Safety in Figures - BSV no.57
Since the start of this year, we have had no fatal or serious accidents, nor any with minor injuries, to record. The last fatal accident dates back to October 2018, so for three months in a row no death has been recorded in microlighting, which is extremely encouraging and exceptional. We must continue to adopt behaviours that meet the need to improve flight safety, because the results seem to be there.
However, we know that we must guard against any triumphalism in this area because we are in a fragile balance and the scales can quickly tip the wrong way.
As a reminder, we show you again the distribution of accident statistics over a year (see the example below corresponding to 2018).
This graph makes us aware that we will need to remain very vigilant because accident figures are usually low at the start of the year, but they generally rise with the arrival of spring.
Number of events by severity and by month (all microlights registered in France)
For example, to start the year well, let us take the time to service our machines, and for those who will not be able to fly during this winter period, let us not forget to do a REV (Return to Flying) before getting back in the “saddle”. Indeed, these courses seem to have contributed last year to an overall reduction in the accidents recorded. And after all, a short flight with an instructor will always cost less than a repair that grounds the aircraft at the start of the season.
Wishing everyone good flights for this start of the year.
Pierre Kolodziej
Flight Safety Committee
Editorial
A well-balanced microlight is vital for your safety!
Balance is a major notion that applies in many fields. We say a person is well balanced (or not...), and the same goes for a company agreement, a decision, a budget, and so on. In aviation, this notion of balance is extremely concrete and is tied to an aircraft's ability to fly well, to handle correctly and to stay within its flight envelope in all circumstances.
The normalisation of deviance
Balance is a major notion that applies in many fields. We say a person is well balanced (or not...), and the same goes for a company agreement, a decision, a budget, and so on. In aviation, this notion of balance is extremely concrete and is tied to an aircraft's ability to fly well, to handle correctly and to stay within its flight envelope in all circumstances.
The Analyst's analysis
On 30 April 2016, at Montélimar Ancone aerodrome, a gyroplane microlight with its side doors removed takes off from grass runway 20 to fly circuits.
A witness sees the aircraft level off to accelerate at about 20 metres above ground, then bank slightly left and quickly right until it ends up on its back.
What about doing a REV? > video guide
A question about the REV programme? > see our dedicated FAQ
