How Do I Start Paragliding in Hong Kong?

Start by choosing a licensed operator, not by finding a hill. In Hong Kong, anyone running a paragliding school or a tandem (two-person) experience must hold a permit issued by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD). The Hong Kong China Paragliding Association (HKPA) warns against unlicensed schools and tandem operators that attract customers with low prices or free offers, and notes that operating without a permit can lead to prosecution. So the practical first step is to check that your instructor or school appears on HKPA's list of certified instructors/schools that also hold a CAD permit.

The legal starting point

Two things are true before you fly:

• Tandem flights and instruction are regulated. A commercial tandem experience or a teaching operation needs a CAD permit. If someone offers you a cheap or free flight, that is a reason to check credentials, not a bargain.
• You are flying under Hong Kong air law. HKPA's Flying Info section includes a dedicated page on Hong Kong Airlaw, which is worth reading before you commit to a school, because it shapes where and how you can fly.

Learning path: ratings and recognition

HKPA's "Learning to Paraglide" section sits alongside a Pilot Ratings page and a Foreign ratings equivalence page. That structure tells you the intended route:

1. Train with a certified school/instructor.
2. Progress through HKPA pilot ratings.
3. If you already hold an overseas rating, apply for equivalence rather than starting over.

If you are coming from abroad with a licence, check the equivalence page first — it determines whether you can fly as a visitor or need to re-train. HKPA also has a Visitor Pilots page and an Overseas Flying section for pilots flying outside Hong Kong.

Where people fly

HKPA publishes site guides with an overview plus individual sites:

Each site has its own wind window and hazards, so read the specific guide rather than treating them as interchangeable. There is also a Lantau Webcam for a live look at conditions on Lantau.

Check weather and wind before every flight

HKPA's Weather section links to:

• Hong Kong Observatory — the official forecast source.
• Wind Summary — HKPA's own wind overview.
• Weather warning — active warnings.

Wind direction decides which site works on a given day. A site that flies well on one wind direction can be unsuitable or dangerous on another, which is why the site guides and the wind summary are meant to be read together.

Safety rules and minimum equipment

HKPA's Safety section covers the rules you are expected to know:

• Minimum Equipment — what you must carry.
• Helmet — helmet requirements.
• Right of Way — who has priority in the air.
• Radio Usage — radio rules and conduct.
• RC Models — sharing airspace with remote-controlled models.
• Accidental Tree Landing and Emergency Landing — what to do when a flight ends badly.

There is also a Safety Articles library, a way to Submit Safety Report (accident/incident reports), and Safety Notice announcements. Reading the tree-landing and emergency-landing pages before you need them is more useful than after.

Joining the association

HKPA has a Join us page and a members' area with login (Google, Microsoft, or Apple sign-in, plus password reset). Membership is separate from booking a flight — it connects you to the community, news, and events rather than being a prerequisite for a tandem experience.

A sensible order of operations

1. Read the CAD safety guidance and Hong Kong Airlaw pages.
2. Pick a school or instructor from HKPA's certified list (confirm the CAD permit).
3. If you hold a foreign rating, check equivalence before booking anything.
4. Study the site guide for wherever you will fly.
5. Check HKO forecast, HKPA wind summary, and any weather warnings on the day.
6. Know the minimum equipment, right-of-way, and radio rules before you launch.

The single most important decision is step 2. Everything else — sites, weather, ratings — follows from training with someone licensed to teach you.