"Freeserve" <carl@compasssoarers.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9fvd10$tm1$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Training Troubles
>
> I am utterly amazed that anyone ever qualifies as a paraglider pilot or
for
> that matter bothers to go through a recognised training course having come
> back from spending an afternoon at a local paragliding school training
site.
> I know things are a little difficult at the moment as most of the hills
are
> closed due to the current difficulties with foot and mouth and schools
have
> now had to move their training activities to flat field sites and commence
> winch training but what I have just seen and heard is unforgivable.
> Of the dozens of people standing around waiting, I spoke to several people
> during the afternoon and did not find a single happy person.
> One pupil explained that he had driven sixty miles each way on the
Saturday
> and had only managed two launches. On Sunday, the day I visited, he had
> arrived at 10.00 am and as I left, around 5.00pm he was just about to get
> his first and last launch of the day. This it appeared only happened
because
> he had told one of the instructors he was so angry and dissatisfied that
he
> was not coming back next weekend. He was one of the lucky ones. He was
only
> there for a winch conversion and had refused to pay up front. Others were
> not so lucky and had paid their full course fees up front. Not many people
> can afford to turn their backs on the best part of £600! The people I
spoke
> to said that if they could get their money back they would. The level of
> disenchantment was amazing.
> It seemed they were then expected to stand around doing very little whilst
> others were given precedence because they were either paying for
experience
> tandem flights or were qualified pilots just paying for a launch. Whilst I
> was there I witnessed the instructors take several people up for pleasure
> flights and even aerotow experienced pilots whilst the
students.....waited!
> Amazed by the apparent lack of organisation, I asked where the instructors
> were to be told that they were flying themselves! All in all an
unbelievable
> experience. Frankly, I cannot believe why so many people who had paid so
> much for instruction would put up with such disrespectful treatment,
perhaps
> the 'halo' factor of being taught by some of the big names in the sport
had
> something to do with it.
> Perhaps this is something common to all large training schools, or just an
> isolated occurrence. I am sure that the school in question will say that I
> just happened to visit on a bad day!
> Somehow I doubt it!
> I have no financial axe to grind, I have already qualified as a club
> paraglider pilot. Thankfully I did not learn through one of the large
> schools for a start I could not afford the huge fee up front, nor could I
> justify the year or two of time that some people take to learn through one
> of these schools. I learnt with a small school, no more than three pupils
at
> any time, and managed to qualify in less than three months.
> It just seems unjust to me to see people treated in such a poor way
> Perhaps the BHPA could take on a roll here on behalf of its members and
> ensure that schools provide a minimum standard that students can expect
such
> as a minimum instructor to pupil ratio and an expected syllabus that,
> weather willing, should be adhered to
>
>
>
> --
> Less than 200mph - that'll be the Kawasaki ZX12R
> Me, I ride a Busa!
>
> report them to the bhpa. thats the only way you can get anything done
about it.
if schools are taking peoples money then they have a duty to provide the
service that they are being paid for.
jim

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