The Salève Paragliding School, located just outside Geneva, offers comprehensive paragliding training.
Our school, certified by the “Ecole Française de Vol Libre” for its commitment to quality instruction, is located at the foot of the Salève.
Under the guidance of certified professional instructors, our courses will allow you to discover and advance in the world of free flight! The training programs are divided into three levels: green, blue, and brown.
FFVL-certified school
EFVL-Certified School, Paragliding License No.03984
Youth and Sports Accreditation No. ET001960
FFVL training courses:
There are three levels that mark a pilot's progression: more details are available on the FFVL website.
Green level
The introductory course is a mandatory first step. It can be taken in a group or individually (please contact us for more information). The First Long Flight Course consists of consecutive half-day sessions. This will ensure you tackle your first long flight with confidence and safety!
Next, you can move on to flying independently and earning your initial certification. Still during Cycle 1, once you’ve completed your introductory course, you’ll need to practice flying to become independent. This process is unique to each person. You’ll therefore be free to fly at your own pace. With this à la carte option, there’s no need to sign up for a full week. You can sign up for half-day sessions.
Next come Cycle 2 (blue level) and Cycle 3 (brown level), which will take longer to complete.
Blue Level
The goal is to earn a pilot's license: improve your flying skills, positioning, and thermal flying: Improve your flying technique with Salève Airlines' training course
Brown level
It will take several years to complete, depending on your progress, with the Advanced Pilot Certificate as your goal. It opens the door to federal training programs and competitions: the FFVL’s federal certificates
The stages of pilot training
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s important to have a general idea of the cost and duration of a paragliding course that leads to independent flying (Initial License, Cycle 1). Without this information, you might start a course that you won’t have the time or the means to complete.
On average, a training course at our facility includes 35 supervised flights, though this can range from 25 to 50. If you set aside one session per week for paragliding, you will certainly complete your training by the end of the season.
The average cost of the training program will be approximately 2,000 euros to obtain the Initial Certificate.
You'll also need to buy the equipment to fly on your own. On average, that comes to €4,000.
At our school: students must be at least 16 years old, subject to approval by the DTE and parental consent; for younger students, please contact us.
Please feel free to contact us for more information.
On the other hand, there is no age limit for taking up paragliding. All you need is the ability to perform the necessary movements to ensure your safety.
Yes, it is mandatory. The law governing aviation activities requires us to have aviation liability insurance. Our federation, the French Free Flight Federation, offers an insurance plan with a reduced rate for the first year. We will handle obtaining this license on the first day of the course. To do so, you must have a medical certificate stating “no contraindications to paragliding” issued by your doctor.
A dedicated and passionate team
Martin HomeMartin brings a great deal of efficiency to our organization through his administrative work.
He is a valuable asset who, drawing on his experience in the field, helps refine our approach to welcoming newcomers to paragliding.
If things seem clearer to you as you read this and things move quickly when you contact us, it’s certainly thanks to him!He loves:
Music, lots of music, all kinds of music!
He doesn't like:
Stagnation…- Christophe Dejouy Paragliding Instructor - Manager
Christophe brings years of experience teaching sports. He was already a sports club coach at age 18, and has worked as a ski instructor, a mid-mountain guide with mountain biking certification, and a paragliding instructor…
His experience led him to establish a coaching center for professionals.
He brings the rigor of high-level sports instruction to the school.He loves: Evening flights, Flora’s cooking, his native region of Nice, and sandwiches that drip olive oil down your arms…
He doesn't like: Meetingsthat drag on forever, speed cameras on the road.
- Fabrice School Management and Administration
Paraglider since 2007.
Works with Martin to manage the school’s front desk.
He spends most of his time giving brief introductions to tandem flights, handling administrative tasks, and offering plenty of advice to students on choosing equipment. He manages the Salève Airlines shop. He flies all the wings and harnesses in the demo fleet.
He is on duty during the winter.He likes:EN B+ sails (always amazing!), trout fishing, and lightly peated whiskey.
He doesn't like:Customers who "know it all"! Fields without poppies.
- Sebastien Rodriguez Paragliding instructor
A paragliding and ski instructor who’s always in a good mood and ready with the latest joke, he’ll make your flying experience unforgettable thanks to his infectious energy!
His passengers are always delighted!He likes: paragliding across the Col de Frêtes, New Zealand, paragliding acrobatics
He doesn't like: sausages that are too charred on the BBQ, rolling around in wet grass! - Claire Jomard Paragliding instructor
Organized, unassuming yet highly effective, Flora brings a feminine touch to our team.
She’s always patient, and her gentle voice will help you relax throughout your paragliding training.
She loves: beautiful cumulus clouds, cross-country flying, traveling, and cakes...
She doesn’t like: self-centeredness, bad weather. - Franck Debard Paragliding instructor, technical director of instruction
Franck is an experienced instructor who brings a proven track record of consistency to Salève Airlines. Behind his stern demeanor lies a genuine desire to do things right. For him, a student must have a solid foundation; you can’t skip steps—the basics must be mastered!
For his students, he is an instructor who pays close attention to their comfort.
He can guide you all the way through earning all your certifications.He likes: Meat, neatly folded sails, and lively little thermals.
He doesn't like:unexpected events, dirty trucks.
