At Sébastien’s request, I coached a thermalling course at his Carpe Diem school at the end of May. Sébastien specializes in training pilots for single-surface flying. He now has 3 years’ experience of this innovative approach. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a complete discovery: the machine, the pilots, the teaching approach – only the environment remains the same.
If you’d like to become a paragliding instructor, whether you’re starting out on your professional career or making a lifestyle change, the first step is to register for the selection tests organized by ENSA for entry to the DEJEPS Vol Libre training program.
Registering for these tests is necessary, but not in itself sufficient, as they have to be passed! To put you in the best possible conditions, Aquilae – Performance Paragliding Academy is launching its support program to prepare you from the beginning of May until September 12, 2021, the start date of the selection tests.
Here are the details of the 2021 program, adapted to the current health situation:
Date
Place
Duration
Contents
Wednesday 12 May
Doussard
1/2 day
Launch of the program
Friday 14 May
Visio
1 à 2h
Prerequisites, requirements, exemptions
Monday 17 May
Visio
1 à 2h
Technical test analysis
Wednesday 19 May
Visio
1 à 2h
Individual and group need
Friday 21 May
Visio
1 à 2h
Preparing contact with host schools and tutors
Monday 24 May
Visio
1 à 2h
Planning of the competition season and race strategy
Saturday 28 August
Doussard
1 day
Technical demonstration test, interview training (possible postponement to Saturday, September 4)
Sunday 29 August
Doussard
1 day
Physical test, feedback and conclusion (possible postponement to Sunday, September 5)
For the duration of the coaching and during the selection test period, in addition to the above program, you’ll have our support by phone and e-mail. And as we are registered as a professional training organization with the Prefecture, you’ll be able to find funding to cover the cost of our service.
My DEJEPS and DESJEPS studies are over, and now I’ve got something concrete for you!
You’ve already had a chance to get acquainted with the academy’s philosophy. Today, I’m pushing the logic to the limit, taking into account the constraints of the moment. I’m offering you an à la carte program, a formula that’s both simple and effective. You decide what your goals are, and I’ll be at your side to help you achieve them.
You’re a paraglider pilot, you’re autonomous and you want to continue your progression. Aquilae – Performance Paragliding Academy is opening up the booking of all its courses for you, who are giving yourself the means to realize your potential.
As with you, planning and launching a new activity in the spring of 2020 has not been easy. Spring 2021 is already here, you’re here, we’re here, nothing’s settled, it’s the next world! So that we can move forward together, I’ve decided to open up bookings without further delay: as of today, you can register for the course of your choice on this website.
Let’s be practical and pragmatic. What’s left to do? Nothing could be simpler: contact your flying buddies, form a group of 5 pilots, and book your course! Together, we’ll set the dates that suit you, at the location of your choice.
Heading for the Pôle Espoir Vol Libre in Font-Romeu
Finally, we found the right time and the means to organize a week’s intervention at the Pôle Espoir in Font-Romeu. The center is of course the antechamber of future champions, a place of education and training for pilots in the making. But it’s also a unique center, integrated with the Lycée Climatique, the Centre National d’Entrainement en Altitude and the CREPS, providing access to the latest techniques in sports preparation. In short, the ideal place to put the precepts of Aquilae – Performance Paragliding Academy into practice.
We start with a theoretical session on understanding instruments. The guiding principle is to create doubt and then build confidence. We become aware of the factors involved in choosing our navigation hardware and software, and of all the variables involved in calculating the various fields available. It soon becomes clear that a collective effort of understanding and sharing is needed to make the best use of these tools, so that data becomes information.
Becoming a paragliding instructor isn’t easy. Nine years have already passed since the Brevet d’Etat, the famous BE, was transformed into the BPJEPS and DEJEPS. The BPJEPS was abandoned last year. The DEJEPS is now THE professional paragliding diploma, opening the way to the profession of instructor. The DESJEPS is the new BE2 and prepares the next technical managers of our federation. The DEJEPS is a vocational training course leading to a diploma in a sandwich course. Content and certification are constantly evolving, as are equipment and practices, just like the profession of instructor.