin, Damasco, Ansermanuevo, Roldanillo, Bogota, Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Colombia.
Road Trip with a full size van in differents fly sites all around the country.
Visiting the world cup in Roldanillo, 12 pilots max at the time.
More infos here.

- 24. Stubai-Cup, March 5 - 8, at Stubaital, Tirol, Austria.
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) New APPI secretary for China

We are pleased to welcome Rebecca into the APPI team.

She is now the APPI secretary for China, and for all of our Chinese speaking members.

For inquiries in Chinese, you can contact her at the following address: rebecca@flyappi.org

Cooperation continues with ASFC: Air Sports Federation of China, another instructor workshop is planned for 2015 in China. The dates for this workshop will be announced soon.

We are working on the translation of the examination questions and the site pages and messages into Chinese.

We are also working on the possibility of using alipay to pay for contributions from our members.

However if you want to go flying in China, do not hesitate, this vast territory awaits you with these varied and beautiful landscapes.

2) APPI Pedagogical committee for Paragliding

The pedagogical committee for paragliding is now fully operational.

The role of this committee is to make decisions about education system, course content, exams, educational manuals, the choice of APPI masters, the option to blacklist members, to manage complaints not resolved by the secretary, and to propose modifications of the internal rules about pedagogic choices.

The committee is currently improving the content of a pro-workshop to establish a regular inspection of pilot skills for APPI tandem pilots and APPI instructors.

This certification pro-workshop will be valid for a fixed period, and accessible to all tandem pilots and instructors who want to improve their knowledge and share their experience.

You can contact this committee directly on a forum accessible to all APPI registered members on this dedicated page.

For other questions, you should contact the APPI secretary.

3) PPG News

- APPI PPG Secretary Alex Ledger is currently in Brazil running an Instructor course for Paramotoring and ParaTriking. Paramotoring is developing rapidly in Brazil, mainly due to the exposure it has received through a Brazilian TV series called 'Aereas' involving APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbNrKEHEngA.

- After Brazil Alex Ledger is heading to Argentina to run another APPI PPG Instructor course outside Buenos Aires. A few slots are still available, for further information email: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Kester Haynes is in charge of overseeing the safety of a mad project called the Icarus Trophy, organised by The Adventurists: youtu.be/uRnzYF0aaTk.

5) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Paragliding trip to Nepal, with Gruyere Parapente - Switzerland - from October 17 to November 2, 2014.
Two weeks of adventures and discoveries in Nepal!
Flying cross, night home stay, SIV courses...
More infos here.

- Thermalling/XC Expedition Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India, from October 31 to November 5, 2014.
Tour de Himalayas 2014 - blue skies, big thermals, magical mountains, stunning scenery, epic flights and friends to share it all with. I call it the tour for Ascension and Expansion.
Open to both experienced pilots looking to go further and first timers who wish to open the doorway to Himalayan flying.
More infos here.

- SIV course by Flyecuador with Jorge A. Duque C. from November 1 to December 21, 2014 at Yaguarcocha Lake- Ibarra City, Ecuador.
Basic & Advance SIV course, training Tandem SIV for instructors, basic Acro course and Free Acro Training.
Courses each week from november to december. Languages available : english, spanish, french and portuguese.
More infos here.

- Copa Rio de Parapente, November 7 - 9, 2014.
Campeonato Estadual de Vôo Livre de Parapente do Rio de Janeiro 2014.
Etapa de Sampaio Correia - Saquarema/RJ.
Classificatória para o Brasileiro 2015!
More infos here.

- Puerto Rico PPG Tour II, November 16, 2014.
More infos here.

- Pre-copa Mundial de Parapente, November 22 - 29, 2014, at Terranostra, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
More infos here.

- Open Placivel 2014 1era.
Valida Nacional Venezolana FAI 2, December 14-19, 2014 at Placivel, Venezuela.
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Workshop et coopération en Chine

A representative for the Chinese government, the Air Sport Federation of China - ASFC - and APPI met together in August for a very successful workshop concerning paragliding education.

We want to thank the Chinese federation, ASFC, for organizing a workshop about the professional pilot level (tandem pilot and Instructor) in collaboration with APPI.

24 Instructors from all around China, the President, the ASFC of China and a representative of APPI were there for one week.

This first meeting was about Tandem Pilot education, requirements and exam organization.

We did a theoretical course, exam preparation and all of the instructors completed the exams to see what may be improved for the future generation of pilots.

The Idea of the workshop was to share information about international standards and the experience of the Chinese instructors. Some of them have 20 Years of experience already.

It was very constructive as China receives very little information about paragliding education. Previously the Chinese system was based on the FAI recommendation for para pro levels which did not include any education system and had no information for professional levels.

I’d like to thank all the instructors for their participation and the motivation to learn more and more.

This is a beautiful move from all of them. We can take it as an example.

All of us really appreciated the workshop and left inspired. We learned new skills and shared our knowledge, that was the APPI spirit.

APPI will continue to support the ASFC and all Chinese pilots, as the country has just started to realize the potential of Paragliding.

Let’s go flying in China!
David Arrufat, President of APPI.

2) Various APPI infos

- When an instructor register a new student, you can ask to send the membership card to your school instead of to the pilot. If necessary, this option can be changed later by the student.

- A reminder to managers of the schools that your school can pay the membership fee including the membership card during the registration of a new student, by clicking on the button "Payment by school". This payment is possible only if the total credit authorized by your school has not been reached. Furthermore, the school manager can pay the subscription fee for any APPI member (only if the school has sufficient credit).

- Due to the low price of membership card (8 Euros), the cards are sent by default by a low cost carrier without a tracking number. If you want fast shipment with tracking number, please contact the secretary. In this case, the cost of transportation depends of the destination, you will be charged accordingly.

3) PPG News

- The next APPI PPG Instructor course is taking place in Brazil for up to 15 potential Paramotor and ParaTrike instructors. APPI PPG Founder and Master Instructor Alex Ledger is running the course which starts at the end of October.

- The first Flying for Heroes expedition has now been completed in Kenya and was a huge success. They plan to do a 2015 expedition so watch this space: www.flyingforheroes.org!

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge ran a very successful Paramotor Instructor course in Cyprus last month and is available this winter to run more courses. To arrange further APPI PPG instructor courses please email: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

4) Employment offer

Tandem Pilot & Instructor Training Internship.

From October 10 to May 31, 2015 at Kamshet, located between the big cities of Mumbai & Pune, India.

Opportunities for experienced pilots in the following categories:
1. Tandem Pilot Training & Licensing (APPI Tandem Pilot)
2. Instructor training & Licensing (APPI Instructor)
3. Licensed Tandem Pilots who wish to fly commercial tandems
4. Licensed Instructors looking to work in a school for a limited period
5. job opportunities for Instructors/Tandem pilots on long term basis

More infos on www.templepilots.com.

5) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Paragliding trip to Nepal, with Gruyere Parapente - Switzerland - from October 17 to November 2, 2014.
Two weeks of adventures and discoveries in Nepal!
Flying cross, night homestay, SIV courses...
More infos here.

- Thermalling/XC Expedition Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India, from October 31 to November 5, 2014.
Tour de Himalayas 2014 - blue skies, big thermals, magical mountains, stunning scenery, epic flights and friends to share it all with. I call it the tour for Ascension and Expansion.
Open to both experienced pilots looking to go further and first timers who wish to open the doorway to Himalayan flying.
More infos here.

- SIV / Progressive Acro course, Bilaspur (near Bir) Himachal Pradesh, India, from October 27 to October 30, 2014.
Join me for the most fun n most thrilling course in paragliding. Nothing will equip you as a pilot (in terms of skill, knowledge, glider handling & flight safety) than a good SIV Course. Learn to play with your glider with a progressive Acro training.
More infos here.

- SIV course by Flyecuador with Jorge A. Duque C. from November 1 to December 21, 2014 at Yaguarcocha Lake- Ibarra City, Ecuador.
Basic & Advance SIV course, training Tandem SIV for instructors, basic Acro course and Free Acro Training.
Courses each week from november to december. Languages available : english, spanish, french and portuguese.
More infos here.

- 2º Encontro de Paramotor de Castro Verde, Portugal, October 4 - 5, 2014.
More infos here.

- Festival del volo minimale, Dovera, Italia, October 4 - 5, 2014.
More infos here.

- Himalayan Unclimbed peaks to raise money for Sherpa, Nepal, October 12, 2014.
More infos here.

- IFTE 2014 - İstanbul Flight Training Exhibition - October 17 - 18, 2014, Turkey.
More infos here.

- 14° Encontro de Paraglider, at Leopoldina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, October 18, 2014.
O Clvl Leopoldina,convida a todos os pilotos, admiradores do esporte e público em geral a participar do evento no Morro do Cruzeiro,com muito voo livre,música ao vivo,área de lazer c segurança e entrada gratuita.Venham prestigiar o esporte,confraternizar, divertir,e interagir c a natureza nuns dos locais mais agradáveis de nossa pequena Leopoldina
More infos here.

- 15th Ölüdeniz Air Games, October 21 - 25, 2014, Turkey.
More infos here.

- Puerto Rico PPG Tour II, November 16, 2014.
More infos here.

Pre-copa Mundial de Parapente, November 22 - 29, 2014, at Terranostra, Guayaquil, Ecuador. More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Workshop and cooperation in China

Ni haa.

Things are changing in China.

APPI and the Chinese government representative for the Airsport ASFC have had their first meeting and begun to collaborate to improve their paragliding education system.

ASFC is in the process of developing the Chinese system and discovering a way to join the international standard of APPI.

China is extremely motivated to promote and develop paragliding as sport accessible for everybody and the conversations have been very positive.

The new generation of Chinese people are looking for outdoor sports, fresh air and nature. China change! China move! China fly!

This is the beginning of many adventures. I assure you there are several places to fly and to discover in China, and they now welcome YOU.

We’ve met 20 to 25 Instructors, almost all of the Chinese instructors, for a workshop discussing the first level of becoming a professional Tandem Pilot.

APPI has already started the translation of more than 800 test questions to Chinese.

Coming soon… some pages on the APPI website in Chinese.

2) Updating rate of subscription and APPI rules

- The cost of the subscription and the APPI membership card has not changed for 2 years. Beginning in September, the fee will increase to 27 Euros, and certification card will increase to 8 Euros. We have limited the increase to a minimum, but without it we could not cope with our ever increasing expenses.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO: Secretary, Your certification card, Lawyer for international rights and your protection, Sponsoring projects, Insurances, Pedagogic development, Itinerant instructors and masters, Support of local schools, Instructors support, To improve and support APPI service, website development...

- To APPI school managers: all schools registered on the website by APPI instructors are all APPI schools.
Using the term "APPI school" when recording the name of the school, can lead to confusion about the role of the school in the APPI system.
Under these conditions, it was decided by the APPI board to ban the use of the term "APPI school xxxx", and we ask those who use it to remove "APPI" in the name of their school as registered on the APPI website, and put in place the real name of their school.

- Due to excessive spam control, many messages sent by yahoo are lost. We recommend, if possible, to not use yahoo mail, but instead another mail server.

- Now the manager of an APPI school can pay the bill of any APPI member. Just click on the button: "Pay for member". Payment is permitted only if the school has sufficient credit or if an authorization has been given explicitly to the school. If necessary, the manager can buy a credit of 200 euros (or more if the operation is repeated).

3) Opportunities to Help

One of our instructors in Australia Brooke Whatnall is preparing documents for the D-bag (jump by helicopter with a wing).

He is trying to get D-Bagging approved and legal in Australia under CASA and the HGFA. With this we can move forward, grow acro, allow show runs out of helicopter drop, and write a training manual and syllabus for teaching pilots how to D-bag. Then pilots can get ticked off with an endorsement, thus legalising it in Australia.

One of our masters already works with him, but any document on this subject will be greatly appreciated, please send any document to APPI secretary.

4) PPG News

- APPI PPG Master Instructors Alex Ledger and Kester Haynes are currently in Kenya on the Flying for Heroes expedition. They have now completed more than 300k flying the afresh Breeze ParaTrikes and have another 700k left to go! Follow them online: www.flyingforheroes.org.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge is currently running an Instructor course in Cyprus. The next Instructor course takes place in Spain from 5-12 October. For further info email us.

5) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- APPI Workshop for Tandem pilots, Hangzhou, China, 30 August - 4 September 2014 by the school : The Hump Paragliding 駝峰航線飛行學校.
More infos here.

- SIV course at Oludeniz, Turkey, from 13 september to 20 september 2014 by the school ParsSky.
More infos here.

- Every weekend PPG flight programs at Black See shord Ağaçlı Village Istanbul, Turkey, until 26 October 2014 by Istanbul Paramotor & Paragliding.
More infos here.

- Paragliding courses from 6 September to 2 November 2014 at Sarajevo, Bjelasnica - Babin do, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Paragliding Academy Sarajevo.
More infos here.

- Adaptación de montaña para pilotos, at La Rioja, Argentina, from 9 september to 14 september 2014.
More infos here.

- Waterkloof AAD, at Air Force Base, Waterkloof, South Africa, 20 september 2014.
More infos here.

- 2º Encontro de Paramotor de Castro Verde at Castro Verde- Alentejo, Portugal, 4/5 october 2014.
More infos here.

- Airshow Aviacol San Gil 2014 at Aeropuerto Los Pozos San Gil Curití, Colombia, 11 - 13 october 2014.
More infos here.

- OKTOBERFLIEGEN (OPEN) Abertura da Temporada 2014/2015 at Igrejinha, Brazil, 11 October 2014.
More infos here.

- Himalayan Unclimbed peaks to raise money for Sherpa, Nepal, 12 October 2014.
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Petition against mandatory transponder for free-flyers in Austria!

Dear APPI pilots of the world.

We need your help!

For the first time, the civil aviation authority in a country intends to require the use of a transponder for paragliding and hang gliding.

The consequences would be disastrous for the activity, technical and financial constraints are extremely important.

The Austrian federation, the DHV and local pilots who defend the free flight need your support.

Please take a moment to sign this petition here.

2) APWT June 2014, Albania, with the participation of APPI

It was a successful Acrobatics Paragliding World Cup in Albania from 13 to 15 June 2014 with the participation of APPI. We had three runs. All competitors and judges were happy and next year we are going to collaborate again.

A big thank you to Mendo Veljanovski (master APPI) and Roland Dorozhani (APPI Instructor) for their help.

Link of the video from APWT Albania.

Note: APPI is recognized by Albanian Civil Aviation.

3) PPG News

- The Flying for Heroes team training course is now currently taking place with SkySchool in Spain. Having completed 4 weeks of intensive ParaTrike training they will embark on an epic flying expedition in Kenya at the end of August. Keep up with the Team's progress on Facebook.

- The APPI PPG Instructor course in Spain at the beginning June was a big success and we have now scheduled 2 instructor courses later this year, one in Cyprus in September and the other in Brazil in November.

- Look out for APPI PPG Master Instructors Kester Haynes and Dean Eldridge demonstrating their flying skills at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK from the 14th - 20th July!

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- SkySchool's 10th Anniversary, July 11 - July 13 at Aerodromo Ordis, Figueras, Spain.
More infos here.

- 1st International Paragliding Accuracy Championships - iPAC 2014, Philippines, 22 - 24 August 2014.
The Philippine Paragliding Association presents it’s first event featuring pilots from 8-10 countries in challenging accuracy landing competition located in the most majestic bay South of the Archipelago, Sarangani Bay. It’s objective is to attract a bigger following for air sports adventure and promote local tourism in the region.
More informations here.

- Fly the game, Courgnè, Italy, 13 July 2014.
Coloriamo il cielo con le nostre ali colorate,tra autostrade di cumuli e sorrisi mozzafiato!!!
More infos here.

- TROFEO "TRE PIZZI", 17 - 20 July 2014, Esanatoglia, Italy.
The Vestina Aeroclub - Volandia, in collaboration with Monte Gemmo Free-flight, is organizing the "TRE PIZZI" TROPHY, international paragliding competition, FAI 2 category. At the same time, a COMPETITION TRAINING COURSE will be scheduled, with ranks and final awards for all pilots in possession of standard documents according to current regulations, also without a FAI license.
More infos here.

- Balkan PGA tour 2014, 18 - 20 July 2014, Brasov, Romania.
We are pleased to invite all paraglider pilots wishing to take part in this event to register and to meet us in Brasov - Romania starting with the 18 - 20 July 2014. All pilots holding a FAI license are welcomed to take part in the FAI accuracy landing competition. An Open section will also be organized, in order to enable other paragliding licensed pilots that do not hold the FAI license, to attend this event, based on the available time slots left by the FAI competition.
More infos here.

- Austrian Open 2014, 1 August 2014, Schiessling, Austria.
International Austrian Championship in Hanggliding 2014, flight area Schiessling.
More infos here
Please use the online entry form.

- XMantiqueira 2014, 8 - 10 August 2014, Sao Lourenço, Brazil.
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Petition against mandatory transponder for free-flyers in Austria!

Dear APPI pilots of the world.

Things change in Europe!

Commercial aviation is requesting more controlled space, the development of drones generates ever increasing exclusion zones, our free flight space is restricted.

For the first time, the civil aviation authority in a country intends to require the use of a transponder for paragliding and hang gliding.

The consequences would be disastrous for the activity, technical and financial constraints are extremely important.

The Austrian federation, the DHV and local pilots who defend the free flight need your support.

Please take a moment to sign this petition:

Go http://justacro.com/news/140212/petition-against-mandatory-transponder-free-flyers-austria and http://www.dhv.de/web/newsdetails/article/petition-gegen-die-transponderpflicht-in-oesterreich/.

2) PPG News

- The next APPI PPG Instructor course in Spain kicks off on the 1st June and we have candidates from Mauritius, Sweden, Italy and Cyprus.

- Then the following APPI PPG Instructor course will take place in Cyprus from the 31st August until 7th September. This will be followed by a course in Mongolia in September and another one in Brazil in October.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge is now on his way back to the UK after an epic film trip, including a visit to the Fiji surf championships!

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Kester Haynes is off to the USA again for some more teaching on the SkyRunner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IupTQZa9mRY.

- Finally, the Flying for Heroes expedition might have to take place in another country now due to the recent terrorism issues in Kenya. We will know more in due course after the Ministry of Defense have made their final decision.

3) FLIGHT OF A HERO: A visually impaired (Blind) achieves Solo Flight

Divyanshu met Avi and Anita from temple pilots at their home a month back with a simple request – he wanted to fly. The only challenge was that he was blind.

Avi said ‘yes’ with all his heart. Now, the task of the mind began.

After 5 days of training, ground school, one on one intense session with Avi Malik (CFI Templepilots) & the team, many hours at the flying site – we have a hero.

Divyanshu completed his historic successful Solo flight yesterday.

It is no less a feat than the first climber on Mt. Everest. He is the first one to do this in India.

It is an achievement we are cherishing deep in our hearts. Never to forget…

He has made us all fly, very high.

Divyanshu Ganatra :
When you come to the edge of light, and are about to take off into the unknown: Trust and faith is knowing that Temple Pilots will give you something solid to stand on, and wings to fly! Thank you for helping break all stereotypes, limits and barriers and opening the loving blue skies to me forever. You guys make flying so easy and safe that anyone can do it with their eyes closed! We just proved it!

More photos here.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Urgent: Employment offer for certified tandem pilot in China, from June 1 to August 31, 2014, Near Chendu , province Sichuan.
Only certified pilots and instructors will be employed at this school offering flights for student passengers. This is a private site with exclusive tandem operations and teaching facilities.
More informations here and contact Mike: mike4g_air@yahoo.ca.

- Meet APPI Master Instructor Mendo Veljanovsky (10004) at APWC in Albania, from June 11 to June 14, 2014.
It will take place in Pogradec at the Ohrid lake with the involvement of APPI.

- Acrotermas - Parapente Free Style - Featuring Hernán Pitocco, from June 6 to June 8 at Las Termas de Rio Hondo, santiago del Estero, Argentina.
More infos here.

- Sakana Parapente eguna with BAIZA PARAPENTE ESKOLA, June 7 at Iturmendi, Spain.
More infos here.

- Video battle Paragliding, Mountain Bike, kayaking, longboarding, June 14 at Embrun, France.
More infos here

- 4 CAMPEONATO NACIONAL NOVATOS E INTERMEDIO 2014 by PARAPENTE Y PARAMOTOR COLOMBIA, June 15.
More infos here.

- Vidéo Vol de nuit au Lion de Waterloo, June 15 2014 at Waterloo, Belgium.
More infos here.

- III Encuentro de Amigos del Parapente y Paramotor, June 21 - June 22 at Vejer De La Frontera (Cádiz), Spain.
More infos here.

- Fly to Play/La Calera, June 27 - June 30 at Voladero los Trinos - La Calera, Columbia.
More infos here.

- Roma International Airshow 2014, June 28 at Lungomare Ostia, Roma, Italia.
More infos here.

- Aerothlon Santiago Nuevo León, June 28 at Santiago Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
More infos here.

- SkySchool's 10th Anniversary, July 11 - July 13 at Aerodromo Ordis, Figueras, Spain.
More infos here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) APPI Pedagogical Committee Forum

We've opened a forum accessible to all APPI registered members to connect them with the pedagogical committee on this dedicated page.

This committee is competent over related issues to the APPI education system.

For other questions, you should contact the APPI secretary.

2) PPG News

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge has been shooting a documentary from his Paramotor in the Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Alex Ledger officially launches Flying for Heroes this month at a Press Day in London.

- The next APPI PPG Instructor course in June in Spain is now fully booked.

For further information about the next instructor course contact: zebur@flyappi.org.

3) APPI Montenegro workshop report

Thanks to the kind organization from Dusan Stevovic from Adriafly club, APPI masters, instructors and pilots met in Herceg Novi, Montenegro from 7th to 13th of April for the APPI west Balkans pro-workshop.

APPI professionals and pilots from Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia y Herzegovina, Croatia and Albania took the 60 hours course delivered by Manu Bonte and Mathieu Abrard. A large range of subjects where covered in six validation units : equipment, flight mechanics, aerodynamics, piloting, performance flying, meteorology/aerology, pedagogy and APPI standards.

The civil aviation authority of Montenegro represented by Dragan Rašin gave a course about local airspace regulation and their evolution to come.

The participants appreciated the knowledge delivered by the masters, had contact with some members of the APPI pedagogical committee and shared their experiences.

Highlight of the week, the presence of Mendo Veljanovsky from Macedonia, well known as paragliding pioneer in the Balkans, still competing in the acro world cup and APPI master instructor.

The last day, all pilots spread out their wings and cooled down their boiling heads during a flying session covered by the local TV and written media.

On top of renewing APPI master's and instructor's knowledge, this workshop saw a few pilot get their level validated, and also the validation of a pro tandem and also assistant instructor from Bosnia y Herzegovina

More pictures from newspaper and adriafly.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Instructor validation from May 7, 2014 to May 9, 2014 at Sopot, Bulgaria.

- Assistant instructor course from May 10, 2014 to May 25, 2014 at Sopot, Bulgaria.

With expert collaboration of Mathieu Abrard and Sabrina Thielen - APPI Master instructors.

These courses are part of FLY MORE project, Project of Association Fly Independent & APPI.

For more informations, visit here.

- 40th Anniversary of the Green Dragons Hang gliding and Paragliding Team, May 24 - 26, 2014 in England.

- Vuelos en Parapente, Aladelta y Trike / La Rioja, Argentina, May 1 - 5, 2014.

- Tutti in Volo 2014, May 4 at Veneto, Italy.

- Balkan PGA tour 2014 May 23 - 25, 2014 at Brasov - Romania.

- Nilüfer Hava Sporları Festivali, May 30, 2014 at Fadıllı, Turkey.

- Employment offer by Oriental Paragliding 南洋飞行伞 in Shenzhen, next to Hong Kong, from April 10, 2014 to June 30, 2014 for 10 Tandem pilots with more than 3 years experience as professional pilot.

For more informations, send email to giant_xtr@yahoo.com.my.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Creation of APPI Pedagogical Committee

The role of this committee is to take decisions about education system, contents of courses, exams, educational manuals, the choice of APPI masters, to blacklist members, to manage the complaints not resolved by the secretary, and to propose modifications of the internal rules about pedagogic choices.

This committee is currently composed of the following APPI Master Instructors: David Arrufat (10002), Bruce Goldsmith (13011), Mathieu Abrard (10005), Sabrina Thielen (10064), Manu Bonte (10914), Jordi Marquillas (11469) and Zabdi Keen (10003).

2) PPG News

- APPI PPG Secretary Alex Ledger has been running an APPI PPG and ParaTrike Instructor course in Kuwait recently.

He is glad to announce that there are now six new qualified Instructors in Kuwait.

View photos of the course here.

- The next APPI PPG Instructor course takes place in Spain from the 1st - 8th June.

For all enquiries contact: secretary-ppg@flyappi.org.

- APPI ParaTrike is proud to be part of Flying for Heroes.

Team selection for the project starts next month in the UK, with team training scheduled for July in Spain, followed by the expedition in August.

For further information visit here.

3) WORKSHOPS APPI

- From 7th to 13th April 2014 in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, there will be an APPI workshop for instructors.

This workshop will include validation or upgrading of knowledge and skills for APPI paragliding instructors and validation of the theoretical part of the APPI instructor for experienced instructors wishing to validate their skills with APPI.

More information here and contact.

- From April 20th to May 30th at Sopot and Sofia, Bulgaria.

This workshop includes Training ’APPI Open Sky Tandem’, Validation ’APPI tandem’, Training ’Assistant instructor’ and Training ’Tandem handicapped’.

More information here or on www.sky-camp.com.

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Employment offer by Oriental Paragliding 南洋飞行伞 in Shenzhen, next to Hong Kong, from April 10th, 2014 to June 30th, 2014 for 10 Tandem pilots with more than 3 years experience as professional pilot.

For more informations, send email to giant_xtr@yahoo.com.my.

- Paragliding Training on the Isle of Arran by Flying Fever Paragliding School at Scotland from April 8th, 2014 to April 17th, 2014.

For more informations, visit here.

- Beginner and Pilot APPI course at Motril, Spain, by Flying Fever Paragliding School from April 19th, 2014 to April 26th, 2014 with APPI and BHPA instructors.

For more informations, visit here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) WORKSHOP APPI instructor west BALKANS

From 7th to 13th April 2014 in Herceg Novi, Montenegro there will be an APPI workshop for instructors.

The workshop will include:

- Validation or upgrading of knowledge and skills for APPI paragliding instructors.

- Validation of the theoretical part of the APPI instructor for experienced instructors wishing to validate their skills with APPI.

The workshop will be given in English.

More information here and contact.

2) PPG News

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Alex Ledger has been working on a film project with SEAT and the Daily Telegraph. The results of which can be seen here.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge is currently in Kenya where he is filming for the Discovery Channel. Earlier this month he starred in the PPG film 'We are the Rovers', the trailer for which can be seen here.

- APPI PPG Master Instructor Kester Haynes has recently returned from Ecuador where he has been putting the Parajet Zenith through it's paces, as seen in the picture!

- Flying for Heroes has now placed an order for 3 Xcitor Trikes from Fresh Breeze. The dates for training are now set from the 29nd June to 27th July in Spain and the expedition in Kenya from 17th August to 7th September. For the latest updates follow Flying for Heroes on facebook.

- Finally, Alex is off to Kuwait in March to run an APPI PPG Instructor course. After that the next APPI PPG Instructor course is set for the 1st - 8th June in Spain and there are still some slots available. For all enquiries contact PPG secretary.

3) New exam questions available

New exam questions for levels "Open sky pilot", "pilot Adventure" and "Open sky tandem pilot" in addition to existing levels "APPI pilot", "Advanced Pilot" and "Tandem pilot".

The APPI affiliates can practice the theoretical knowledge examinations on the exam page of the website, in English only.

We plan to translate into other languages soon.

Coming soon..."Assistant Instructor" and "Instructor".

4) Some upcoming Paragliding events and courses

- Tandem Pilot course with disable passengers qualification from April 21, 2014 to April 23, 2014 at Sopot, Bulgaria by Sky Camp Paragliding School.
The course is part of FLY MORE Project of Association Fly Independent & APPI.
More info here.
- Tandem Pilot course from April 19, 2014 to April 27, 2014 at Sopot and Plovdiv, Bulgariaby Sky Camp Paragliding School.
The course is part of FLY MORE Project of Association Fly Independent & APPI.
More info here.

- Beginner to advanced APPI Paragliding training course on the Isle of Arran by Flying Fever Paragliding School, from April 8, 2014 to April 17, 2014 in Scotland.
More info here.
- One week Spanish Course, beginner and pilot APPI Course with APPI and BHPA instructors by Flying Fever Paragliding School from April 19, 2014 to April 26, 2014 at Motril - 1 hour from Malaga, Spain.
More info here.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) Launching of APPI ParaTrike

APPI has recently launched APPI ParaTrike, which is similar to APPI PPG but designed for those who wish to progress directly onto flying ParaTrikes. The First APPI ParaTrike Master Instructors are Alex Ledger, Antonio Castro and Kester Haynes.

For further information visit: www.appiparatrike.org.

2) 'Fly more' in Bulgaria project continues!

From April 20 to May 30 at Sopot and Sofia, Bulgaria:

• - Training 'APPI Open Sky Tandem'
• - Validation 'APPI tandem'
• - Training 'Assistant instructor'
• - Training 'Tandem handicapped'

The general target of the project is to develop and promote paragliding in Bulgaria. We plan to organize courses for all levels of pilots. Specifically for professionals we will create a technical center for equipment annual checking and repairing, open a web portal about paragliding in Bulgaria, and create 2 meteorologic stations.

APPI is involved with the project as an expert consultant. We follow the project, organize the formations for the professionnal pilots in Bulgaria and give advice regarding the test center and meteorologic station.

More information here or on www.sky-camp.com.

3) PPG News

APPI PPG Instructor and APPI ParaTrike Master Instructor Antonio Castro will be exhibiting at Las Candelas, Spain on the 1st & 2nd of February promoting both APPI PPG and APPI ParaTrike: www.lascandelasparamotores.com

APPI PPG Master Instructor Dean Eldridge is about to depart on another filming adventure for the Discovery Channel. Meanwhile APPI PPG Master Instructor Alex Ledger is currently in Spain on a film shoot for the SEAT sponsored Daily Telegraph 'One Man One Car' Adventure Challenge.

See here for more information.

4) World tandem speed record

Well done Guys!

A new Tandem World record in Kenya set by Hunter Marrian who got his APPI Tandem rating just in time for his record attempt.

He sent a nice note to us after the flight and said; "I just wanted to let you know that I broke the tandem 100km out and return world record. It wasn't as fast as we could have got as the wind was howling and slowed us down a bit, but we got it by 7 mins."

Well done Guys!

See on www.facebook.com/wrproject

5) Advice on how to receive your APPI membership card quickly

To receive your APPI membership card you need :

• - To order and pay 7 Euros fee for the card (included with the 32 Euros of membership for the new members).
• - To have uploaded your ID photo, in good quality with only head and shoulders. Sunglasses, photo-gray lenses, hats and helmet are unacceptable.
• - To have confirmed your APPI account (during the first visit on the APPI website).
• - To Have a valid birthdate.
• - To have a valid postal address (preferably in chinese for chinese members and in Persan for Iranian members).
• - To have at least one qualification validated (qualifications in progress are not considered).

  If APPI sent to you previously a card, or if you have an APPI account for many activities (Paragliding, Paramotor or Paratrike), you need to confirm the sending of the card by pressing on the button 'Send now a free new certification card for ...'.

  Beware: to get a card for Paragliding order or confirm the card on www.flyappi.org, to get a card for Paramotor order or confirm the card on www.appipower.org and to get a card for Paratrike order or confirm the card on www.appiparatrike.org.

  The card will be sent in maximum 45 days. If you don't receive the card after this delay, please contact the secretary.

  The card has a permanent validity, so you need to order a new card only if you loose it, or if you get a new APPI certification or specialty.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org, www.appipower.org or www.appiparatrike.org

1) 2013 was a great year for APPI

APPI team wishes a Happy New Year 2014 to all APPI members.

We would like to thank all of our members and instructors for their support. Each of you help facilitate more people in the world to practice paragliding and paramotoring in the safest way possible.

APPI has grown considerably in 2013, we now recognize 257 instructors for paragliding and 55 instructors for paramotor in 133 schools reaching 89 different countries.

We started the workshop for the confirmation of APPI instructors and instructors SIV, and we will further develop these workshops in the world for 2014.

APPI will soon be launching a new APPI ParaTrike website to work alongside APPI and APPI PPG.

2) Your feedback is valuable

To meet the needs of our members and to improve the process as much as possible, we invite all APPI instructors to give their opinion on the 'APPI education system', as well as improvements to the website.

Feel free to send your comments to the APPI secretary

3) PPG News

APPI PPG Master Instructor Kester Haynes has recently been in Oman running some Paramotor Courses for the Omani Police.

APPI PPG Master Instructor Alex Ledger has been given funding by the UK Charity 'Help for Heroes' to teach wounded soldiers how to fly Paramotors and ParaTrikes before embarking on an expedition in September 2014.

4) Summary of the workshop in Latin America

From 9 to December 15^th 2013 was held the APPI Latino workshop, in partnership with the AEP (Ecuadorian Association of Paragliding) and Ecuadorian civil aviation.

Twelve participants mainly professionals native to Equator, Venezuela, Colombia and Scotland have seriously deepen their knowledge in various subjects such as materials and equipment, aerodynamics, flight, weather, pedagogy ...These courses were supplemented by situational training and SIV which helped refine the techniques of teaching and guiding. Finally, a visit to the instructors on their workplace has concluded the workshop .

The training was conducted in Spanish by two APPI Master Instructors from Europe: Jordi Marquillas SIV specialist and pilot for the standard EN and Manu Bonte Engineer of the paragliding company Nervures. Weather part was provided by Mr. Osvaldo Flores engineer meteorologist of the Ecuadorian civil aviation.

Upon completion of seventy hours of theoretical and practical courses, highly motivated participants showed strong knowledge. It has been possible to validate a new master instructor, two instructors, an assistant instructor and two tandem pilots in APPI. Were also confirmed a master SIV and a SIV instructor.

Thus thank you to all participants for their enthusiasm and serious, to AEP for the organization and to Ecuadorian Civil Aviation for its collaboration.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org or www.appipower.org

1) Clarification

APPI certification awarded to a pilot is internal to the APPI system, and shows no particular right in the country where the activity is done, unless APPI is recognized by the legal authority managing free flight in that country. Check with the local federation if such an agreement exists.

In some countries, APPI is recognized as the official education system.

Your paragliding activity (solo, tandem, instruction) must comply with the laws of the country in which it is performed.

APPI strongly recommends its members to be insured to paraglide, and in case of an accident, APPI does not accept any liability.
All EU Schools and EU tandem pilots must hold Third Party Liability Insurance.

2) APPI Paragliding workshop in Latin America

December 9th-21st, 2013, at Ibarra, Ecuador.

The First APPI PRO LATINO Workshop.

The workshop will be given in Spanish.

Del 9 al 21 de diciembre 2013 en Ibarra, Ecuador, se desarrollara el primer workshop APPI PRO LATINO. El workshop se dara en espanol.

This workshop has several courses:

• For pilots:
  • - SIV course,
  • - Basic and Advanced SIV validation,
  • - Acro Pilot validation.
• For instructors:
  • - theoretical and practical validation,
  • - instructor SIV validation.

More information here.

3) PPG News

This month APPI PPG are off to Dubai to help set up and manage a new Paramotor Centre. They will be working with Skydive Dubai, the world's leading Skydiving centre, and plan to run the Paramotor Centre in a similar way. For more information visit [www.skydivedubai.ae->http://www.skydivedubai.ae].

Skydive Dubai have also just signed a deal with Parabatix, the Paramotor Sky racing organisation, and they will be competing at this years International Parachuting Competition in Dubai this December. For further information visit [www.parabatix.com->http://www.parabatix.com/].

4) Become Group Leader, Fly Guide, or Sky Guide

A GROUP LEADER is an APPI certified Pilot on tour, in a new site in communication with the local APPI Instructor. This pilot is not authorized to use radio as a guide or during the course (Radio only for information and Safety).
If guiding is necessary or the pilot level is insufficient the Tour leader will organize an instructor to join the tour.
To become group leader, you need to be an APPI Tandem Pilot.

A FLY GUIDE is authorized to guide any level pilot on site, on tour, and on visual XC flight.
To become Fly guide, you need to be an APPI Instructor with one year active experience.

A SKY GUIDE is the highest instructor level. This professional can guide any level of Pilot on XC flight, Bivouac flight, and in remote areas.
To become Sky guide, you need to be an APPI Instructor with two active years experience and have the certification of XC instructor. In addition you must have completed a minimum of 2 full years flying experience in the area of guiding and flying.
He/she is responsible for one or more Geographical areas and can register and manage these areas (Atlas zone) online.

5) Don't forget to register accidents online

Any APPI member can register any Paragliding or Paramotor accident. Instructors are required to report accidents.

Many Tandem Pilots hide accidents for commercial reasons.

It is important to do so for statistical reasons that allow APPI to improve these rules and for insurance companies who use it to be able to offer better conditions for their members.

Sincerely,
your APPI team.
www.flyappi.org or www.appipower.org