Club of the month: Iser'ULM, an active drive for the development of friendly microlighting

Federation news14 December 20224 min read

News from 14 December 2022. Last updated on 21 December 2022: some information may have changed. Latest news

PRESENTING THE ISER'ULM CLUB

The association ISER’ULM, governed by the law of 1901, was founded in 1994 by a group of pilots wishing to come together around their shared passion, microlighting. The association, called “Club ISER’ULM”, is based in the heart of the Alps at Grenoble Le Versoud aerodrome. The club promotes microlight flying at regional level and represents its members to the body that manages the aerodrome, the CCI.

Number of members in 2022: 52 people.

42% three-axis microlight pilots
38% weight-shift microlight pilots
20% gyroplane pilots

President: Rocchino CESCHI; Vice-President: Mohieddine Boubtane

THE CLUB AND ITS FRIENDLY HARMONY

The general atmosphere of our association is based on conviviality and genuine friendship between members. This is the DNA of the club and its members: flying microlights, outings, trips, but also knowledge-sharing workshops: reading aeronautical charts, using navigation tools, mechanical maintenance of the machines, video production and editing tools. Our members’ calling is to share and promote microlight flying. Iser’ULM has a clubhouse on the aerodrome, a gathering place for its members and a welcome point for visitors.

Mechanics workshop: fitting and adjusting a propeller

A DYNAMIC PLAYER IN PROMOTING AND DEVELOPING MICROLIGHTING

The Iser’ULM club is the microlight reference point for the Le Versoud aviation site and is also a member of the Isair’Promotion association, whose mission is to promote and defend aeronautical activities in the Isère. Iser’ULM, with its pilot members and supporters, takes part in organising and running the aviation days held at Le Versoud aerodrome for the general public. These days are an opportunity to show a wide audience microlight activities, the machines, and the role and operation of the airfield, at a time when aviation is sometimes called into question and the victim of too many prejudices. We therefore consider them important.

In liaison with the FFPLUM, the club emphasises safety and regularly organises, on this theme, knowledge-sharing meetings between members and pilots of the region, with the aerodrome’s air traffic controllers, and precision-landing practice sessions known as “aircraft carrier” exercises.

The general public discovers weight-shift flying

INCLUSIVE PRACTICES: YOUNG PEOPLE AND WOMEN AT THE HEART OF THE ACTION

ISER’ULM, as a gateway into the aeronautical world, plays an active part in the training path of young pilots, notably through BIA (Brevet d’Initiation Aéronautique) training. For under-20s taking microlight training with a partner club or school, ISER’ULM offers free membership until their twentieth birthday and financial support as a reward on obtaining the licence. This specific support is aimed in particular at promoting microlighting and encouraging young people to train, but also at backing and aligning with federal initiatives.

Microlighting is a sport in which women are a minority in our region. To develop the activity among them and create momentum for women’s microlight flying, ISER’ULM has set up a financial training grant for its female members.

BIA diplomas presented by the Mayor of Le Versoud

MICROLIGHTS AT THE COUPE ICARE

As a partner of the association “La Coupe Icare” and a member of the FFPLUM, ISER’ULM takes part in the event by taking charge of the entire organisation and management of the microlight activity. Under the responsibility of its vice-president, who is also a member of the Coupe Icare board of directors, the ISER’ULM club has since 2017 provided the logistical organisation, support for putting the application together, the communication needed to promote microlighting during the Coupe Icare, the registration and validation of pilots arriving by air, the recruitment of volunteers, the temporary microlight strip, the welcome of microlight pilots arriving by air, the welcome and accessibility of visitors and, of course, the air experience flights in weight-shift, three-axis and gyroplane microlights.

ISER’ULM also supports the AURA Regional Committee in showcasing and promoting microlighting, with two simulators set up at the Lumbin strip. This new edition resumed with flying demonstrations, notably marked by the participation of a Pipistrel VELLIS ELECTRO electric aircraft, the retro biplane microlight SE5 and the Volandi microlight, a specially adapted machine flown by Alain Réveillon, head of the Handivol Division on the Board of the French Microlight Federation.

Coupe Icare 2022

A "WIN-WIN" APPROACH IN THE REGION

From this spirit came the idea of working more closely with other organisations at Le Versoud aerodrome in particular and in the AURA region in general.

Our partnerships take several forms, including a very close partnership with the Versoud ULM association to make machines, including a gyroplane, available for hire to pilots. And a solid partnership with ULM Training, with a three-axis and gyroplane instructor who is himself a member and lead instructor of ISER’ULM. Through his flying school he provides training, further training and REVs (the annual return-to-flying course subsidised by the FFPLUM). Together with ISER’ULM, ULM Training offers its pilot members theory training sessions on a wide variety of topics.

Come and meet us and discover our activities at Le Versoud aerodrome (LFLG)!