British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you're planning to visit a country in the European Union (EU), your existing European Health Insurance Card can still be used to gain access to state healthcare up to its expiry date. If your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has expired, or you don't have an EHIC, you will need to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

Using your EHIC or GHIC

An EHIC or GHIC covers state healthcare, not private treatment. With an EHIC or GHIC you can get emergency or necessary medical care for the same cost as a resident in the country you're visiting. This means that you can get healthcare at a reduced cost or for free. Further information about what your card covers in each EU country is available on the European Union website.

An EHIC or GHIC is not however a replacement for travel insurance, and will not cover everything. For example it will not cover mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation). You should therefore make sure you also have suitable travel insurance, and that it includes health cover for the activities you are planning to undertake.

IPPI Card

The International Pilot Proficiency Information Card provides a standard reference by which all national rating programs may be compared. When you travel abroad this card, together with your BHPA membership/rating card, gives flying site managers, instructors and others responsible for hang gliding and/or paragliding flight operations an easy way of verifying your pilot experience level prior to approval of flight activities.

The IPPI system works by converting your BHPA pilot rating into the equivalent Safe Pro Para and/or Safe Pro Delta rating (hang gliding).

The tables below set out the Safe Pro Para and/or Safe Pro Delta stage that will be shown on your IPPI card.

Safe Pro Delta Stage 5 *: To obtain a hang gliding IPPI 5 rating with only a Pilot rating, applicants must submit a statement from a Club Chairman/Club Chief Coach/CFI confirming that they have checked the pilot's logbooks and are satisfied that he or she has a total of at least 50 flying hours on hang gliders and has completed at least 5 cross-country flights in various types of lift (flights conducted solely in ridge lift or along the same ridge do not count).

Safe Pro Para Stage 5 **: To obtain a paragliding IPPI 5 rating with only a Pilot rating, applicants must submit a statement from a Club Chairman/Club Chief Coach/CFI confirming that they have checked the pilot's logbooks and are satisfied that he or she has a total of at least 50 flying hours on paragliders and has completed at least 5 cross-country flights in various types of lift (flights conducted solely in ridge lift or along the same ridge do not count).

Obtaining an IPPI Card

Please download an IPPI Application Form and return the completed form to the BHPA office. The current fee for issuing an IPPI card is £20.

Please note: The IPPI scheme only applies to hill pilots. IPPI cards cannot be issued to tow pilots unless they hold the appropriate "hill" endorsement.

Additional information for pilots flying in Europe:

Usefull Links

• France
• Germany
• Spain

Flying in the Italian Dolomites

In the last few years there have been serious problems in the Italian Dolomites, particularly the Canazei-Col Rodella-Pordoi-Marmolada area. The FIVL have therefore put the following rules in place to improve the situation:

• Please install the "112 Where ARE U" app on your phone. This free app is available for Android and iOS phones.
• If you have an accident, call the 112 phone number (the app does that for you and provides your exact position to the emergency team), then activate a red smoke bomb if you need to be rescued. Smoke bombs can be purchased in Canazei at the "Sport amplatz" shop
• PMR radios should be tuned to channel 8 subchannel 16 (446,09375 MHz and subtone 114,8 Hz). This is the channel conventionally used for safety in the mountains. It cannot be used to call for rescue, but keep listening for any contact.
• If a red or yellow rescue helicopter appears, free fliers must clear the area for a radius of 2km or land immediately
• If a rescue helicopter appears, pilots have a responsibility to advise others in the air by radio
• If the radio message is not heard or understood, pilots have a responsibility to advise others in the air by pulling big ears
• Pilots who do not need assistance must fold their wing or let off a green smoke bomb

Pilots should note that a hovering helicopter may not have reached its target; it may be waiting for pilots to clear the area. Flying in the Dolomites is under serious threat if these rules are not adhered to. Any damage or danger to rescue helicopters caused by free fliers will see the Dolomites area closed to us. The BHPA fully supports the FIVL and hopes that pilots will co-operate so that the sites can be preserved for all.

Advanced Courses

Pilots attending courses for post CP training (eg. XC courses and SIV training) should satisfy themselves as to the quality of instruction on offer. There are no BHPA instructor qualifications or training syllabi for these activities. For further information please download our leaflets on SIV courses and Training for qualified pilots.

A number of companies offering overseas Holidays and Guiding and Advanced Cources are listed in our links directory.

Last updated: 04 March 2022