FFPLUM

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FFPLUM

• French microlight aircraft pilots federation
• Air safety, accidents and causalities assessment

February 2006 situation
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Categories of French micro light aircrafts
February 2006 situation
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Simplicity of micro light aircrafts ratio
69 of the French ultra light aircrafts are
from simple and basic design

• Simple systems (no hydraulic device, no VP
  airscrew)
• Simple airframe building (mainly tube or wood
  fabric)
• Weight and balance not questionable, in any
  configuration
• Minimum IAS proved and tested without flaps

February 2006 situation
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FFPLUM exists since 1983.
Number of recorded members. stayed under 4.500
for the first 15 years.
It increases rapidly since 1998 to reach a total
of 10.532 at the end of 2005.
February 2006 situation
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Today, our federation represents 80 of French
microlight activity at least.
Note French microlight pilots have no obligation
to join FFPLUM.
February 2006 situation
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However, the data concerning Incidents,
accidents and casualties are exhaustive as they
come from the French civil aviation Government
office (DGAC).
February 2006 situation
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2005
February 2006 situation
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• Medical problems
• Airframe breakdowns
• Wrong kit assemblies

Are statisticaly speaking, anecdotic causes
5 engines in flight malfunctions are on the
average, and are not always followed by
fatalities.
It is doubtful that a certification procedure
could prevent from such rare event
February 2006 situation
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The major causes of microlight accidents are
obviously
Mishandling !
Misjudgment !
February 2006 situation
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Such hazards cant be reduced with a technical
regulation
Not with a certification
Nor with a heavy maintenance procedure
February 2006 situation
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1983 to 2005 evolution
1983
1993
2005
Total of events (green line) cant' be rigorously
presented for the initial period 1983/1989.
February 2006 situation
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Total of events (green line) represents all the
recorded events - fatal accidents (red
line) - injuries - material damages
For the last ten years, we deplore between 55 and
90 injured peoples each year. A not significant
increase results in motor paraglider take off and
landing, with more often than not, limited
injuries.
We can notice annual fluctuations. It is easily
understandable, as limited injuries and material
damages are not always declared and recorded,
mostly depending on actual consequences and
insurance policy.
So, total of events is not a really conclusive
data
February 2006 situation
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1983 to 2005 Todays situation
End of 2005 10 532 FFPLUM pilots 18 deaths
1983
1993
2005
NOTE As the total amount of French micro light
pilots is 12.300 ( Official data from DGAC ), the
actual ratio is better.
February 2006 situation
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Zoom on the last ten years
13 500 active pilotes
55 casualties
February 2006 situation
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Despite microlighting reputation in public
opinion
Accident result is very comparable to the GA one.

And reality it is undoubtedly better that this
because flying time recording is not mandatory
in France.
February 2006 situation
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Fatalities stay around 20 per year, as the micro
light aviation activity raised by more than 3
during the last ten years in France.
This result is obtained without noticeable
modification of the regulation
February 2006 situation