SHPF SIV Course

Exclusive SIV Course for SHPF Pilots

Free Flight Academy are pleased to announce an exclusive SIV course for SHPF pilots. Over the years we've individually trained many SHPF pilots but this opportunity to train up to 20 club members during a week of SIV in Oludeniz, is truly exciting.

We know an SIV can be daunting but we promise this week will increase your confidence and truly change your flying for the better. It is open to all level of pilots and a great opportunity for club members to have some fun and really get to know each other.

The week will have two dedicated instructors, Lee Tryhorn and Richard Dolan, each with a maximum group size of 10. However our aim is not to separate out into two exclusive groups and there will be opportunities for the full group to spend time together.

What is SIV?

SIV is an acronym for the French phrase ‘Simulation d’incident en vol’ or in English 'In-flight incident simulation. The idea of an SIV course is to give a pilot the opportunity to experience potential in flight situations that can and do occur whilst paragliding, in order to learn how to manage these situations safely. This can be anything from simple deflations, to cravats resulting in strong G-Force evoking rotations from the glider.

The aim of an SIV and this course in particular, is to build a solid foundation of knowledge and confidence regarding what the glider is telling us in flight and how we can go about dealing with each situation. Once we have an understanding of what certain movements and rustles in the glider mean, we can then start to understand how to play our part in dealing with them.

Our course developed over the past 12 years, is designed to progressively build skills at a pilots own pace in order to cover all the essential basics of safety in flight.

Why do an SIV?

Glider technology has advanced significantly over the last few years and modern wings definitely ‘look after you’ in a way that they perhaps did not in the past. However this inbuilt safety should not be a reason to let your skills become rusty or to rush progression through the glider range. The leading cause of accidents is still poor piloting.

An SIV can remove the fear of the unknown by giving you the opportunity to experience a range of in-flight scenarios in a controlled environment. It can also help you gain a ‘feel’ for your wing and to understand where the line between too little and too much input lies. As paraglider pilots we invest upwards of £4000 in our kit and this course is designed not to scare you off flying but to show you how little you need to do, to safely fly your glider at 100%.

Tailored Programme

This course is suitable for any level of pilot, it is ideal for those who have just started flying, for those that think they are just getting the hang of it and also for those who want to progress with their XC or into Acro and more dynamic flying. The course can be tailored to each individual pilot so you can cover manoeuvres you feel are most relevant to your type of flying. However, this does not mean you can pick and choose the entire course. There are certain non-negotiable manoeuvres that are essential for every pilot, and these will be a compulsory part of the first few SIV flights. Once we are at a good standard and level of understanding for these essential manoeuvres we can then move on to a more personalised programme, best suited to your preferred type of flying whatever that may be.

Hotel Recommendations and airport transfers

• OluDeniz is located within a bay, so everything is close by, but it is important to pick a hotel in the main resort as this is an easy walk to the briefing area, landing areas and beach etc. To make things easier for you, I have included details below of the hotel the Free Flight Academy team stay at and where the briefings will be located. However, there are many other options so if you are looking for something with a little more luxury or you have a tight budget you will be able to find something suitable.

The Magic Tulip

• The Magic Tulip is a friendly family run hotel in a comparatively quiet location just off the main Oludeniz strip. Information can be found at www.magictulip.com. As this is where the free Flight Academy team stay we have special rates with the hotel. To book or obtain a quote please email the hotel directly at tuliphotel@hotmail.com quoting Lee SIV to access the preferential rate: Room rates for May 2024 Single room with breakfast - £ 30 per room per night Twin room with breakfast - £ 33 per room per night Please note there are two Magic Tulip hotels so when booking please be aware it is the Magic Tulip and not the Magic Tulip Beach hotel where we will be staying (although the other hotel is just a 3 minute walk away, owned by the same family and also lovely).
• Airport transfers - Taxis offer fixed rates to and from Dalaman airport for around £50. If a transfer is not included with your hotel booking it is still worth asking them to organise it for you, as it is often considerably cheaper if arranged in advance from Oludeniz rather than at the airport.

Additional hints and tips regarding accommodation:

• Some package holidays offer very good deals including flights and half board accommodation so it is well worth searching on line or popping into your local travel agent for details of offers.

• OluDeniz is a very popular destination for Pilots and tourists so it is worth booking your accommodation early to avoid disappointment.

• If you choose to book a hotel not mentioned above it is important to make sure your hotel is an easy walk to the sea front and to the OluDeniz main street; as we have known pilots who have ended up in different resorts that require transport in and out. If you have any doubt please don't hesitate to contact us as we will be happy to let you know if the options you are looking at are suitable.

Booking Form