Annecy XC Courses

Annecy, Haute Savoie.

Annecy has a well-deserved reputation as a world class flying area. The main take-offs are governed by the FFVL, rather than local schools or clubs. There is a good infrastructure in place with information boards in both takeoff and landing areas, buses running to takeoff, paragliding shops and cafes in the landing areas and a very welcoming atmosphere amongst the locals toward visiting pilots. You can see the stunning mountains that surround Annecy in "Performance flying".

We base our XC courses here because of the reliable conditions, suitability to all levels of pilot, huge choice of take off sites, well established infrastructure, infinite array of potential routes and tasks, breath taking scenery and local hospitality.

Our first course in 2008 is from the 21 - 27 June. When, after the optional SIV section of the course, we make use of the smooth reliable thermals and fly over the superb mountains of the Le Dent, Tournette and possibly the Aravis. It's the best way to start the season and dust off the cobwebs in relaxed and beautiful surroundings with some great flying potential. On these trips we will be concentrating on airtime and relaxation so we will visit some great sites and have multiple take offs each day.

The courses will be run by Myself, Chris White and Tim Johns who are great mates of mine and have been working with me in France, Spain, Russia and Brazil for over 5 years. Both have a lot of experience flying in and around Chamonix and Annecy and they are incredibly gifted pilots and instructors.

Our students usually fly to Geneva airport, (which is served by some of the low cost airlines) where they are met and taken to their accommodation. Others choose to drive. (Annecy is a 7-hour drive from Calais, with motorway class roads all the way)

Lake Annecy is reputedly the cleanest lake in Europe, the water temperature in summer is usually in the high 20s, making swimming there very pleasant. We are running SIV courses here from spring 2007.

The beautiful town of Annecy is on the North shore of the lake, with the other three sides flanked by hills & mountains. It is often possible to fly around the lake; the “grande tour du lac” is a triangle of around 70km, while the “petite tour” is a 25km triangle.

Pilots often fly from Annecy to Chamonix, (around 60km) on a good day it is possible to turn around and fly back.

In July of 2007, we flew great distances and student produced a lot of ”personal best“ flights, with some pilots accumulating 20 hours or more in a week.

Annecy is a place that I will never grow tired of as every time I return, I feel that I have barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer.