Looking back at the Women Pilots' Gathering in Vinon

The 15^th Women Pilots' Gathering of the FFPLUM was held from 1 to 3 June, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, at Vinon sur Verdon aerodrome (Var), home of the PACA Regional Microlight Committee.

This airfield, central in our region, offers many advantages: it is large, has numerous hangars, is well connected by motorway, 40 minutes from Aix TGV and an hour from Marseille Provence, and has comfortable airflow.

Despite very poor weather across the country for months, which is why many women pilots in our federation cancelled their registrations, 15 crews from all over France, including Vienne, Strasbourg and Bordeaux as the farthest, were able to land and enjoy fine sunshine and no wind in the heart of Green Provence.

A real relief for everyone after sometimes complicated navigation!

The participants were welcomed at the Ailes Varoises, at Pascal Poillon's and his team's, whom we thank for their efficiency and generosity!

The aim of this gathering, the fruit of the organisation of the federal and regional head of the Women's Committee, Marie-France Jéhanne, and of the regional committee, is to allow women members to meet every year but also to introduce microlighting to the general public, particularly women and girls, in the host area. It is a showcase, a hook that steadily increases the number of affiliated women.

Beyond the purely aeronautical interest for pilots, it is an opportunity for crews from elsewhere to meet women pilots from the region visiting for the event, for women from different aviation backgrounds to exchange on their practice, and also to discover or rediscover an area and its environment, its natural and cultural heritage, its age-old or developing products.

To admire from above is to respect below, to see differently, to learn to love and share the wonders of local nature and specific traditions, to meet other French people!

After the Saturday morning briefing, the women set off on a local navigation flight and returned for the official inauguration to the very distinctive sounds of Provence from the traditional dance groups Le Rodo Osco Monosco and Lei Dansaire de Saint-Dounat, some of whose dancers went flying!

A strong, contrasting image showing the evolution of women and their rights, a mix of tradition and current affairs, history and modernity, a simple, cheerful and friendly sharing. The purity and dynamism of the microlight spirit!

The afternoon was devoted to a visit to Moustiers Sainte-Marie, an international tourist hotspot and gem of our area.

Crossing the Valensole plateau, a guided tour of the village and the Faience Museum, then back to the aerodrome to enjoy the gala evening at “Le Planeur”, at Christine Fouque's, who provided us with luxury catering in a rural setting throughout our gathering.

Thank you, Christine, and your team for this performance!

As always, the members of our committee put in a great deal of effort. Organisation, looking after the crews, welcoming the authorities and our federal president, Sébastien Perrot, whose presence showed the importance of this major event, since he announced that from next October membership would be free for new women members and for young people under 25, an unprecedented innovation.

It is an opportunity for him to get out and meet people, to see the work done in the field, and to reinforce the policy he is pursuing with his Générations ULM team so that members can fly, fly safely, grow in number and keep the French regulations!

Besides Pascal Poillon, Michel Gentilini, our Vice-president and president of Handy Flying ULM Provence, and Jean-Christophe Gibert, head of our Training and Safety Committee, president of the federal Training Committee and manager of Vaucluse ULM, gave 30 “introductory flights” to all these ladies in three-axis, weight-shift and gyroplane microlights.

Discovering the aircraft, knowing how they work and flying them is part of our aim to reach newcomers, young people and women, who make up only 5% of our members.

Our instructors are teachers who pass on their passion, try to share it with everyone and support the future pilot. Microlighting is popular, inexpensive aviation. It offers many possibilities with its 6 categories of aircraft.

That is the message that needs to be spread, especially in a town where the aerodrome is managed by the Regional Council, which is very involved in this aviation tradition and is well equipped and eager to develop!

Beyond being a leisure activity, our sport carries substantial economic weight for the region. It also offers opportunities for our young people, notably through our training partnerships: Lycée Pierre Mendès France in Vitrolles, Lycée Jean Perrin in Marseille, Polyaéro in Gap-Tallard, the École de l’Air, and the Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications Aéronautiques.

Mr Rey, manager of the town's Casino supermarket, understood this well. He sponsored us and several of his colleagues went flying!

A gathering like this opens up possibilities and brings benefits for our clubs and for local businesses: catering, accommodation, public transport. It generates a gain in the broadest sense.

On Sunday morning, the ladies took off again to return to their home areas, a little richer for our Provençal land than when they arrived, and all reached their destinations safely.

A full circle, a commitment rewarded, and the satisfaction of having made some people's dreams come true

Corinne Monloubou

FFPLUM PACA Communications Officer

>> All the photos on the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur Regional Microlight Committee website