Planai Startplatz 1

Planai Startplatz 1 sits at roughly 1,335 m above the Enns valley near Schladming, Austria, with takeoff options facing north, northeast and northwest. It's a well-established mountain launch reached by the Planai cable car, with a paragliding school running altitude-training courses from here, so it sees a steady mix of supervised students and independent pilots. The takeoff itself is a broad grass clearing cut into the forest at the cable car's middle station, though it's partly restricted in winter when the area doubles as a ski run. Getting there is straightforward: drive up to the toll barrier or ride the cable car to the middle station and walk a short distance to the grass. The designated landing field, Planai Landeplatz, is a large meadow northeast of Schladming beside the railway line — spacious in normal conditions, but pilots should watch for strong east winds, which can push the approach past the field entirely.

Launch & conditions

Grass takeoff cut into forest at the Planaibahn's middle station, reached by cable car or a short drive to the toll barrier; the field is used for ski runs in winter, which limits access.

Getting there & local rules

Drive to just below the toll barrier, or ride the Planai cable car to the middle station, then walk a short distance to the takeoff meadow.

Local rules & hazards

In strong easterly wind, don't push toward Schladming — it can leave the main landing field out of reach, so plan a safe alternative early. The landing meadow northeast of town, next to the railway, is otherwise straightforward, but watch for gusty valley wind on approach.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Planai Startplatz 1, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Planai Startplatz 1 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.