CNFAS statement - Tuesday 5 May

Towards a safe resumption of flying

The Conseil National des Fédérations Aéronautiques et Sportives is the body representing all sporting and recreational aviation activities. Its nine federations wish to support the resumption of flying in a responsible and cautious way after 11 May, in line with health recommendations and environmental concerns.

This resumption is a safety imperative to maintain the competence of the whole pilot community. It is also essential to bring back to life the very rich and specific economic ecosystem of sport and recreational aviation.

The conditions the CNFAS considers necessary for this resumption are as follows:

• Freedom of movement for participants to their places of practice (aerodromes, microlight strips, free-flight sites, model aircraft sites, balloon launch areas);
• The possibility of bringing members together within the limits that will be set (currently in groups of 10 people maximum), notably for training activities;
• The possibility of resuming flights without delay, particularly instruction, out of an imperative concern for safety (maintaining skills, training, practice).

Depending on the requirements that will apply to everyone when lockdown is lifted, the CNFAS wishes to see a uniform framework for resumption across the whole country.

The CNFAS federations undertake to encourage their clubs, affiliated organisations and members to practise responsibly in a difficult context, in which everyone's sense of civic duty is the key to a successful and lasting resumption.

The presidents of the federations:

FF Aéromodélisme Laurent Henry

FF Aéronautique Jean-Luc Charron

FF Aérostation Benoît Pelard

FF Hélicoptère Michel Méry

FF Parachutisme David Roth

FF PLUM Sébastien Perrot

FF Vol Libre Véronique Gensac

FF Vol en Planeur Jean-Emile Rouaux

F RSA Dominique Simon

The CNFAS

• 9 federations, 140 000 members, 3200 clubs, 24 000 powered aircraft, 2000 gliders.
• Public-interest associations recognised by the Ministries of Transport and Sport, the federations offer young people in our country, on a voluntary basis, an ideal, aeronautical training, an exciting and demanding way of life, and above all a professional future.
• The federations play a very important role in France's place in the aeronautical world: success in sporting competitions, supervising young people in aeronautical activities, training pilots, training engineers and technicians, innovation through amateur building, and preserving flying heritage.