Help & FAQs

The type of people who learn to Paramotor is quite literally anyone! As an International School, we've trained a lot of people from many countries around the world, with the highest percentage coming from the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Out of our 5,000+ students, their ages have ranged from 16 to 70 years old and in recent years, we have taught an increasing number of women, which is fantastic for the sport. Even though SkySchool is a British company and teaches predominantly in English, we also have Instructors who speak Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish and French.

There currently is not a weight limit for a Paramotor, but different weights require different Paramotoring Equipment. At SkySchool we can teach students weighing up to 130kgs. Anymore than this, we would require bespoke equipment which will need to be ordered in advance of a Course. For those weighing over 130kgs, they may be better off sitting a ParaTrike course as ParaTrikes have more powerful engines and larger wings, meaning they can take Pilots weighing up to 150kgs.

Paramotoring is in fact safer than Paragliding. This is because Paramotor Pilots who have received the correct training and fly with good Equipment, only tend to fly when the wind is low at the beginning and end of the day when there are no thermals. However, Paraglider Pilots rely on either stronger wind speeds or relatively unstable air in the form of thermals in order to maintain and gain altitude. This increases the risk of the wing having a deflation, as the air is more turbulent, which a Paramotor Pilot can easily avoid.

We offer ParaTrike Courses for those with a physical disability now that single seat ParaTrikes, weighing less than 65kgs, have been deregulated in the UK. Ever since the Flying for Heroes project in 2014, SkySchool has been involved in teaching those with physical disabilities how to fly and we currently offer bespoke ParaTrike Training courses.

The distance you can fly on a paramotor depends mainly on fuel capacity, wing type, and weather. Most paramotors have a 17-liter fuel tank, giving about 3–4 hours of flight, which usually translates to 100–200 km. Pilots often fly out-and-back, triangular cross-country routes, or point-to-point with tailwinds, sometimes covering several hundred kilometers. The world record is 1,130 km, set by Lauri Kadakas in 2019, using a 72-liter fuel tank and a highly efficient setup. Flying farther is possible with a lighter, faster wing and careful fuel management.

Paramotoring is generally as safe as the pilot using it. The paramotor can be dangerous if used incorrectly or started while on the ground, but when flown properly it is safe. Receiving professional instruction, following safety rules, respecting weather conditions, and always starting the engine on your back are essential for a safe paramotoring experience.

In the UK, we teach beginners on small hills where students can take off, fly a few meters above the ground, and land safely using just the paraglider. However, we do not provide instruction in ridge soaring or other advanced aspects of paragliding.

In the UK, you do not require a license to fly a Paramotor as they are deregulated under the Air Navigation Order. However you must still obey the Air Law regulations in order to remain legal, all of which is covered during your SkySchool Paramotor course. In order to be safe as possible, it is recommended that you complete the full APPI PPG Pilot course and attain the license. This also allows you to fly legally and take out insurance in certain other countries around the world.

You do not need to learn how to Paraglide first before going on a Paramotoring course. It is a common misconception that you need to have flown a Paraglider before learning to Paramotor, however this is not the case. The APPI PPG training system uses hand towing to teach complete beginners. It is an excellent method, as it allows the student to simulate the body position required to take off with a Paramotor, while also practising how to steer and land the Paraglider, all within a controlled environment. Paragliding requires a very different body position during take off and students with previous paragliding experience have been know to struggle to adjust their body position for Paramotoring.

It is strongly advised not to teach yourself to fly a paramotor. The saying “you don’t know what you don’t know” is especially true in paramotoring, so taking a dedicated course with professional, experienced instructors is always recommended.

It usually takes 4–6 days of ground training before a complete beginner is ready for their first solo paramotor flight. On average, another 6 days of training are needed to earn the APPI PPG pilot license, which includes solo flights, skill tasks, and the pilot exam.

You should never attempt to fly a Paramotor without training. Although Paramotoring is one of the safest forms of powered aviation it still comes with its risks, These are dramatically increased when people attempt to teach themselves how to fly without taking instruction. 

No previous flying experience is required, but you should be reasonably fit and able to take part in physically and mentally demanding outdoor activities. You must declare any medical conditions that could affect safety, and if in doubt you should consider a medical check before attending. Alcohol or performance impairing substances are not permitted during training.

Yes. If you give more than 6 weeks notice you can move to another course date free of charge. With less than 6 weeks notice a £150 rebooking fee applies, plus any accommodation costs for European courses. Deposits are non refundable.

In the UK the course starts at 9am on a Saturday morning and we meet outside the cafe at Hinton Airfield. In Europe the course starts at 9am on a Monday morning and the meeting place will be confirmed via email or WhatsApp before the course.

If sitting a Paramotor course in the UK bring outdoor clothing for both warm and cold weather. Ankle supporting boots, gloves, long sleeve shirts, jackets and trousers are recommended. Do not bring jeans as they restrict the legs too much. If sitting a Paramotor course in Europe then bring warm weather outdoor clothing but also a long sleeve top, jacket and trousers as it can get cold while flying at altitude. Suncream is also a necessity!

Paramotoring and paragliding are weather dependent sports. If training days are lost due to poor conditions, you will receive credit days to make up the missed flying. These can be used at any time within your two year course validity period. Refunds are not issued for weather delays.

We completely get it, we change our minds too! Please get in touch as soon as possible and we will do our best - however if we have already order, packed and dispatched your order, a cancellation will not be possible.

We want to speak to you too! Contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback. We will be sure to get back to you within 48 hours. However, please note that inquiries sent on Fridays will receive a reply the following Monday, but possibly sooner.

We usually only ship equipment to the United Kingdom. To enquire about shipping to a different destination, please contact us.

Standard shipping normally takes 3-5 days.

Items must be returned within 30 days after receiving your order. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received, be unworn/unused, have any tags still attached, and include all the original packaging.

Refunds are processed within 7 days from when we receive the item(s).