Together with HELVETIA, the Swiss Hang Gliding Association has designed insurance products exclusively for its members.
Insurance Types
- Pilot
- Info
According to the Regulations for Special Category Aircraft (Art. 13), pilot liability insurance is mandatory in Switzerland for owners of hang gliders. In concrete terms, pilot liability insurance is compulsory:
- as soon as you fly with your own hang glider, even during the training in the flying school!
- for every flight after obtaining your license, regardless of who is the owner of the hang glider (including flights with equipment from the flying school)!
In both cases the insurance cover is only valid after payment of the premium.
You can order the cover via the insurance application form (in the red field above).
- Basic insurance
Pilot Liability insurance
- Covers liability claims against third parties on the ground & airborne collisions
- CHF 82.50 / year
- Guaranteed sum: CHF 10 million
- Accident insurance
Supplementary insurance can only be taken out by holders of the basic insurance.
Accident insurance
Normally all Swiss Citizens are covered by their normal accident insurance. However, it is possible to take out an insurance policy specifically for hang-gliding accidents. More detailed information can be found in the General Terms and Conditions or in the recommendations of the SHV.
- Salvage of Flying Equipment
Supplementary insurance can only be taken out by holders of basic insurance.
Salvage of Flying Equipment
- Covers the recovery, carried out by experts, of Flying equipment including accessories after an accident.
- CHF 28.00 / year
- Coverage: up to CHF 5'000 per case.
- Info
- Tandem
- Info
A special tandem insurance is already required by law during the Tandem 1 training.
This insurance not only protects the passenger but also the pilot and is important for the image of our sport.
You can order the cover via the insurance application form (in the red field above).
- Basic insurance
Tandem Pilot Liability insurance
This insurance covers the services of the normal pilot insurance (liability towards third parties on the ground and in the air) and is additionally considered as liability insurance against claims from passengers.
Which insurance is the right one for you? The decisive factor is how often you do commercial flights.
Prices valid from 01.01.2025Tandem pilot with few or no commercial tandem flights
Tandem flights non-commercial Guaranteed sum for claims by passengers CHF 5 mio CHF 257.- Premium for individual commercial tandem flights: CHF 21.40 (booklet of 10 tickets = CHF 214.-) Tandem pilot with frequent commercial tandem flights:
Tandem flights commercial Guaranteed sum for claims by passengers CHF 5 mio CHF 967.-
When is a flight considered to be commercial?Two conditions must be fulfilled:
- You earn something from the flight. This means that the passenger not only pays the pilot's costs (equipment, insurance premiums, ground transportation, take-off/landing fees, etc.), but also a fee.
- You (or the company you work for) offer Tandem flights for a basically unlimited number of people. I.e. you fly not only with friends and acquaintances, but also with people you do not know.
The passenger's point of view is the relevant factor. Thus, the flight is commercial even if the pilot does not advertise himself and receives no fee, but the flight school/biplace provider on whose behalf he operates the flight fulfils both conditions.
- Accident insurance
Accident insurance
An accident insurance makes sense especially for frequent flights with foreign passengers.
The liability insurance only covers damages if the pilot has made a mistake. If the passenger is injured through no fault of the pilot, the passenger's accident insurance comes into play. This is particularly problematic for foreign passengers, because they often have insufficient accident insurance. Especially for passengers from outside the EU, hospitals refuse treatment if the passenger does not make a large advance payment.
Prices valid from 01.01.2025Insurance Cover Premium Passenger accident insurance Medical costs
Cover: CHF 100,000 medical costs in CH, in addition to existing accident insurancesCHF 622.- Passenger accident insurance Medical costs
Cover: CHF 100,000 in addition to existing accident insurances
Death: CHF 20'000.-; Disability: CHF 100'000.-CHF 1'738.- - Salvage of Flying Equipment
Supplementary insurance can only be taken out by holders of the basic insurance (liability insurance).
Salvage of Flying Equipment
- Covers the recovery, carried out by experts, of flying equipment including accessories after an incident.
- CHF 28.- / year
- Coverage: up to CHF 5'000 per case.
- Info
- Flight instructor
- Info
You can order the cover via the insurance application form (in the red field above).
- Accident insurance
Accident insurance (Flight instructor)
An accident insurance makes sense especially for frequent flights with foreign passengers.
The liability insurance only covers damages if the pilot has made a mistake. If the passenger is injured through no fault of the pilot, the passenger's accident insurance comes into play. This is particularly problematic for foreign passengers, because they often have insufficient accident insurance. Especially for passengers from outside the EU, hospitals refuse treatment if the passenger does not make a large advance payment.
You can either take out year-round insurance or insure individual flights (unlimited validity, booklet of 10 coupons). The coverage of the coupons remains unchanged.
Prices valid from 01.01.2025Insurance Cover Premium Passenger accident insurance Medical costs
Cover: CHF 100,000 medical costs in CH, in addition to existing accident insurancesCHF 622.- Passenger accident insurance Medical costs
Cover: CHF 100,000 in addition to existing accident insurances
Death: CHF 20'000.-; Disability: CHF 100'000.-CHF 1'738.- - Basic insurance
Flight instructor liability insurance
This insurance covers the benefits of the pilot and tandem insurance. In addition, claims by student pilots against the flight instructor and his flight assistants are covered.
Prices valid from 01.01.2025Flight instructor with few or no commercial tandem flights
Instructor, non-commercial tandem flights Guaranteed sum for claims by passengers CHF 5 mio CHF 408.- Premium for individual commercial tandem flights: CHF 21.40 (booklet of 10 tickets = CHF 214.-) Flight instructor with frequent commercial tandem flights:
Instructor, commercial tandem flights Guaranteed sum for claims by passengers CHF 5 mio CHF 1'055.- - Salvage of Flying Equipment
Supplementary insurance can only be taken out by holders of basic insurance (liability insurance).
Salvage of Flying Equipment
- Covers the recovery, carried out by experts, of flying equipment including accessories after an incident.
- CHF 28.- / year
- Coverage: up to CHF 5'000.- per case.
- Info
- Flight schools and traders
- Owner's liability
Third party liability as holder of flying material
Compulsory cover for anyone who hires out flying equipment.
Example: If a student pilot receives a paraglider for a limited period of time (for the first 20 flights, for example), the flight school remains the owner of the paraglider. The flight school is legally obliged to take out liability insurance for this.
Prices valid from 01.01.2025Premium: CHF 444.- / year. Free of charge for SHV flight schools.
Please order this cover by e-mail at info(a)shv-fsvl.ch.
- Business liability
Prices valid from 01.01.2025Commercial liability insurance for flight schools
Includes liability arising from school operations, including the arrangement of passenger flights.
Flight schools For guaranteed sum of CHF 3 million: CHF 355.- For guaranteed sum of CHF 5 million: CHF 603.- Commercial liability insurance for traders and manufacturers
Covers liability from activities such as trade, sales, service and maintenance.
Traders For guaranteed sum of CHF 5 millions: CHF 444.- For guaranteed sum of CHF 10 millions: CHF 639.- - Salvage of Flying Equipment
Prices valid from 01.01.2025- Covers the recovery of the rented aircraft (student pilot) including accessories after an incident, which is carried out by specialists.
- CHF 89.- / year
- Cover: up to CHF 5'000.- per case.
- Owner's liability
- Rega (air-rescue)
Rega is not an insurance - a Rega membership is neither a substitute for the Pilot Liability Insurance, nor for the salvage insurance! However, we recommend all our members to become Rega patrons.
FAQ
- At what point do I need pilot liability insurance?
According to the Regulations for Special Category Aircraft (Art. 13), pilot liability insurance is mandatory in Switzerland for owners of hang gliders. In concrete terms, pilot liability insurance is compulsory:
- as soon as you fly with your own hang glider, even during the training in the flying school!
- for every flight after obtaining your license, regardless of who is the owner of the hang glider (including flights with equipment from the flying school)!
In both cases the insurance cover is only valid after payment of the premium.
- When can I cancel my membership?
If possible, you should cancel your membership in writing by the end of September, but no later than 15 December.
- Who pays for the rescue and salvage in the event of an accident or a tree landing?
The rescue of the pilot is covered by the accident insurance. This also applies if the pilot is uninjured. Accident insurance through the health insurance: clarify with the health insurance provider if an additional insurance is necessary.
Self-rescue from a tree landing can be very dangerous. Therefore, if the situation is stable and self-rescue is not looking very safe, call for rescue and wait.
The accident insurance does not pay for the salvage of flying equipment. A separate SHV insurance policy can be taken out for this purpose.
- I am a Rega patron. Do I still need pilot insurance?
Yes!
Rega will rescue you in an emergency and if you are a Rega patron, it may waive any remaining rescue costs (see Rega patronage regulations). However, Rega is not an insurance policy and is therefore neither a substitute for the statutory pilot liability insurance nor for the pilot's salvage insurance.
- Who can take out SHV insurance with Helvetia?
Only active members of the SHV with residence in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
- Is the insurance also valid abroad?
Yes, the insurance cover applies worldwide. However, if the regulations applicable abroad are violated, benefits could be reduced.
- Duration of the insurance?
From the beginning of January to the end of December. Only valid after payment has been made.
- Do I have to fly a homologated glider?
No, all hang gliders, whether homologated or not, are covered by the insurance.
- Does the owner have to insure each of his individual hang gliders?
No, but it is forbidden to fly two hang gliders with the same insurance at the same time.
- Am I also insured when participating in competitions?
Yes. In the case of grossly negligent flying, benefits may be reduced, as is the case with all sporting activities, e.g. if a beginner flies with a high performance glider.
- Are collisions in the air covered?
Yes (applies to pilots, tandems, flight instructors and flight schools, manufacturers and dealers).
- Does the insurance also apply to skydivers?
From January 1st, 2025, skydiving is no longer covered.
- Does the insurance also apply to base jumping?
No.
- Does the insurance also apply to kitesurfing?
No.
- Powered flying, powered flying abroad?
Flying with an electric motor is covered, even abroad. Flying with a petrol engine is not covered at all.
- Does the tandem insurance also include the pilot insurance?
Yes.
- Does the tandem insurance also cover family members?
Yes.
- Does the passenger have to sign anything before the flight?
We recommend that the passenger confirms that: ‘The guest confirms that he/she has fully understood the instructions for take-off, flight and landing. The guest undertakes to follow the pilot's instructions at all times.’
We also recommend using the General Terms and Conditions (GTC). See column on the right. - At what age is parental consent not required for a biplace flight?
Children from the age of 10 who are able to make sound judgements can conclude valid contracts using their own pocket money or money they have rightfully earned (e.g. apprenticeship wage) without the consent of their parents (Art. 323 paragraph. 1 Swiss Civil Code). Making sound judgements is defined as being able to reasonably think about and weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a decision.
From the age of 14 it can be assumed that the contract is valid. It is advisable to have a conversation with the child beforehand in order to find out his motives for the flight and to assess his "maturity" (ability to judge).
- Does the flight instructor insurance also apply to tandem flights?
Yes, if the pilot has the necessary tandem license.
- What about winch towing?
The use of winches and towing ropes is covered by the supplementary insurance for public liability at flying schools.
SHV clubs are covered by SHV's business liability insurance.
- Does my flying school also have liability insurance for other sporting activities than paragliding (hiking, cycling, scooter riding, etc.) during a package tour?
No, only activities that are directly related to flying are insured. Other sports activities are therefore not insured. Recommendation: Do not carry out other activities yourself, but have them conducted by external persons.
- What is to be done in the event of loss or damage?
The SHV must be notified immediately using the damages claim form (see column on the right).The SHV must be notified immediately using the damages claim form (see column on the right).
- I am moving my place of residence abroad
If you move abroad, SHV insurance will no longer apply.Take out insurance in the new country. For more information, contact your national hang glider association. If you officially confirm your permanent departure by e-mail to the SHV, you will receive the insurance premium back pro rata.
- I damaged my hang glider.
You need an additional fully comprehensive insurance. We recommend Helvetia.
- I have damaged a borrowed hang glider.
You need an additional fully comprehensive insurance. We recommend Helvetia.
Recommendations of the SHV
Claim Form
AVB (gültig ab 01.01.2025)
Gemeinsame Bestimmungen
Liste der Hersteller / Liste des fabricants
General Terms and Conditions passenger
