Chad Bastian - Owner/Operator and Lead Instructor of Fly Above All, instructs students in Beginner, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced Paragliding, as well as Paramotoring, Tow Pilot, Tow Technician, and Tandem Instructor skills and ratings. He also instructs many specialty Clinics, including Maneuvers, Thermal, Cross Country, Competition, Ridge Soaring and Weather. Whatever your flying focus, Chad is determined to train safe pilots, with solid skills in all aspects of paragliding.

If the video does not play, CLICK HERE Video by Clémence Boulloud & Chad Bastian

Chad learned to fly a paraglider from Ken deRussy in Santa Barbara in 1993. He gained skill and confidence flying his local Santa Barbara Mountains and quickly began visiting sites all over California and then throughout the country.

In his first full year of flying, he logged over 900 hours of airtime in a paraglider, flying in varied conditions around Santa Barbara including short training hill flights, smooth ocean ridge lift cruises, 3,000 feet evening sled rides, punchy bullet thermal mountain flights and longer cross country high altitude forays in the nearby mountains.

In 1998, Chad Bastian purchased the Hang Glider and Paraglider Emporium from his instructor and renamed the school Fly Above All. Chad was determined to continue the legacy of quality Paragliding education for one of the longest running foot launched flight schools in the US. Through Chad's vision, Fly Above All has grown, and is annually training one of the highest numbers of Novice pilots in the country. More importantly, Fly Above All and its instructors are nationally recognized for their quality of instruction and the community of pilots that surrounds it.

Chad's enthusiasm for paragliding is evident. Every time you speak to him, watch him fly, or work with a student, you'll see him spreading his love for this great sport. Chad is determined to train the highest caliber of students that will share his love for the sport and continue to give back to the flying community.

Chad began competing in 1997 at the National Championships in Chelan WA. Since then, he has taken part in almost all of the USHGA sanctioned competitions held in the US. Chad feels that flying in the competitions is more than just racing, competing and rankings. "They are the best clinics that can be attended. You completely immerse yourself in the sport for a week; flying, following and talking with the best pilots in the world."

In 2001 Chad represented the US National Paragliding Team in the World Competition in Spain along with six other top US pilots. The US Paragliding National Championships in the Owens Valley were organized by Fly Above All in 2002.

Chad has recently become interested in maneuvers and aerobatics and believes that practicing maneuvers over water can help you gain a much better understanding of your glider. Chad has worked with some of the top US aerobatic pilots to coach over-the-water safety courses.

Chad holds the highest safety award possible from the USHGA (Fifth Diamond- 5,000 consecutive safe flights), now with approximately 12,426 flights. He is also one of the few P-5 Master rated Pilots, the highest paragliding rating available. Chad's Tandem III rating is also the highest tandem rating available.

His paragliding experience and time is also one of the highest in the U.S. (over 7,000 hours of airtime). He has held the Utah State cross-country record of 91.4 miles, and has a single flight that lasted for over 10 hours.

Mission Statement

Paragliding is the purest form of personal flight, as easy and safe as aviation ever gets. Flying a paraglider is an incredibly exhilirating experience. The feeling of fluid motion, being disconnected from the earth and having an unobstructed view; it's even more than this, and not something that is so easily definable. It's sensational, to be able to fly!

Enjoying the benefits and managing the risks of this sport is what our school is all about.