Welcome to the Aberdeen Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club!

We’re an active group of pilots covering Aberdeenshire, Moray, and Angus. Apart from flying, we develop sites, maintain good relationships with landowners and the wider community, and meet socially on a regular basis too.

If you’re a visiting pilot, please do make contact with us; we’re a friendly bunch and will help you find the best sites, as well as keep you up to date with any site-specific information you must know before flying. The Getting In Touch page lists all the ways you can contact us, including at our informal fortnightly evening meets.

Please note that some of our sites are located in or near controlled airspace, or are subject to seasonal restrictions. Please get in touch before flying any unfamiliar sites.

If you’re interested in taking a recreational tandem flight, get in touch with Dave Bichan, one of our club coaches.

If you’re a visiting pilot it’s important to make contact with the club to get the latest information about flying sites, in particular temporary and seasonal restrictions. There are a number of channels we use to keep in touch, but if in doubt, members of the Club Committee can be contacted directly.

Club Meetings

We meet informally on the first and third Thursdays of each month at the Aberdeen Boat Club from around 8pm. If you’ve not met any of us before it’s a great way to say hi!

Aberdeen Boat Club, 29 South Esplanade West, Aberdeen, AB11 9AA

Online Groups

Google Group

The primary public communication channel of the AHPC.

AHPC Google Group

Other clubs have their own Google Groups, listed below:

Highland Club

Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club (LLSC)

WhatsApp Group

This group has overtaken the Google Group as the primary daily chat, planning, and on-launch updates channel.

Local and visiting pilots are welcome to join the group by contacting club coach Dave Bichan. Please introduce yourself on the group and you’ll receive a warm welcome!

Telegram Groups

Similar to WhatsApp, Telegram is popular nationally. The AHPC does not have a specific Telegram group, however there are a few Scottish groups that are worth keeping an eye on to see what’s being planned for both local and cross-country flying. To gain access, post on one of the Google, Facebook, or Whatsapp groups and someone will be able to help. Failing that, try contacting any of the committee members below.

Facebook Groups

Another source of useful information and discussion is the AHPC Facebook group. There is also an SHPF Facebook group.

Club Committee Contacts

The 2019 committee members can be contacted via email:

Chairman

Khaled Naasar – [email protected]

Secretary

Bob Dunthorn – [email protected]

Treasurer

Martin Yarrow – [email protected]

Safety Officer

Bob Weir – [email protected]

Sites Officer

Kieran Campbell – [email protected]

Newsletter Editor

Matt Church – [email protected]

 

The AHPC has a core of keen pilots that are happy to share the skies and experiences with new pilots. Our pilots have varied abilities, motivations and experiences: some are happy to fly a local site that they know well; many explore routes around Scotland and some are keen to experience flying over new terrain abroad.

A few of our members are well known within the flying fraternity for their expertise and success within Cross Country and Competition flying.

While the majority of our members are paragliding pilots, we have hang-glider, paramotor and glider pilots for those wishing to branch out or experience new flying disciplines.

Why Join?

The AHPC has used its membership fees to subsidise educational events for members, such as first aid and club coach courses. As a member-club of the Scottish Hang-gliding and Paragliding Federation, AHPC members also enjoy subsidised access to national events such as the Ratho Repack.

Fees are also used to thank farmers and other landowners for supporting our access to their land, and we also give support to emergency response organisations.

How to Join

To join AHPC send an e-mail to the Club Secretary and Treasurer with the following information:

• Name
• BHPA No
• Pilot Rating
• Post Code

​Full (flying) membership of the AHPC is only open to members of the British Hang-gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA).

From 2019 onwards membership fees can be paid via Direct Debit; this is the preferred way to pay. Full details will be provided upon application.

 

 

 

Before flying our sites, please:

• Get in touch with the club
• Review the seasonal site restrictions
• Check the news section for any important info
• Ensure you are fully aware of airspace in the area you are interested in flying in

In the UK, the CANP system has been created for notifying other air users of planned free-flying. Browse the club-curated list of flying sites on the map below, or scroll further down this page to find a list of AHPC site guides.

Our sites guide is being updated and brought online. If you have any knowledge of our sites, your contribution would be appreciated. Please contact the sites officer (Kieran Campbell) for details on how you can assist.

Sites

Ben Tirran, Glen Clova

Ben Rinnes, Dufftown

Craig Lethnot, Glen Clova

Crovie, near Banff

Gardenstown, near Banff

Dunnydeer, Insch

Hill of Noth, Rhynie

Tap O’ Noth, Rhynie

Tops of Fichell, Glen Clova