Celebrating 20 years of SkySchool
Alex Ledger
Managing Director and master instructor
Alex is a highly experienced Paramotor Instructor and also the Secretary of APPI Power, the International Paramotoring and ParaTriking Association, which he founded in 2011.
He learned to Skydive in 2003 and qualified as a BASI Snowboard Instructor in 2004. The same year he discovered Paramotoring and started running SkySchool. He was the CFI until 2017 and now continues to manage the company, while helping run the European SkyWeek Trips.
Over the years he has been involved in several pioneering projects, namely Flying for Heroes in 2014, Paramotoring from John O'Groats to Lands End in 2016, the BBC documentary Extreme Wales with Richard Parks in 2017 and the World's First Electric Paramotor Expedition in NEOM in 2021.
Alex lives in Chamonix, France where he pursues his passion for Paragliding, Snowboarding and Trail Running.
Tel: +44(0)7747 097527
Email: info@skyschooluk.com
Zebur Mercan
Master Instructor
Zebur has been flying since 1999 and is a highly experienced pilot. Originally from Turkey, Zebur moved to Scotland in 2001. He met Alex during an APPI PPG Instructor Workshop in the UK in 2013 and joined SkySchool in the same year. He is a fully qualified APPI PPG & ParaTrike Master Instructor.
Zebur is also a passionate Kitesurfer and travels around the world either flying or kiting when not working for SkySchool.
Tel: +44(0)7932 277332
Email: zebur.mercan@gmail.com
Ricardo Maciel
Master Instructor
Ricardo learnt to Paraglide in Brazil in 1997 and how to Paramotor in California in 2002. He met Alex during an APPI PPG Instructor Workshop in Brazil in 2014 and joined SkySchool in 2018. He is fully qualified APPI PPG & ParaTrike Master Instructor.
Ricardo is also one of the highest qualified Mechanic's outside of the Vittorazi factory, which allows him to service their engines and run Paramotor Maintenance Courses during the winter. He also used to compete around the world as a member of the Brazilian Paramotor team.
Tel: +44(0)7862 441924
Email: ricardo@skyopsx.com
Dan Kaye
Operations Manager and Instructor
Dan learnt to fly in 2018 and immediately became part of the SkySchool Team. He worked as a full time Assistant Instructor at SkySchool up until 2020 and is now a part time Instructor and the Operations Manager.
When not involved with SkySchool he specialises in property and is based near Stratford-upon-Avon. He is also a very competent open water swimmer and loves paragliding.
Tel: +44(0)7568 135820
Email: dan@skyopsx.com
Bruce Daniels
Instructor
Bruce learnt to fly with SkySchool in 2020 at the tender age of 16, becoming the youngest fully qualified APPI PPG Pilot that we've ever taught! He started working with SkySchool as a Trainee Instructor during his summer holidays in 2021 and after leaving school in June 2022 he joined us as a full time Instructor before starting at Bath University in September 2023. He is now a qualified APPI PPG Instructor.
His skills and knowledge are well beyond his years. He is a very talented Pilot, as demonstrated when he won the British National Paramotor Championships in June 2024.
Tel: +44(0)7391 490725
Email: bagd.daniels@gmail.com
Ted Drinkall
Assistant Instructor
Ted sat a course with us during the disrupted 2020 season, initially in the UK and then in Portugal. At this stage he was studying Drama at Exeter University. After graduating he bought a Paramotor and did a lot of flying around his home in South Wales. He joined the SkySchool Team as a trainee Instructor in summer 2023 and is now a qualified APPI PPG Assistant Instructor. During the winter he helps run an adaptive skiing charity in Verbier, Switzerland.
Tel: +44(0)7714 787621
Email: teddrinkall@gmail.com
Jef Leirs
Assistant Instructor
Jef learned to Paramotor with us in 2022. His previous Paragliding experience allowed him to develop his Paramotoring skills really quickly. During his training he expressed an interest in becoming an Instructor and joined us in Portugal and Spain in 2023 as a trainee Assistant Instructor. He is now a qualified APPI PPG Assistant Instructor and helps us run courses in Europe in the Spring and Autumn. Originally from Belgium, Jef currently lives in London and when not instructing he works as a Luthier, which is the technical name for a Violin maker!
Tel: +44(0)7443 807030
Email: jef.l@hotmail.com
Peter Trott
SkyWeek Guide
Pete learnt how to fly with SkySchool in 2020 and quickly slotted into the team having joined us for a month in Europe. He then sat an APPI PPG Instructor Workshop with us in the UK in May 2022 and is now a qualified Assistant Instructor. He currently works with us as a Flying Guide on our SkyWeek Trips.
In his youth, many years ago, he served with the Parachute Regiment for 6 years before becoming a self employed carpenter based in Southampton. When not working with SkySchool he spends as much time as possible flying with ex SkySchool students and other Paramotor Pilots in various locations throughout the UK.
He absolutely loves flying and will take any opportunity to get airborne!
Tel: +44(0)7768 173183
Email: skyschoolpete@gmail.com
Charlotte Ledger
Secretary
Charlotte is Alex's sister and runs the SkySchool office near Banbury, Oxfordshire. She first started working as a photographer for SkySchool in Cyprus in 2005 when she visited Alex after leaving school.
In 2008 she visited SkySchool in Spain where she had her first Tandem ParaTrike flight and Skydive, giving her an idea of what all the fuss is about!
Since then she has travelled around the world working in the Polo industry. She now lives with her daughter Emilia in Warwickshire where she pursues her passion for acting on stage.
Tel: +44 (0)7530 102708
Email: charlotteledger.13@gmail.com