Whitehorse now has its first dedicated school for paramotoring — powered paragliding — after the Yukon Eagles Paramotor School opened in June. The program, run by pilot and instructor Alexandre Leveugle, is operating from Cousins Airstrip and is offering Yukoners a new way to take to the territory’s skies.
What paramotoring looks like in the Yukon
On a windless evening at the airstrip, Leveugle ascended with a roughly 60‑pound engine strapped to his back, the motor’s steady hum audible from the ground hundreds of metres below. The bright sail above him formed a large crescent against the pale sky as he floated over the trees under the midnight sun.
“It’s the dream,”
Leveugle said, smiling after landing. He described the experience by pointing out simple sensory details — watching birds and animals, feeling the wind — elements he said draw people to small‑engine flight.
Instructor background and local need
Leveugle taught paramotoring in France before moving to Whitehorse with his family in 2022. Upon arrival he noticed the territory lacked a school, club or community dedicated to the sport, and set out to fill that gap.
He told observers paramotoring can be less difficult to learn than some other flight sports practised locally, such as paragliding or hang gliding. He characterised the equipment as approachable and said many newcomers find it immediately compelling.
“The paramotor, it’s very, very easy,”
Members of the community have already been present during training sessions. One student, Gilbert Goulet, and his son Arthur were observed watching from the ground while Leveugle performed a short flight at Cousins Airstrip.
Practical details and what to expect
The new school’s early operations take place at a familiar access point for recreational flyers: Cousins Airstrip near Whitehorse. Equipment used in demonstrations includes a back‑mounted engine unit weighing about 60 pounds and the associated gliding sail.
Those interested in trying paramotoring can expect an experience distinct from unpowered paragliding: the engine provides thrust, which allows takeoffs from relatively flat surfaces and gives pilots more flexibility in lift and range. The school positions the sport as an accessible form of aviation for people who want to fly without the infrastructure required for heavier aircraft.
- Location: Cousins Airstrip, Whitehorse
- School name: Yukon Eagles Paramotor School
- Instructor: Alexandre Leveugle (taught in France prior to moving to Whitehorse in 2022)
- Opened: June
- Equipment note: engine around 60 pounds
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| School | Yukon Eagles Paramotor School |
| Primary location | Cousins Airstrip, Whitehorse |
| Instructor | Alexandre Leveugle |
| Approximate engine weight | 60 pounds |
Local impact and community response
The arrival of an instruction programme could broaden the territory’s aviation and outdoor recreation options. Paramotoring requires less ground infrastructure than heavier aircraft and could attract both hobbyists and visitors seeking scenic flights over Yukon landscapes. For residents who have watched paragliders and hang gliders in the territory, powered paragliding represents an alternative that some pilots and instructors describe as easier to master.
Leveugle’s decision to start the school followed his observation that Yukon previously lacked an organised community or training centre for the sport. Establishing a local school may also encourage the formation of clubs and shared safety practices among pilots, though any expansion will depend on sustained interest, weather windows and regulatory requirements.
For now, the school is in its early weeks of operation. Community members and potential students watching at the airstrip have been able to see demonstrations and speak with the instructor about lessons and the experience of powered flight in the North.
As with any aviation activity, those considering paramotoring should seek instruction from qualified pilots, learn about safety procedures and confirm equipment requirements before participating. The Yukon Eagles Paramotor School represents a new option for Yukoners to explore that route into the air.
— Reporting from Whitehorse for WE NEWS.
