About the UK Paragliding Accuracy Squad:
The UK Paragliding Accuracy Squad is a group of registered BHPA paragliding accuracy pilots from which the team to represent the United Kingdom at FAI Cat 1 competitions is selected. FAI Cat 1 paragliding accuracy competitions include European and World Championships that have stipulations on team sizes and gender mix. Pilots will need to have a BHPA Pilot rating or an IPPI4 rating to be in the UK Team, and may also need to have a top 500 placing in the WPRS to be eligible for selection.
Pilots of all abilities and ages are welcome to join the squad, that is aimed at improving pilot’s accuracy skills through coaching and general flying. The Squad is managed by the Squad Manager William Lawrence who organises training camp weekends at different sites. A selection competition will be held during the weekends which contribute to the UK Team selection process. Judges are also very important to the training camps and very much welcome to judge at the selection competitions and pass on their knowledge of the rules to pilots.
Below are the training camp dates for the start of 2024:
20-21st January (27-28th January back-up) – Hill
10-11th February (17-18th February back-up) – Tow South Cerney, combined with parascending squad
16-17th March (23-24th March back-up) – Hill
13-14th April (20-21st April back-up) – Tow South Cerney, combined with parascending squad
11-12th May (18-19th May back-up) – Hill
8-9th June (15-16th June back-up) – Tow South Cerney, combined with parascending squad
If you would like to register with the squad there is a registration form to complete.
2024-Paragliding-Accuracy-Squad-Registration-Form
UK Team Selection:
A 12 month performance based selection criteria is used to select the UK Team for Cat 1 competitions using competition and training camp results. The 2024 selection criteria is available here.
2024 Paragliding Accuracy Selection Criteria rev 2
The 12 month selection process for the UK Team to compete at the 2024 European Championships in Albania began on 16/06/2023, and the latest selection league is below.
It is a squad pilot’s responsibility to advise the squad manager of any Cat2 competition results they want adding to the selection league from competitions they have attended. A Cat 2 Competition Notification form is available for this purpose.
CAT 2 Competition Notification
There is a Squad Code of Conduct and BHPA Safeguarding documents that Squad Pilots should follow.
BHPA Safeguarding Code of Conduct index.php (bhpa.co.uk)
BHPA Safeguarding Policy index.php (bhpa.co.uk)
FAI Equipment Rules:
Certified harnesses, helmets and gliders are mandatory in both FAI Cat 1 and 2 events as of 1st May 2019, so make sure you have the correct equipment. All your equipment needs to comply with section 8 Equipment Airworthiness and Safety Standards in the Section 7C rules and is summarized below:
Equipment should be to the following standards:
– Harness – All pilots must fly with a harness and back protector combination in the configuration that has been tested to LTF09 or EN1651 2018.
– Helmet – All pilots must wear a helmet, certified to either EN966 (HPG), EN1077-A and –B (Snow Sports), ASTM 2040 (Snow Sports) or Snell RS-98.
– Gliders shall be EN certified with proof that of airworthiness (serviced) in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations (normally a two yearly service).
– Reserve parachute – Pilots shall make sure that they are within the maximum certified weight of their reserve parachute.
Rubber points added to footware should be as follows:-
Shall be of rubber having a maximum Shore hardness of 70.
– Minimum width or diameter shall be 15mm.
– Maximum height is 8mm
– Edges shall have a minimum radius of 2mm
A copy of the Section 7C rules are available on the Judges page of this website.