Formed to Protect Free Flight

The mission of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc. (USHPA), a not for profit 501(c)(3) entity, is to "Ensure The Future Of Free Flight." The term "Free Flight" refers to flight in unpowered ultralight vehicles - Hang Gliders and Paragliders.

Part of fulfilling that mission is to ensure that insurance is available to cover pilots, chapters, flying site landowners, instructors and flight schools.

Over the years, USHPA and flight schools have been able to find liability insurance and professional liability insurance on the commercial insurance market. In 2015, the commercial carrier that insured USHPA and some of the largest flight schools in the U.S., announced that it was discontinuing the insurance program.

In order to fill this insurance need, USHPA decided to self insure. USHPA created a Risk Retention Group, together with the Professional Air Sports Association, a not for profit 501(c)(6) entity, the Foundation for Free Flight, a not for profit 501(c)(3) entity, and various for profit hang gliding and paragliding flight schools, in order to provide insurance coverage for these entities as insureds and their members, chapters and flying site landowners as additional insureds.