Clarisse pushes her limits again!

On Saturday 30 January 2021, at Carpentras airfield, Clarisse Berret, who is visually impaired, discovered the microlight environment in which she will learn to fly, accompanied by her instructor Philippe Chiron, who will be “her eyes”!

Clarisse, in flight with her instructor © Philippe Chiron

A few months ago, I was contacted by Jean-Pierre Scatena, President of the Carpentras microlight club, to tell me of his wish to take people with disabilities flying. Today, Clarisse is the first!

This fulfilled and radiant 23-year-old has decided to learn to fly. Blind since the age of 6 months, and pushing her limits further and further, she walks purposefully towards the three-axis microlight, leaving behind her guide and faithful companion “OASIS”. Clarisse already knows the aeronautical world, as her father is an instructor and her mother a pilot.

Oasis, the guide dog © ULM Carpentras

For Philippe it is also a first, as he will have to adapt his teaching. As Clarisse says with great humour, “I trust him blindly”. Because of the weather, her first lesson, originally planned for Saturday, had to be postponed to Sunday, but this did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm.

After the flight, she said: “I'm still full of the sensations, it's hard to describe, but it's brilliant!” Philippe is also very pleased: “She was incredible, she flew the aircraft 85% of the time.”

Moved by this fine initiative, several partners support the club's work: the SNCF foundation, the CoVe (urban community), the Sud region and the FFPLUM.

Pilot software developer wanted

The only outside information Clarisse can perceive is limited to the feel of the wind and the warmth of the sun. In flight, she is therefore very dependent on the information her instructor gives her.

To give her more independence in her learning, the club is looking for the skills of a pilot who is also a software developer, able to develop a flying aid app that can provide flight information through audio signals.

If you can help, please contact Jean-Pierre Scatena on 06 51 12 39 57.

Thank you in advance, on Clarisse's behalf.

Marie-France Jéhanne (Women's Division)

Alain Réveillon (Disabled Flying Division)