US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association, Inc.

What US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association, Inc. does

USHPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit national governing body for hang gliding, paragliding, and speed flying in the United States, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, with 8 employees. The organization serves individual pilots ranging from first-time students to experienced free-flight enthusiasts, plus certified instructors, flight schools, and more than 50 local chapters. It is the only nationally recognized free-flight governing body in the U.S. and holds formal partnerships with the FAA, FAI, and NAA.

Core offerings are membership-based services rather than technology products. These include the USHPA Pilot Proficiency Program (a tiered rating and certification system), a quarterly Pilot Magazine delivered in print and electronic form, third-party liability insurance administered through Recreation Risk Retention Group (RRRG), competition sanctioning, a certified-instructor and school locator network, tandem training under FAA Exemption 4721, and aerotowing operations under FAA Exemption 4144. Supporting member benefits include ExpertVoice gear discounts for H2/P2/S2-rated pilots and opt-in communications from the Foundation for Free Flight. USHPA also maintains an archived HGMA airworthiness certification program following the dissolution of the Hang Glider Manufacturers Association in June 2022.

The business model is subscription/membership-dues-driven, with tiered offerings including 10-day temporary, 60-day student, and annual pilot memberships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; all transactions occur through the website (ushpa.org). Revenue diversification signals include the Raptor charitable donation program and ExpertVoice partner referrals, but dues remain the primary recurring revenue stream. There is no proprietary technology platform, no app, no disclosed AI/ML infrastructure, and no parent company or external equity ownership; governance rests with a volunteer board of directors and a professional executive director.

Name

US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association, Inc.

Legal name

United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc.

Website

https://ushpa.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

USHPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit national governing body for hang gliding, paragliding, and speed flying in the United States, founded in 1974 and serving pilots, instructors, and 50+ local chapters through membership-based ratings, insurance, magazine, and FAA advocacy programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational aviation governing body

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ)

Keywords

• Free flight governing body
• Pilot proficiency ratings
• Hang gliding certification
• Paragliding association
• Aerotowing exemptions

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: USHPA generates primary revenue through annual membership dues, with tiered options including 10-day temporary memberships, 60-day student memberships, and annual pilot memberships. Members receive a subscription to USHPA Pilot Magazine, insurance coverage through RRRG, access to ratings and certification programs, and partner discounts through ExpertVoice.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

USHPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization that serves as America's only nationally recognized free-flight governing body for hang gliding, paragliding, and speed flying. It sells annual memberships that bundle pilot proficiency ratings, third-party liability insurance through RRRG, a quarterly Pilot Magazine, discounted gear access via ExpertVoice, and access to certified instructors, local chapters, and sanctioned competitions.

Product overview

USHPA operates as a single unified membership-based organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services for the free flight community. The core offerings include the USHPA Pilot Proficiency Program for ratings and certifications, USHPA Pilot Magazine (quarterly publication), and third-party liability insurance through RRRG. Supporting programs include training and certification networks with certified instructors, 50+ local chapter support, competition sanctioning, FAA regulatory resources, and tandem/aerotowing operation programs under FAA exemptions. Additional member benefits include ExpertVoice gear discounts. The HGMA Airworthiness Certification Archive preserves historical hang glider certification records from the dissolved Hang Glider Manufacturers Association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• USHPA Pilot Magazine: Official magazine of USHPA, published quarterly in electronic and print format
• USHPA Pilot Proficiency Program
• HGMA Certification Program

Products and services

• USHPA Membership Annual membership program for individual hang gliding, paragliding, and speed flying pilots in the United States, bundling access to the Pilot Proficiency Program, third-party liability insurance, quarterly Pilot Magazine, gear discounts, and 50+ chapter network.
• USHPA Pilot Proficiency Program Certification and rating program allowing pilots to earn and progress through proficiency levels (H/P/S) in hang gliding, paragliding, and speed flying.
• USHPA Pilot Magazine Official quarterly magazine delivered electronically and in print to members, covering free-flight news, safety, and industry developments.
• Third-Party Liability Insurance (via RRRG) Liability insurance provided through Recreation Risk Retention Group (RRRG) for members, with international coverage options for rated pilots H3/P3 and above.
• USHPA Training and Certification Network Network of certified instructors and training resources for learning to fly hang gliders, paragliders, and speedwings.
• Chapter Support Program Support for 50+ local chapters nationwide including organizational resources, event coordination, and community building.
• Competition Sanctioning Official sanctioning of hang gliding and paragliding competitions in the United States.
• Tandem Training Program Two-place instructional training program for tandem hang gliding and paragliding operations, conducted under FAA Exemption 4721.
• Aerotowing Operations Program Towing operations program allowing powered ultralight vehicles to tow hang gliders, governed under FAA Exemption 4144.
• ExpertVoice Discount Program Gear discount program available to members rated H2/P2/S2 and above, providing access to discounts on industry partner brands through ExpertVoice.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSHPA works with the FAA to govern hang gliding, paragliding, and speed flying under FAR Part 103. The FAA has granted USHPA specific exemptions for tandem operations (Exemption 4721) and aerotowing operations (Exemption 4144), allowing members to conduct these activities under regulated conditions.
• FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational air sports federation that sanctions free flight competitions. USHPA represents the United States in FAI activities as the nationally recognized governing body.
• NAA (National Aeronautic Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSHPA partners with the NAA for advocacy and representation in national aviation matters, complementing its FAA relationship.
• RRRG (Recreation Risk Retention Group)coreOthersRRRG provides third-party liability insurance coverage to USHPA members. Members rated H3/P3 and above also have access to international coverage options for travel. This insurance is a key membership benefit.
• ExpertVoiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers rated H2/P2/S2 and above receive access to ExpertVoice, which provides exclusive discounts on gear from industry partner brands. This is a member benefit program delivered through a third-party platform.
• Foundation for Free FlightminorOthersUSHPA members may opt-in to receive communications from the Foundation for Free Flight regarding their programs. The Foundation is a separate nonprofit organization aligned with USHPA's mission.
• Hang Glider Manufacturers Association (HGMA)minorOthersThe HGMA was an international association of hang glider manufacturers that administered airworthiness testing standards from 1977 to 2022. USHPA maintains archived web pages of the HGMA program. The HGMA was dissolved in June 2022 due to declining activity in hang glider manufacturing. USHPA preserves the airworthiness certification program information.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Academy of Model Aeronautics: NGB for model aviation in the U.S., sanctioned by the FAA under a similar community-safety framework. Operates with comparable member dues, insurance offerings, chapter structure, and advocacy role for a recreational aviation discipline.
• Soaring Society of America: NGB for sailplane/soaring aviation in the U.S. Operates an almost identical member-and-rating model under FAA oversight, with chapters, instructor networks, and competition sanctioning. The structural analogue to USHPA in a closely adjacent free-flight discipline.
• Balloon Federation of America: NGB for hot air ballooning in the U.S. with a member-rating-instructor-insurance stack directly parallel to USHPA's, and the same FAA regulatory interface. Closest functional mirror in non-fixed-wing recreational aviation.
• United States Ultralight Association: U.S. organization representing ultralight aviation under FAR Part 103, the same regulatory framework USHPA pilots operate within. Overlapping pilot community and policy interests with USHPA, particularly around Part 103 advocacy.

Regional players

• British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association: UK governing body for hang gliding and paragliding, structurally identical to USHPA (ratings, instructors, insurance, site access). Direct functional equivalent serving a different national market.
• Fédération Française de Vol Libre: French national federation for free flight sports (hang gliding, paragliding, speed flying). Mirror organization to USHPA in a major European market, indicating how peer national bodies operate the same model at scale.

Broad incumbents

• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): Major U.S. general-aviation membership and advocacy organization. Operates a similar dues-based member services model with insurance and advocacy, but at far greater scale and across the full GA population rather than a niche sport.
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA): Large, established U.S. organization for recreational and experimental aviation. Overlaps with USHPA in advocating for sport pilots and operating member chapters, but covers a much broader portfolio of aircraft and disciplines.

Others

• Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI): International air-sports federation under which USHPA is the U.S. voting member. Not a competitor but a parent-tier governance body that USHPA's international competition sanctioning and pilot credentials flow through.
• Civil Air Patrol: U.S. civilian aviation organization with similar member-based structure and aviation advocacy mission, though focused on emergency services and aerospace education rather than sport flying. Useful benchmark for U.S. aviation-membership organization scale and operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-states-hang-gliding-&-paragliding-association-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association, Inc.