Can I go paragliding in Switzerland?
Yes — but only with a pilot's licence. To paraglide you need the paragliding pilot's licence. BAZL delegates training and exams to the Swiss Hang-Gliding Association (SHV/FSVL); the rules apply uniformly nationwide. For the solo licence you need a theory exam (including air law) and, for practical admission, about 50 high-altitude flights in 5 areas. Training from 14, practical exam from 16 (under 16 with parental consent). For tandem (passenger) flights you need a higher rating (licence held ≥2 years, ≥200 flights) and special liability insurance. You must follow the airspace structure (restricted areas, airfields, wildlife zones). In short: yes, with a licence and respecting the airspace.
📋 The rules
- Solo: paragliding pilot's licence needed (SHV/FSVL)
- Theory exam + about 50 high-altitude flights for admission
- Training from 14, exam from 16
- Tandem: higher rating + special insurance
- Respect the airspace structure (restricted zones, airfields)
🔓 Exceptions
- Tandem passenger flight: licence ≥2 years, ≥200 flights, one XC flight ≥50 km
- Commercial passenger flights: highest tandem rating (Biplace 3)
- Restrictions near airfields, control zones and wildlife rest zones
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Flying without a valid licence, flying tandem without the required insurance, or breaching restricted and protected zones breaches air law and risks fines and liability/insurance consequences in an accident. Beware a myth: "with a foreign licence I can just take off in Switzerland" — check recognition; in case of doubt the Swiss licence applies. Tip: train via an SHV flight school, check the SHV airspace map before every flight, and take out the compulsory liability insurance for tandem flights.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Do I need a licence?
Yes. To paraglide you need the paragliding pilot's licence, obtained via the Swiss Hang-Gliding Association on behalf of BAZL. For the solo licence you must pass a theory exam and prove about fifty high-altitude flights across several flying areas before practical admission.
What age can I fly from?
You may start training from age fourteen, and sit the practical exam at the earliest at sixteen. Under sixteen you need the consent of your parents or legal representatives. You complete the theory and the high-altitude flights within the framework of an SHV flight school.
What do I need for tandem flights?
For tandem flights with a passenger you need a higher rating, which generally requires a licence held for at least two years, around two hundred flights and a cross-country flight. In addition, special liability insurance is compulsory from the very first double-seat flight.
Where can't I fly?
You must respect the airspace structure. Flying is prohibited or restricted near airfields, in control zones, in restricted areas and in wildlife rest zones. The SHV's binding airspace map shows the zones. Check it before every flight so you don't breach a protected or restricted zone.
Is my foreign licence valid?
Not automatically. Whether a foreign licence is recognised depends on the rules. In case of doubt you need the Swiss licence to fly here legally. Clarify recognition in advance with the SHV before taking off in Switzerland with a foreign licence to avoid problems.
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