Alpine Paragliding News

Recent News

Passy, Plaine Joux and Chamonix Valley - April 3rd

Please note: We are closed until 2027. We are available for flying advice and weather conditions in this area.

Why are we closed: Dennis and Gillian are taking some time off having worked continuously for the past 21 years with almost no break. It's time for ourselves!

The Flying

We had a really good flying during the spring, summer and autumn of 2025. Check out the 'annual flying days' chart below!

Now into 2026, the flying is starting to get really good, gentle thermic conditions at the moment with some really high days. It will only get better!!

The Skiing

This winter is pretty much over now. We had really good snowfalls, the piste conditions were the best they've been for some years, and the off piste, when it wasn't closed due to too much snow and high avalanche risk was excellent. The snow depth is still very good in all local resorts, but some are closing this coming weekend and the rest at the end of next week, apart from Les Grands Montet that will be open until early May.

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Advance Theta ULS

This year I am flying the Advance Theta ULS. Their lightweight mid-B wing. It has very direct, responsive and sweet handling, with very good glide performance. I've been flying it with the Advance Boundless open harness and the combination works really well. I'll try it with the Advance Lightness 4 soon and give my opinion then.

Lightness 4 - Dennis's personal review.

I am now flying the Lightness 4. Its a real step up from the Lightness 3. It's easy to set up, it took me only 30 minutes to get comfortable and ready to fly and then only minor adjustment that I could mostly make in the air.

It's easy to get into with minimal buckles and clips. In the air it's very comfortable, it supports my back and thighs well, its aerodynamic, smooth, no flapping, and it follows the centreline of the glider beautifully, (no yawing). It weight shifts nicely, its more stable than the L3 and it's very comfortable for men on the landing approach. Hanging out of the harness with legs down is pain free! The flight deck is good. The storage is good and it packs down well. I would suggest it's well worth a look! More details below...

Advance Iota DLS

Another good wing we have also been flying the Advance Iota DLS size 23 (EN-B+) It handles really well and its sweet to fly. It's stable, responsive, accurate to fly, very easy to position even in the most difficult thermals. It has a lovely glide and a good turn of speed. All I can say is try it, I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

Lightness 4

The new Advance Lightness 4 harness -Like the LIGHTNESS 3, only better: the successor of "The" pod harness classic offers even more comfort, easier handling and a sportier look. The fourth generation of the all-round pod harness remains the perfect companion for long and relaxed cross-country flights.

LIGHTNESS 4 - New seat geometry using 3D body scans to increase its comfort even further. The visual redesign, including the aerodynamic fairing, completes the sporty look and feel. Here are the first quick facts: -redesigned seat shell -maximum comfort -new aerodynamic look -moderate fairing -35% more storage space -3.47 kg (size M)

OUR PRICE 1946.50 Euros (retail 2290.00, saving you 343.50 Euros. We are taking orders now..

See our shop for other equipment details. - Shop

OUR SCHOOL - Please note:

We have actually stepped back from teaching absolute beginners full time. Our operations continue persuing the 'Pilot Development and Progression' tuition/coaching. We still have a beginners page showing on our website and recommend the various schools here or to visit the BHPA website to check out the operations in the UK?

Pilot-Development and Progression:

Pilot-Development/Progression tuition/coaching is available most of the year, and is ideal for new pilots wanting to develop their skills in the high alps. Check out the details here: 'Pilot Development'

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Weather, Wind, Webcam links..

Here are useful weather links for this area:

Chamonix Valley Meteo: Chamonix Meteo

Meteo Blue for Passy-Plaine Joux Valley: Passy

Wind and Weather Stations for many flying areas in France: Wind and weather in France

Check out the 'Plaine Joux' take off site webcam: WebCam

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Annual Flying...

We have kept a record of all the flying days we've had in this area since 1996 and you can see on the chart below the number of flying days doesn't change much each year. The mid winter flying window is around 2-3 hours extending to 11 hours in the spring and summer. Some mid summer days have strong thermic periods where pilots become grounded for a few hours, otherwise the annual flying conditions are very good. It has to be said that not all the days produce fantastic flying conditions but it's not bad here and realistically we fly for about 65% of the year: the chart speaks for itself.

PLEASE NOTE - On the chart below some months are shown as n/a (not available) this is because in the winter we are skiing or flying tandem and not registering our flyable days and in summer it would be because we are away from the area, normally flying somewhere else.

Date	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Total
1996	n/a	20	15	23	25	16	22	20	21	26	20	208
1997	11	17	17	26	25	24	21	25	27	27	20	240
1998	n/a	19	26	19	17	30	24	24	27	19	15	220
1999	17	13	11	18	19	23	23	29	22	24	17	216
2000	2	22	13	17	18	26	26	17	25	25	19	210
2001	19	14	14	10	17	28	20	25	25	19	28	219
2002	17	30	12	22	23	17	27	22	23	27	n/a	220
2003	11	17	20	28	20	22	27	24	26	22	16	233
2004	15	6	21	16	22	22	25	26	27	27	19	226
2005	19	20	16	25	17	26	28	27	20	27	25	250
2006	4	24	17	12	19	23	30	30	19	23	20	221
2007	18	16	13	21	30	21	25	23	24	22	26	239
2008	20	16	24	12	18	27	18	22	28	25	14	224
2009	12	17	10	20	25	18	18	27	28	29	27	231
2010	10	13	11	16	25	19*	17*	29	22	23	n/a	185
2011	n/a	n/a	22	27	28	25	25	29	26	27	25	234
2012	n/a	n/a	n/a	20	15	26	22	28	25	20	20	176
2013	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	17	23	22	29	31	27	27	176
2014	n/a	n/a	n/a	25	27	26	24	22	26	23	21	194
2015	n/a	n/a	n/a	22	22	24	26	29	28	30	22	203
2016	28	17	7	22	22	19	23	28	29	27	23	245
2017	27	n/a	n/a	26	25	28	24	25	n/a	25	27	207
2018	n/a	n/a	13	22	25	27	29	30	29	29	26	230
2019	n/a	n/a	21	22	25	23	26	27	28	29	25	226
2020	n/a	n/a	n/a	27	26	28	22	26	28	27	26	210
2021	11	17	26	29	26	17	27	29	27	26	25	260
2022	n/a	n/a	n/a	26	25	27	28	29	28	27	23	213
2023	n/a	21	22	21	21	27	22	21	29	27	24	235
2024	n/a	19	19	23	n/a	n/a	n/a	28	27	25	23	164
2025	n/a	21	22	26	24	24	26	29	28	28	24	252
2026	n/a	18	15	19

Contact us - Office: +33450545963 Mobile: +33 610634558 email: info@alpineflyingcentre.com