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

2. Categories of French
micro light aircrafts
February 2006 situation

3. 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

4. FFPLUM exists since 1983. 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

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

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

7. 2005
February 2006 situation

8. Are statisticaly speaking, anecdotic causes
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

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

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

11. 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

12. So, total of events is not a really conclusive data
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

13. 1983 to 2005 Today’s situation End of 2005: 10 532 FFPLUM pilots
18 deaths
1983
1993
2005
NOTE : As the total amount of French micro light pilots is ( Official data from DGAC ), the actual ratio is better.
February 2006 situation

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

15. And reality it is undoubtedly better that this
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

16. 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