Terms and Conditions
To make life safe, fair and predictable for everyone we actually stick pretty much to the letter of these terms and conditions so please read them carefully before buying or comencing a course.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
BOOKING FLYING DAYS
To book, or re-book, a time and date to fly please call the office on 01335 344 308. Booking early usually means you can guarantee the slot you want. If you do not cancel a booking that you have made more than 24 hours before 09.00 on the day you were booked to fly you will forfeit that day’s training and or be liable to pay a cancellation fee. This includes paragliding day taster courses, microlight and all tandem flights.
ON THE DAY YOU ARE BOOKED TO FLY
You must call our Flightline - on 07801 987882 after 8.15am for an assessment of the conditions. Please get to the airfield in plenty of time for your flight. If you are on a Paragliding day taster you should be at the airfield for 09.00.
WEATHER
Weather is a big factor in all our flying. The conditions under which we fly are closely monitored and if it rains or the wind is too strong your flying day may be shortened or postponed. If this is the case call the office and book a new day. Vouchers are valid for 9 months from date of issue and courses are valid for six months from the first day of training to allow for postponement due to weather whilst maintaining pilot currency.
WHAT TO WEAR
A strong pair of boots with ankle support and no hooks is essential for paragliding. We have a cafe that runs Wednesday through Sunday (closed Monday & Tuesday), gloves, a jacket and clothes suitable for the season; we don’t recommend shorts, but a hat and suncream + plenty of water is essential in summer.
AIRFIELD FACILITIES & SPECTATORS
There are refreshments (hot and cold snacks & drinks, crisps and chocolate) and toilets , a viewing area and a flying shop on site as well as a pilot’s room and classroom. Feel free to invite family and friends to see you fly. For safety everyone must keep to designated areas. If you bring dogs please keep them on a short lead and clean up after them. Children are welcome but must be supervised at all times by parents & guardians.
PAYMENTS & VOUCHER VALIDITY
Vouchers are only available on payment of the full fee and are valid for 9 months from the date of issue. After 9 months vouchers may be re-validated for a further three months on payment of an additional fee. For courses and group bookings a deposit will be required to secure your booking. Any balance must be paid before you fly. Prices secured by payment of a deposit are valid for 9 months from the payment date. To maintain pilot currency courses must be completed within six months of the first day of training. Vouchers, or a course you have not started, may only be passed to another suitable party with the prior agreement of Airways Airsports.
CANCELLATION POLICY
A full refund will be given up to 30 days after payment of a fee or deposit. Refunds in this period will incur a £10.00 administration fee. Where the payment is within 30 days of the start date of the course or where the cancellation is more than 30 days after the deposit or full payment has been made no refunds will be given. You must give at least 24 hours notice if you want to postpone any training or experience flight that you have booked, failure to do so means you will either forfeit the booked training or be liable to pay a £35 cancellation fee.
SAFETY
Safety is our prime concern. We reserve the right to terminate individual flights and training courses at any time if in the opinion of our instructing staff, safety is compromised. We adhere to and enforce the strictest of safety guidelines in respect of the type and level of wing students can fly on the winch and hill at any given stage of their training. The decision of the CFI will be final.
BHPA MEMBERSHIP
We issue memberships of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association which includes 3rd party insurance. Personal accident insurance cover for all UK free flight schools is limited to £50,000. Should you require extra personal accident insurance please take this out prior to flying (ensure it covers you for adventure sports). If you need the details of suppliers of such insurance, please ask us for details.
AGE AND MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS
The minimum age to fly solo is sixteen for Hang Gliding and Microlight flying and fourteen for Paragliding. The lower age limit for dual flights is 14 but if you are under eighteen years of age parental consent is required. There is no upper age limit although in the interest of your own safety you must give details of any medical condition that may affect your ability in the air. If you are in any doubt, please contact your GP for advice. The weight limit for Tandem Hang Gliding and all microlight flights is 14.5 stone, for tandem paragliding 14 stone (90kg). Your weight should be in proportion to your height. If you fail to meet any of these requirements please call the office on 01335 344308 immediately you receive this letter.
AIRWAYS EQUIPMENT POLICY
None of the information below removes the duty of care any student assumes in flying the wing of their choice. We will always endeavour to teach you using the best current practice and offer you up to date advice. Airways Airsports generally teach students on school equipment until either 1) they purchase their own equipment; or 2) the end of their early training; whichever comes first. It is common sense that students complete as much of their training as possible on their own equipment, so that when the student leaves the school they are familiar with flying on their own glider. The earlier a student becomes familliar with their own equipment the better. In line with current best practice we recommend that students only fly modern DHV1 (or similar) paragliders with a suitable harness until they have enough experience to move up to the next level. That is why we populate our school with new and modern wings, and why every expert in the land says it's better to fly a lower performing wing at 100% than a higher one at 95%. In the absence of exceptional mitigating circumstances it is strongly recommended that students, or low airtime pilots, only fly a suitable DHV1 (or similar) glider. We also strongly reccommend that students do not purchase any gear until they have spent some time at the school. This will hopefully ensure you get the right kit whether you get it from us or not. We always reserve the right not to teach a pilot if we assess their equipment and level of competency to be unsuitable or mis-matched.
FLYING IS A RISK ACTIVITY. YOU UNDERTAKE TO FLY WITH US IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF AIRWAYS AIRSPORTS AND ITS EMPLOYEES FLYING CAN LEAD TO INJURY OR WORSE.
