Everything About Paragliding Insurance and the FFVL License

Paragliding is a truly one of a kind experience. Who hasn't dreamed of taking a first paragliding flight and flying like a bird through the sky with no engine at all? But being airborne and moving in three dimensions through the sky requires precautions to safely coexist with other civil and military aircraft, and calls for a certain level of insurance coverage in case something goes wrong.

What license do you need to fly a paraglider?

Paragliders and hang gliders are considered by civil aviation authorities as ULGs (ultra light gliders). As such, the DGAC (French civil aviation authority) requires no mandatory diploma or training to fly under a paraglider wing or hang glider, even though initial training is essential to safely discover the activity and avoid getting hurt on your first flight. The FFVL actually provides a very useful document to properly understand air regulations here >>But while the DGAC keeps things flexible on pilot training, it does require mandatory Aviation Third Party Liability insurance.

RCA: Aviation Third Party Liability insurance:

This paragliding insurance is simply meant to cover any damage a paraglider or hang glider pilot might cause to others, whether to people or property. This RCA coverage is therefore different from standard personal liability insurance. A specific policy dedicated to free flying is required.

IA: individual accident insurance:

In addition to this RCA coverage, you can opt for supplementary individual accident insurance, which covers bodily injury suffered by the paraglider pilot in the event of an accident. This specific insurance will ensure optimal coverage and good support in case of a claim.

Liability coverage included in mortgage borrower insurance.

Some standard mortgage insurance policies can cover the pilot to varying degrees in case of an accident. It's therefore important to carefully check the level of coverage of your standard liability insurance, to check for any exclusion clauses relating to paragliding.

The FFVL license:

The Fédération Française de Vol Libre (French Free Flying Federation) offers a complete paragliding license for paragliding and hang gliding pilots. This license includes not only very good liability insurance for practitioners (including RCA coverage) but also very good insurance for outdoor sports.Getting your FFVL license also means supporting the federation, which manages free flying sites across France and helps develop the activity under the best possible conditions.More information on the FFVL license >>

The FFCAM license:

The other license that includes quality RCA coverage is the FFCAM license (Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne, the French federation of alpine and mountain clubs). This federation is more focused on the mountains. It doesn't operate free flying sites, but it does play a major role in mountain refuges and the practice of mountaineering and climbing, and it offers RCA coverage for paragliding pilots and hike and fly enthusiasts.

The Europe and worldwide repatriation option

Medical repatriation can represent a considerable cost, potentially reaching tens of thousands of euros. Suitable coverage with good repatriation assistance is essential to fly abroad with peace of mind.The standard repatriation coverage only covers the European Union and the Maghreb, for stays of up to 90 days. For flights outside these zones, an additional worldwide extension becomes essential.

The 9-day course license: a specific, budget-friendly option for a first initiation course

The FFVL offers a specific license for people taking their first initiation course. Lasting 9 days, this insurance costs 35€ and can be extended into an annual first time license to keep flying after the course ends.

How do you take out an FFVL license?

Taking out an FFVL license is quick and done online on the official website federation.ffvl.fr. Go to the "Get your license" section and follow the steps in the online form.To validate your application, have your medical certificate ready, confirming there's no contraindication to paragliding. Documents can be uploaded directly to your personal account.Once payment is confirmed by card, your license becomes active within 48 hours at most. A confirmation email will be sent to you with your insurance certificate and FFVL membership card.The application can also be made through an affiliated club or a certified school, which will guide you through the administrative steps and help you choose your paragliding insurance.