FFPLUM French microlight aircraft pilots federation Air safety, accidents and causalities assessment February 2006 situation

Categories of French micro light aircrafts

February 2006 situation 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 FFPLUM exists since Number of recorded members. stayed under for the first 15 years. It increases rapidly since 1998 to reach a total of at the end of 2005.

February 2006 situation Today, our federation represents 80 % of French microlight activity at least. Note: French microlight pilots have no obligation to join FFPLUM.

February 2006 situation However, the data concerning Incidents, accidents and casualties are exhaustive as they come from the French civil aviation Government office (DGAC).

February 2006 situation 2005

February 2006 situation  Medical problems  Airframe breakdowns  Wrong kit assemblies 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 Are statisticaly speaking, anecdotic causes

February 2006 situation The major causes of microlight accidents are obviously : Mishandling ! Misjudgment !

February 2006 situation Not with a certification Such hazards can’t be reduced with a technical regulation Nor with a heavy maintenance procedure

February 2006 situation to 2005 evolution Total of events (green line) cant' be rigorously presented for the initial period 1983/1989.

February 2006 situation 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 End of 2005: FFPLUM pilots 18 deaths NOTE : As the total amount of French micro light pilots is ( Official data from DGAC ), the actual ratio is better to 2005 Today’s situation

February 2006 situation Zoom on the last ten years 55 casualties active pilotes

February 2006 situation 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. Despite microlighting reputation in public opinion

February 2006 situation 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