XC Training

Is flying XC your ultimate purpose? Do you already have a good control over thermal flying and do you have your XC license? Do you want to push the needle and want to fly further, not just longer? The purpose of this week is simple: learning how to fly better XC, improve yourself and fly further than ever before. During this week we will bring you to the region with the best XC forecast at the given moment. Empowering you to improve your experience, knowledge and self-confidence as XC-pilot.

Each day starts with a weather forecast, a task, a site briefing, transportation between take-off and landing, and retrieve. Flying together with multiple pilots and expanding your own horizons. It is a training to achieve your own XC objectives. You’ll receive tips and tricks on how to fly better XC. You’ll learn: Where can I find the next thermal? What is the thermal potential during the day? What is the best route? When do you need to accelerate and when do you need to wait? You’ll receive regular updates during the flight on the flying conditions and ‘if possible’ get guidance on finding the best thermals. Before and after flying we will compare tracks and indicate what you could have done better. Where you could have optimized your flight and where the better route would have been.

Before you join the XC training it is highly recommended to join the thermal training first. Setting out challenging XC goals and taking off with high hopes will lead to a lot of frustration if you end up on the landing shortly after. If you are not yet confident you can reach the clouds 90% of the time, it is better to first follow the thermal training. As this is where we will aim to improve your skills to get to cloudbase consistently. In this training we will help you leverage all that gained height, and translate it into distance.

Included

• 6 days XC flying and coaching.
• Daily meteo briefing, a task description and a site briefing.
• Transport between takeoff and landing, and retrieve.
• De-briefing and analysis of the flight.
• Theory lessons on weather forecasting, XC flying, material.

• Theory lessons on XC flying.
• XC flying in practice.
• Predicting the weather and of a “good XC day”.
• Reading the weather situation.
• Making decisions, what line do you choose, where do you look for the following thermals.
• Optimizing the instruments.
• Through briefing and de-briefing we go over how there was flying, we compare tracks and see what was good and what could be better.
• During the flight you will receive regular updates on the conditions in the air, as far as possible you can expect additional hints and tips to optimize your flight.

For whom?

• Pilots aiming to fly distances of 40 – 50km.
• Certification XC Pilot and IPPI-5 card (this is a required participation condition).
• Being a member of Club Airsport.
• Being a member and a full BVVF insurance.
• Travel assistance insurance.
• Have your own paragliding material, including a GPS.

Where?

Where it’s good at the time. We draw an imaginary circle of 1200 km around Mechelen and find the best place for XC flights and that’s where we go. If the weather changes, and there is a better place in a row distance, then we move to another location.

Insurances

Paragliding Insurance

Mandatory. Everyone participating in any Airsport training activity must be insured through the paragliding insurance of the Belgian Free Flight Federation (BVVF). Please note: insurance from a foreign free-flight federation is not sufficient to participate in Airsport training activities.

Travel Assistance Insurance

Highly Recommended. This insurance covers you in case you need medical assistance and/or repatriation. Medical assistance is not included in the BVVF paragliding insurance. A travel assistance insurance with Europ-Assistance starts at €18.

Cancellation Insurance

Highly Recommended. This insurance reimburses your registration fee if you have to cancel due to medical or other serious reasons. The best option can be found with Europ-Assistance and it starts at €15.