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Paragliding and hanggliding in Denmark

Denmark offers some of Northern Europe’s best coastal and ridge soaring, plus tow-launching for both paragliders and hang gliders.

Before you fly here, please make yourself familiar with our national rules — it’s an important part of keeping our flying environment safe.

WARNING: Please read the sections on military areas and NOTAMs before you fly.

Find information about safety, rules and flying in Denmark below.

Before flying in Denmark you must:

  • Hold a pilot licence, minimum FAI IPPI 4 (bring your certificate)
    Have third-party liability insurance
    Wear an FAI-approved helmet (EN966)
    Check NOTAMs before every flight — this also applies to dune soaring!

Carry a reserve parachute if you plan to fly above 150 m. See the full rules in the next section.

  • You may fly on your national licence for a maximum of 30 days.
  • Your licence must be equivalent to FAI SafePro Para/Delta 4 (FAI IPPI 4). Always bring your certificate.
  • Third-party liability insurance is required.
  • An FAI-approved helmet (EN966) is mandatory.
  • No flying above 150 m (500 ft) without a reserve parachute.
  • VFR flights only, and only between sunrise and sunset.
  • Cross-country flying requires a rating equivalent to FAI SafePro Para/Delta 5b (FAI IPPI 5b).
  • The maximum altitude anywhere in Denmark is 1050 m (3500 ft MSL).
  • Teaching students at any level requires an instructor licence issued by the DHPU.

-> Link to the official rules and regulations (in English)

Yes — this is critical. Several military firing ranges include ridges and dunes that are ideal for coastal soaring. You may fly in them only when they are open to the public and no live firing is taking place.

In recent years, military activity has increased, especially on the southern part of the Danish west coast. Foreign pilots have been seen flying during exercises — this is dangerous, and the military will come to the beach and arrest pilots.

Restricted areas change from day to day, so you must check the Navigational Warnings for Danish airspace before every flight — especially along the coastline between Vejers/Blåvand and up to Hvide Sande. Note: all times are given in Zulu time (UTC).

-> Link to Navigational Warnings for Danish airspace.

Denmark has many fantastic coastal ridge-soaring possibilities — but not all areas are open to the public, and gliders already in the air don’t automatically mean you’re allowed to fly there.

In many cases, a Danish club has a private agreement with a landowner to use the ridge and the surrounding land for access, parking, launching and landing. This means special rules may apply, for example:

  • needing permission to fly in the area
  • specific no-fly zones or no-fly periods
  • a limit on how many gliders may be in the air at once

You must have the owner’s permission to launch and land on private property. If you’re in any doubt about whether an area is open, or about local regulations, contact the local Danish club.

-> Information on a selection of the most popular flying sites

Always keep track of the other pilots around you.

The rule: whoever has the ridge on their left must give way by altering course to the right, away from the ridge. Give way in good time and keep plenty of distance, so you don’t cause a collapse on the glider in your wind shadow.

Coastal soaring is very different from mountain flying and can be dangerous if you’re not used to it:

  • We often launch in stronger wind than is typical in the mountains, which demands more advanced ground-handling skills. Many accidents involving foreign pilots happen when launching in strong wind.
  • The wind on the beach may feel fine but be much stronger higher up. Pilots have been surprised by this and blown back into the rotor behind the crest, where collapses are likely.
  • Before launching from the beach, go to the top of the dune or ridge and measure or feel the wind there.
  • Never fly in winds stronger than 7 m/s (26 km/h), measured at the top of the dune or ridge.
  • Always fly with a speed bar.

Very experienced pilots may handle stronger winds — that doesn’t mean pilots unfamiliar with local conditions can do the same.

A parakite behaves very differently from a standard glider: it flies markedly faster and can actively both dive and climb. This adds a new dimension to the airspace that the pilots around you are not used to.

Important: parakites are legal in Denmark, but the legal picture varies from country to country — they are regulated in some, and not permitted in others, such as Germany. As a result, we see many visiting parakite pilots on the Danish coast — and as a parakite pilot, you carry a special responsibility for keeping mixed traffic safe.

The main safety issue is the combination of high speed and mixing with slower paraglider (PG) traffic — especially on the coastal ridges:

  • Speed difference — a paraglider flies at around 38 km/h. A parakite in soaring-trim flies around 45 km/h; in speed-trim, 60+ km/h. That difference leaves very little reaction time when you meet another pilot.
  • Unexpected three-dimensional movement — a parakite can actively dive and climb, not just fly a level ridge line. Ordinary paraglider pilots don’t expect this vertical movement and cannot predict where you’ll go next. Make your intentions clear, and keep well clear of other traffic.
  • Overtaking from behind — you will catch up with PG pilots from behind, and they won’t expect it. You must give way — and you need a plan before you reach them.
  • Ridge flying in traffic — on Danish coastal ridges, many pilots fly close together. Flying a parakite here demands constant attention to separation and respect for what the other pilots expect.
  • Your job — match your speed to the traffic. Use soaring-trim when flying among PG pilots, and save speed-trim for when you are alone or have clear separation.

Unlike thermalling, coastal soaring happens close to people, livestock and buildings, on a limited stretch of ridge that others are also using. If it’s your first time coastal soaring in Denmark, please read these:

  • Ask a local pilot — unsure about conditions, local regulations, private property or the best launch/landing spots? Contact the local club.
  • Show good airmanship — ridges get crowded with all levels; it’s not the place to show off.
  • Fly within your abilities — sites vary in difficulty and conditions can change fast.
  • Clean up after yourself — take your rubbish home at the end of the day.
  • Respect people, property and livestock — show respect to earn respect.
  • Show consideration — not everyone enjoys a glider hovering near their house. Keep moving, be discreet, and keep radio chatter to a minimum.
  • Protect the sand dunes — the West Coast dunes are a fragile, protected habitat. Marram grass and other plants stabilise the dunes and must not be trampled. Stick to marked paths and avoid walking through the vegetation.
  • Local clubs — for questions about conditions, private property, or the best launch and landing spots, the local club is your best contact. See the overview of Danish clubs
  • The DHPU office — as a visiting pilot, you’re welcome to contact our office with any questions about staying compliant with Danish regulations.

You will find this folder available at campsites and tourist information offices, or you can download it here.

Code of Conduct