Do pilots need to be licensed to fly hanggliders?
Not really, but a program analogous to FAA licensing exists and is administered by the USHGA (US Hanggliding Association). This program consists of a specific set of flying skills corresponding to a series of pilot proficiency ratings (Beginner through Master) each of which carries a set of recommended operating limitations. Beginner rated pilots, for instance, should only fly from hills under 100 ft in height in mild winds and under the guidance of an instructor. While these ratings don’t carry the force of law in quite the same way as FAA pilot’s licenses do, the majority of flying sites in the US require that pilots hold some specific USHGA rating to be allowed to fly solo.
