What we are, what we do, and how to join us. 

Our purpose

The Hong Kong Paragliding Association (HKPA) is the  governing body of all paragliding activities in Hong Kong, licenced to undertake paragliding activities at selected sites and responsible towards government, police civil aviation department and site owners for regulating paragliding activities. 
     Anyone undertaking paragliding activities within the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is required to possess a HKPA pilot license or an overseas pilot license that the HKPA can recognize.  Residents of Hong Kong who habitually fly in Hong Kong must belong to the HKPA.    Visitors from foreign locations are required to contact an HKPA official   before undertaking any paragliding activity. Especially important -it's a legal requirement- is that visiting pilots possess 3rd party insurance coverage valid in Hong Kong.  HKPA can arrange temporary insurance coverage for visiting pilots who require. 

Perhaps one of the most special traits of the HKPA is that we exist at all.   We treasure our relationship with government bodies who allow us to fly in crowded Hong Kong.   Flying in Hong Kong involves paying more attention to the rules and regulations than in most other places in the world.    Visiting pilots must contact the HKPA before take off.    HKPA pilots need scrupulously abide by the rules of the association. 

How to get started

A paraglider is an aircraft.   One cannot improvise.   Paragliding, unlike say bungee jumping, requires certaint skills which need to be thought by skilled instructors. 
Furthermore, paragliding is an activity which it is difficult to undertake casually.  It requires time commitment, and thus can have a profound impact on time allocation and therefore lifestyle.   Many pilots suffer from AIDS (aviation induced divorce syndrom).   Paragliding creeps up on an individual same as a heroin habit.  Really want to do this?

There are presently no active instructors in Hong Kong.  It has tempted some people over the years to attempt to start up instruction activities in Hong Kong.   But the hurdles have been overwhelming: there are no suitable training hills, and pretty much no student wants to attend paragliding lessons during the week.   Serious instructors obviously cannot make a living by working only on weekends. 

We can recommend instructors and schools in various other places: India, Bali, Australia, North America, Taiwan, etc. 

Generally, the quality of instruction ranges from good to excellent in rich countries (Japan, USA, Europea, Australia, etc.)   In Asia, we most often recommend Exofly in Bali, Nirvana Adventures in Mumbai, and Les Sharp in Taiwan.   Refer to our Links section to see these people's websites. 

Joining the HKPA

Experienced pilots can get applications forms to join the HKPA from ??  ( no one in charge presently - January 03 ).  The stick is that you need to be a  member of HKPA to be legally entitled to fly in Hong Kong.   The carrot is that the annual fee is worth paying, and there are no daily use fees at any of the sites.