IPPI Card

About the IPPI Card

The International Pilot Proficiency Identification Card provides a standard reference by which all national rating programs may be compared. When you travel abroad this card, together with your BHPA membership/rating card, gives flying site managers, instructors and others responsible for hang gliding and/or paragliding flight operations an easy way of verifying your pilot experience level prior to approval of flight activities.

The IPPI system works by converting your BHPA pilot rating into the equivalent Safe Pro and/or Para Pro rating (training systems developed by a Norwegian but not widely used). Note that Safe Pro is for hang gliding and Para Pro is for paragliding.

Please note: the IPPI scheme only applies to hill pilots. IPPI cards cannot be issued to tow pilots unless they hold the appropriate "hill" endorsement.

Obtaining an IPPI Card

Please download and fill in the IPPI Application Form (in PDF format) or contact the BHPA Office and ask for an IPPI Application Form to be sent to you.

IPPI Card Changes

The table below sets out the Safe Pro and/or Para Pro stage that will be shown on your IPPI card.

*To obtain a hang gliding Safe Pro Stage 5 rating without holding the BHPA rating, or a paragliding Safe Pro Stage 5 rating (for which you must hold BHPA Pilot or AP ratings), you must submit a statement from a Club Chairman/Chief Coach/CFI confirming that they have checked your logbooks and are satisfied that you have a total of at least 50 flying hours (HG) or 100 hours (PG), and have completed at least five cross-country flights in various types of lift (flights conducted solely in ridge lift or along the same ridge do not count).

Further Information

For Further Information about flying outside of the UK, please see our Flying Abroad page.