Every form of flying carries some risk, whatever aircraft you fly. Flying is an activity that must be practised with great rigour, scrupulously following the rules in force and paying extremely close attention to weather conditions.
Statistics today show that microlighting is no more dangerous than other forms of aviation.
But microlighting still suffers from a negative image inherited from the early days and the approximations of the early 1980s, whereas the activity is now perfectly mature.
About 90% of the microlight fleet is produced by professional manufacturers who fully master the rules of the trade. A modern aircraft, whether of “tube and fabric” or “composite” technology, if properly maintained and used according to its manufacturer’s instructions, provides a level of safety comparable to that of a light aeroplane.
The ability to land a microlight easily is an additional safety feature.
Likewise, the low flying mass of a microlight (450 kg maximum) means it can be fitted with a rescue parachute which, in the event of serious difficulty making the aircraft uncontrollable, can bring the whole machine and crew down to the ground.
Analysis of the most frequent causes of accidents shows that, unfortunately, as with road traffic, it is often the pilot's behaviour that is at fault. Low flying, aerobatics, inadequate weather conditions, fatigue… are often the origin of accidents that could be avoided.
Parachute funding grant
€1 200 towards purchase (paramotor with trike, weight-shift, three-axis, gyroplane)
€300 towards purchase (paramotor without trike)
€500 for refurbishment (paramotor with trike, weight-shift, three-axis, gyroplane)
The RESCUE PARACHUTE scheme provides financial help to clubs and schools affiliated to the FFPLUM, whether associations or OBL, accredited or not, to equip the microlights they use for training with a rescue parachute.
All FFPLUM training centres can access this grant.
To be eligible under this scheme, the training centre must:
- be affiliated to the Federation with a club project
- have at least 10 licences attached to its affiliation number
- be the owner of the microlight that will be, or has been, fitted
- undertake not to resell the aircraft that benefited from the grant for a period of 2 years (or, if it is transferred, to ensure the replacement aircraft is fitted with a rescue parachute).
