A word from a member: Patrick, microlight club president

All together to keep the dream alive…

To keep in touch, share our passion for aviation and learn from each other's experience... in these times of lockdown, the instructors (aeroplane and microlight) of the Aéroclub de Saint-Junien have come up with a fun activity using the Discord software normally used by "gamers[1]".

So every two days, between ten and twenty of us meet for a navigation class built around preparing a simulated trip.

After Gap (LFNA) and the flight in the Alps, there was a trip between Saint-Junien and Bagnères-de-Luchon (LFCB) and most recently a passage through the Bordeaux TMA areas with a coastal overflight on the way to Biscarosse (LFBS). Next destinations: Belle-Île, Guernsey, the Island of Elba, the castles of Ludwig II of Bavaria…

These sessions let us dream together and share ideas and experiences, but also - and not least - revise the air traffic rules, discuss the value of flight plans and cover the precautions to take when flying in mountainous regions or over the sea.

Soon we will resume more "traditional" classes, but this time using the Zoom videoconferencing software, for our "student pilots" who, alone or in twos or threes, will be able to benefit from an instructor's experience and so prepare before resuming their training flights or taking their microlight or LAPL licence.

No doubt other flying clubs have taken similar initiatives that we hope to benefit from too :)

See you soon, we hope, at Saint-Junien (LFBJ), and why not at the "Mechanics CR ULM NA" meeting on 1 May... and if it has to be done by videoconference... we'll fly later but we're keeping our spirits up!

Patrick de Rousiers

President of the Aéroclub de Saint-Junien - Club code 08708

[1]Thanks to the children for their wise advice :)