Paragliding Weight Limit, Age and Health Requirements

Requirements at a Glance

This table covers the standard case for a tandem flight. Requirements for solo flying (pilot licence) are different and more demanding.

Paragliding Weight Limit: What You Need to Know

Minimum Weight

Below 20 kg (44 lbs), a tandem wing doesn't generate enough lift to behave predictably. Most schools set the threshold at 25 kg (55 lbs) to ensure a comfortable flight. In practice, that corresponds to a child of about 6 to 8 years old.

Maximum Weight

The upper limit depends on the MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight), which adds together the pilot's weight, the passenger's weight and equipment. A standard tandem wing supports an MTOW of 130 to 220 kg (286-485 lbs), depending on the model. In practice, most operators set the passenger limit between 90 and 110 kg (198-242 lbs). Some accept up to 120 kg (265 lbs), especially in the afternoon when thermals provide more lift.

If you weigh between 100 and 120 kg (220-265 lbs), contact the operator before booking. It's not a refusal, it's about matching the right equipment and time slot.

How Wind Affects the Weight Limit

The maximum weight isn't a fixed number. In light wind, a pilot will be more cautious with a heavier passenger (take-off requires more speed). In stronger wind, the margin is wider. That's why some operators in Interlaken or the Zillertal offer specific time slots for passengers over 100 kg (220 lbs), often mid-morning when thermal conditions are most favourable.

Age Requirements for Paragliding

Children

Most operators accept children from age 5, some from age 3. The child must be able to sit in the harness and follow the pilot's instructions during take-off. Children's flights are typically scheduled in the morning when the air is calm.

At Interlaken, one of Europe's most popular paragliding spots with 7 tour options, several schools run dedicated children's packages from age 5, with shorter flights and adapted supervision.

Seniors

There is no upper age limit. Passengers over 80 regularly fly tandem. The only requirement: being able to jog a few steps at take-off and lift your legs on landing. If you walk comfortably in everyday life, paragliding is accessible.

Health Requirements and Contraindications

Absolute Contraindications

Certain medical conditions are incompatible with a paragliding flight:

• Uncontrolled epilepsy (seizure risk at altitude)
• Serious, untreated heart conditions (altitude and mild stress raise heart rate)
• Recent surgery (back, shoulders, pelvis)

Relative Contraindications

These conditions aren't an automatic disqualification, but you should discuss them with the operator before flying:

• Chronic back problems (the harness puts pressure on the pelvis)
• Sedative or anticoagulant medication
• Severe anxiety or panic attacks (different from vertigo, which is generally not an issue in flight)

When in doubt, a medical opinion is always wise, even though no certificate is formally required.

Special Cases

Pregnancy. Most operators refuse pregnant passengers from the first trimester onwards. Take-off and landing involve minor jolts, and the harness compresses the abdomen.

Physical disability. Some operators offer adapted flights with special harnesses and assisted take-off. It's rare but it exists. Contact the operator directly to check.

Vertigo. Vertigo is a reaction to an edge or a drop. In paragliding, seated in a harness with no contact with the ground, most people who experience vertigo feel none at all. The guide to paragliding risks covers this in detail.

For pricing by destination, the paragliding cost guide compares offers from CHF 191 in Interlaken to €65 in southern Spain.