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What insurance is provided by the BHPA, how does this differ from paragliding travel insurance?
The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA) provides a specific type of insurance primarily focused on third-party liability, which is compulsory for its members.
In contrast, Paragliding travel insurance is a broader policy designed to cover Medical costs, Personal Risks and Travel-related issues while engaging in paragliding abroad, be that Leisure or Competition.
BHPA Insurance and how it differs from Paragliding Travel Insurance:
BHPA Insurance:
The BHPA membership includes Public Liability Insurance. This insurance is designed to:
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Cover Third-Party Damage or Injury: It indemnifies you against legal liability for accidental bodily injury to any person, accidental loss of or damage to physical property, or accidental obstruction, nuisance, or trespass caused by your paragliding activities. It also covers legal defence costs.
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Include Specific Activities: It extends to qualified instructional schooling activities, tandem flying, Hang Gliding, and even the use of Microlights (including single-seat de-regulated microlights). It also covers landowners whose land you use.
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Address Member-to-Member Incidents: Covers bodily injury or property damage caused by one BHPA member to another.
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Meet Regulatory Requirements: This liability cover is required by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for paragliding in the UK.
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Geographical Scope: While primarily for the UK, it generally restricts cover outside of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man to a maximum of 120 days per insurance period. However, non-UK resident members living in an EU country and holding a BHPA-issued FAI sporting license may be able to obtain worldwide cover (excluding the US and Canada) year-round for an additional cost.
Cover limits via the BHPA membership:
Third-Party Public and Products Liability Insurance: The BHPA provides a primary policy with a limit of indemnity of £5,000,000 for any single accident. This limit is increased to £7,500,000 when activities are conducted on Crown land or involve the use of aircraft.
What BHPA insurance generally does NOT cover:
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Your medical expenses resulting from an accident.
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Search and rescue costs.
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Repatriation (getting you home after an incident).
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Damage to or theft of your paragliding equipment.
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Trip cancellation or curtailment.
Paragliding Travel Insurance
This is a specialised travel insurance policy with specific cover for hazardous activities like paragliding, whether it's Paragliding Leisure or Paragliding Competition. Its primary purpose is to protect you personally when paragliding. Key benefits typically include:
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Emergency Medical Expenses & Repatriation: This is a core component, covering medical treatment, hospitalisation, and the cost of returning you to your home country if you get injured while paragliding. Some policies specifically include mountain rescue.
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Travel-Related Coverage: Like standard travel insurance, it often covers trip cancellation or curtailment, delayed departures, lost or stolen baggage, personal money, and travel documents.
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Equipment Cover: Cover your paragliding equipment against loss, theft, or damage during transit or locked storage, not whilst in use.
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Activity-Specific Conditions: Policies usually require that you adhere to safety guidelines, use qualified instructors, and wear appropriate safety equipment. They may differentiate between recreational, instructional, and competitive flying, often requiring a specific "amateur competition" policy for the latter.
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Exclusions: Personal accident (compensation for permanent disability) and personal liability (if you cause harm to others or their property) are often excluded from the paragliding add-on, as these are high-risk elements that may be covered by other means (like BHPA membership for liability).
Please note: If you require paragliding insurance, you must become a member of BHPA, as this will include Liability Insurance.
