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FlyBC Airsports Paragliding is a BC based company. Our mission is "to promote safe Paragliding and Ultralight Flying."
After 25 years of spending tons of money on Cessnas, Aviation Fuel and operating within over-regulated air traffic control system guidelines, I discovered Paragliding after my lovely wife, Colleen , introduced me to Paragliding several years ago. I was quite unsatisfied with the lack of structured, safe paragliding training alternatives in the Fraser Valley and started FlyBC Airsports - Jim Reich, Senior Instructor.
Looking for a Paragliding Instructor?
When you are trying to locate a Paragliding School ask a few questions like . . .
Where are your facilities?
Most instructors operate out of the back of a truck and don't actually have any facilities for ground school or reserve training or even a guaranteed landing field! FlyBC maintains a full training park with Classrooms, dedicated 25 acre landing field and 2 shuttle vehicles that are free for students and customers.
What is your experience level?
FlyBC trains most of the local instructors through our Senior Instructor status and have trained pilots for over 10 years. We have also flown conventional aircraft for over 30 years and know and teach Transport Canada regulations. FlyBC is now certified as Advanced USHGA Instructors and USHGA Tandem Administrators, and HPAC Senior Instructor and Tandem II Senior Instructors to serve you better.
How many students have you actually signed off to Novice level?
FlyBC signs off 20 students per season, where other schools may train 2-3 pilots to Novice Level, many schools are more interested in single day courses or tandems. FlyBC is here to train committed pilots!.
What's new in 2008?
Colleen and I have developed a 25 acre Flight Park for the exclusive use of our students and customers. Located at the foot of Mount Woodside, Eagle Ranch is marked by the red borders in the photo below.
Eagle Ranch offers a large unobstructed landing area, safe for students, within an easy glide of the launch area (3.8 to 1 glide).
We have developing a training hill and introducing our new tow launching system which will increase the number of flyable days for our students.
We have also added training facilities and a pro shop for equipment displays.
Our second floor shop area has been renovated to provide space for reserve clinics and social functions.
This investment demonstrates FlyBC's commitment to the sport of Paragliding and to providing the finest facilities and safest training experiences for new pilots.
Eagle Ranch also allows FlyBC to add value for our regular customers' flying activities in the Fraser Valley.
Find out more about the Buzz about Eagle Ranch here!
History of Paragliding
The sport of Paragliding is only 20 years old.
This year round activity lets the pilot fly for a low cost per hour, while enjoying some of the best scenery in BC. Paragliding is a great sport for couples to enjoy together. If you love being outdoors and enjoy hiking, climbing and camping, paragliding adds another dimension to those activities.
Modern Paragliders have been flown as far as 330 km in a single flight in Australia. Flights in Canada have been over 245 km in the Golden area (new 2000 record by Chris Muller on an APCO Bagheera ). Click on the link to Cross Country Flights on the left, for a flight report of a cross country flight in Pemberton in 1997 and other flights in the Fraser Valley.
FlyBC employs a number of experienced Senior HPAC/USHPA instructors, who can start your instruction with a Tandem Flight (with a Tandem II pilot), leading up to a structured flight curriculum required to obtain the HPAC Novice Sign-Off. Our primary Spring training site is located in Agassiz, BC, 90 km east of Vancouver on Hwy #7. There are great camping facilities at the Kilby Provincial Campground on the east end of Harrison Mills, as well as a Bed & Breakfast Inn in Kilby for those who don't like to camp.
In terms of overall accident statistics, Paragliding has a lower rate per hour than General Aviation in Canada. In spite of these statistics, it is imperative that the Paraglider Pilot train in a structured course designed to teach the important skills required to be in command of a paraglider.
FlyBC has experience with certifying paraplegic pilots, see this link for Lars Taylor's story. Lars wins the FlyBC Rookie of the Year award for 1999.
HPAC is the Hanggliding and Paragliding Association of Canada . To join the HPAC there is an application form attached for mail in to the association. Story about the HPAC 1999 Instructor Certification Course in Cochrane and what a Certified Instructor must know to instruct Paragliding within the Association guidelines.
Grouse Mountain is a privately owned ski-resort in the heart of North Vancouver, BC. Twenty years ago, Grouse Mountain allowed hanggliding and paragliding to operate on the mountain, with the landing zone (LZ) being Cleveland Park on Capilano Road. Grouse Mountain Flying Team (GMFT) is the controlling body for free-flight on the mountain.
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FlyBC Paragliding
Box 79, Harrison Mills, BC
Canada
V0M 1L0
Tel: 604-618-5467
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