About SkySchool

We've been teaching people how to fly since 2002 and know first hand just how much these sports can have a positive impact on people's lives. Our goal is to continue to teach more and more people how to fly safely, while providing the best Equipment for each individual, as well as amazing flying experiences around the world. The SkySchool Team consists of some of the most experienced instructors in the world, all of whom are passionate about flying. To discover more see below.

MEET THE TEAM

Managing Director and master instructor

Alex Ledger

Alex is a highly experienced Paramotor Instructor and also the Secretary of APPI Power, the International Paramotoring and ParaTriking Association, which he founded in 2011. He learnt to Skydive in 2003 and then how to Paraglide and Paramotor in 2005. In the same year he started running SkySchool and was the CFI until 2017. He no longer works as an Instructor but continues to manage the company, while helping to run the European SkyWeek Trips.

Over the years he has been involved in several pioneering projects, namely Flying for Heroes in 2014, Paramotoring from John O'Groats to Lands End in 2016, the BBC documentary Extreme Wales with Richard Parks in 2017 and the World's First Electric Paramotor Expedition in NEOM in 2021.

Alex lives in Chamonix, France where he pursues his passion for Acro Paragliding, Snowboarding and Trail Running. In 2020 he made this film about his Top Five Flying Trips to celebrate 15 years of managing SkySchool. Bring on the next 15 years...

Tel: +44(0)7747 097527

Email: info@skyschooluk.com

Master Instructor

Zebur Mercan

Zebur has been flying since 1999 and is a highly experienced pilot. Originally from Turkey, Zebur moved to Scotland in 2001. He met Alex during an APPI PPG Instructor Workshop in the UK in 2013 and joined SkySchool in the same year. He is a fully qualified APPI PPG & ParaTrike Master Instructor.

Zebur is also a passionate Kitesurfer and travels around the world either flying or kiting when not working for SkySchool.

Tel: +44(0)7932 277332

Email: zebur.mercan@gmail.com

Master Instructor

Ricardo Maciel

Ricardo learnt to Paraglide in Brazil in 1997 and how to Paramotor in California in 2002. He met Alex during an APPI PPG Instructor Workshop in Brazil in 2014 and joined SkySchool in 2018. He is fully qualified APPI PPG & ParaTrike Master Instructor.

Ricardo is also one of the highest qualified Mechanic's outside of the Vittorazi factory, which allows him to service their engines and run Paramotor Maintenance Courses during the winter. He also used to compete around the world as a member of the Brazilian Paramotor team.

Tel: +44(0)7862 441924‬

Email: ricardo@skyopsx.com

Operations Manager and Instructor

Dan Kaye

Dan learnt to fly in 2018 and immediately became part of the SkySchool Team. He worked as a full time Assistant Instructor at SkySchool up until 2020 and is now a part time Instructor and the Operations Manager.

When not involved with SkySchool he specialises in property and is based near Stratford-upon-Avon. He is also a very competent open water swimmer who loves his paragliding and his Belgian Malinois dogs.

Tel:‭ +44(0)7568 135820‬

Email: dan@skyopsx.com

Assistant Instructor

Rob Furnival

Rob learnt to Paraglide in Chamonix, France in 2002 and sat a Paramotoring course with Alex in Cyprus in 2005. He was originally a farmer in Shropshire where he ran a successful water bottling business.

Rob has been working for SkySchool since 2007 as the Airfield Manager and an Assistant Instructor, he now joins us on SkyWeek Trips in various locations around the world. He is also an accomplished musician, cricketer and tennis player, as well as a very capable cook.

Tel: +44(0)7932 436795

Email: robfurnival@gmail.com

Assistant Instructor

Bruce Daniels

Bruce learnt to fly with SkySchool in 2020 at the tender age of 16, becoming the youngest fully qualified APPI PPG Pilot that we've ever taught! He started working with SkySchool as a Trainee Instructor during his summer holidays in 2021 and after leaving school in June 2022 he joined us on a full time basis as a qualified Assistant Instructor.

His skills and knowledge are well beyond his years and he has become an integral member of the SkySchool Team. He has ambitions to join the Royal Navy to become a Pilot and will be sorely missed when he inevitably succeeds in this goal. He is a very talented Pilot and used to fly to and from school while studying for his A Levels!

Tel: +44(0)7391 490725

Email: bagd.daniels@gmail.com

Instructor

Rushi Kulkarni

Rushi is originally from India, where he learnt to fly in his early twenties. Ironically his first ever flight in a light aircraft took place at Hinton in the Hedges airfield while he was a student at Oxford Brookes University and now he works there during the summer months. He sat at APPI PPG Instructor Workshop with us in Italy in 2019 after which he helped run SkySchool UAE in Dubai.

He is now a fully qualified APPI PPG & ParaTrike Instructor. Rushi is an ardent cricket enthusiast and plays club cricket whenever possible! He is also studying to become a Commercial Pilot and hopes to work as a professional airline pilot in the future.

Tel: +44(0)7448 585986

Email: rushikeshskulkarni@gmail.com

Assistant Instructor

Peter Trott

Pete learnt how to fly with SkySchool in 2020 and quickly slotted into the team having joined us for a month in Europe. He then sat an APPI PPG Instructor Workshop with us in the UK in May 2022 and is now a qualified Assistant Instructor. He works with us predominantly in Portugal and Spain, but also on a part time basis in the UK and on SkyWeek Trips.

In his youth, many years ago, he served with the Parachute Regiment for 6 years before becoming a self employed carpenter based in Southampton. When not working with SkySchool he spends as much time as possible flying with ex SkySchool students and other Paramotor Pilots in various locations throughout the UK.

He absolutely loves flying and will take any opportunity that comes his way to get airborne!

Tel: +44(0)7768 173183

Email: skyschoolpete@gmail.com

Secretary

Charlotte Ledger

Charlotte is Alex's sister and runs the SkySchool office near Banbury, Oxfordshire. She first started working as a photographer for SkySchool in Cyprus in 2005 when she visited Alex after leaving school.

In 2008 she visited SkySchool in Spain where she had her first Tandem ParaTrike flight and Skydive, giving her an idea of what all the fuss is about!

Since then she has travelled around the world working in the Polo industry. She now lives with her daughter Emilia in Warwickshire where she pursues her passion for acting on stage.

Tel: +44 (0)7530 102708

Email: charlotteledger.13@gmail.com

Want to know more?