Ed is a founder member of the BHPA registered Yorkshire Owls Paramotor Club in which he holds the Finance Officer post, and has recently been appointed as a club coach. He is also a new member of the Sir George Cayley Sailwing Club and is busy learning the intricacies of unpowered flight. An occasional competition pilot, Ed is also on the PPG Comps advisory panel.

Tom has been an active and passionate member of the worldwide paramotor & paragliding community for over 10 years, and in that time he's enjoyed great experiences, made new friends, and witnessed the progression of our sport. He believes in the continued growth of our sport, but also knows it poses many challenges of how to best support new and experienced pilots and the greater flying community at large, whilst respecting non flyers. Once airborne, the paramotor can be used to motor along and watch the world go by beneath you or, if conditions permit, soared in thermal lift to make long cross-country flights. Whilst BHPA recreational clubs are always willing to offer advice and encouragement, initial instruction should always be undertaken at a BHPA registered school.Training and badge award takes a complete beginner and gives them ground-handling training and first flights from the top to the bottom of a gentle hill. Training can only be undertaken at a BHPA Registered School. But your local recreational club can be a useful source of information about BHPA registered schools operating in your area. This training and badge award takes the EP pilot to the final level of basic training. The CP training will take the EP pilot and give them experience in flying along the ridge among other more advanced practical areas of hang gliding or paragliding. The trainee pilot will also have to pass basic examinations in aviation law and some air navigation (i.e. rights of way in the air) knowledge. Once the CP badge is gained, the pilot can join a recreational club and fly outside of the school system.

As BHPA External Representation Officer Marc sat on the Royal Aero Club Council as the BHPA delegate and served as RAeC Chairman for 3 years in the mid 1990s. He is currently a Vice-President of the RAeC. He has also served as a Trustee of the RAeC Trust and Flyability. Full size paragliders undergo rigorous testing of their flight safety characteristics by an independent test house, and are given a rating to an EN Standard. There are very few speed flying wings that are tested to this standard and therefore very little independent data of speed wings' flight safety characteristics. A flight safety standard for speed wings may be developed in the future, but for the present most speed flying wings are classed as uncertified.Martin is the Vice Chairman of the Executive council. He also looks after the BHPA's aviation insurance contract, which provides indemnity cover to each and every member of the Association. This is a significant responsibility given that over half of the Association's expenditure goes on this important area. One Day Introductory Membership is only valid on the day of issue and you must therefore only apply on the actual day of your taster course. It's the same freedom that hang glider pilots enjoy, but a paraglider is more portable and a little easier to learn to fly. They are more hampered by strong winds than hang gliders, but are easier to land in small fields. A strong believer in coherence, team work, effective leadership and risk management, Jenny's experience on military duty and operational deployments lends itself well to the world of free flight. For people wanting to learn to fly speed gliders, whether existing paraglider pilots, those with previous experience of air sports or those with no previous flying experience at all, proper training at a BHPA school is essential to understand the particular risks in speed flying.

Steve spent his career designing engines and powertrains for Land Rover, New Mini and Aston Martin. He has now retired and has the time and enthusiasm to try to put his experience and organisational skills to good use on Exec. Although the standard which you will be expected to reach will be the same in every school, the actual training programme and methods may vary, as they are determined by the type of wing you learn to fly, the launch method, and the prevailing weather on the day.

Outside BHPA business, Martin is a full-time solicitor based in Peterborough working in the healthcare sector with particular interest in litigation and inquest handling. In 1986 he started flying paragliders. In 1991, having been elected Chairman of the BHPA, he also started flying in parascending competitions, achieving a Team Bronze in the 1994 Nationals at Middle Wallop. He started flying powered hang gliders when they became legal and now most regularly flies his Doodlebug in Snowdonia. He also flies his hang glider or paraglider whenever weather and time allow. Tasks for "Pilot" Rating - for information only. Members wishing to take their "Pilot" exam are advised to consult the Pilot Task book (available from the BHPA Office) Tasks for "Advanced Pilot" Rating - for information only. Members wishing to take their "Advanced Pilot" exam are advised to consult the Pilot Task book (available from the BHPA Office) practical flying instruction, and you'll complete a simple exam paper on the topics covered. Acheiving Elementary Pilot award is the first step on the ladder of the BHPA Pilot Rating Scheme.