FFPLUM webinars

 

The sports team is offering a 90-minute webinar covering all the sporting disciplines for the 2024 season:

Part 1 with a presentation:

• The 2024 sports calendar
• The athletes' pathway
• The major events

Part 2: time for discussion on all themes that concern every sporting discipline.

• Date > Monday 27 November 2024

• Time > from 7 pm

• Aimed at > Members, competitors or not, beginners and experienced alike

• Ask your questions now using the form dedicated to this webinar - Click here
  
  The relevant questions and answers will be available in the frequently asked questions below, which will be updated regularly.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Registration and terms

Where do I register?

Registrations for official FFPLUM competitions are now made through the Member area in a few clicks.

This makes it possible to:

• Create a reliable record of the competitor's career.
• Guarantee the proper use of data.
• Offer a simplified tool with no duplication of documents or information already entered.

This area will use the data you already entered when you took out your licence.

Additional digital material can be uploaded in this area.

If you have a co-pilot or navigator, have their details to hand: co-pilot / navigator licence number.

How to get there:

1. Go to your FFPLUM Member area: https://licencie.ffplum.fr/
2. Click on the drop-down menu « FEDERAL SCHEMES » at the top right.
3. Click on « EVENTS ».
4. In the area for your choice, click "REGISTER" and follow the instructions.

What fees or entry charges will have to be paid?

The organiser publishes the entry charges and the cost of the services available on site (toilets, catering, accommodation, camping, fuel, etc.).

Who can take part in the competitions?

All members holding a pilot certificate, as pilot in command.

All members, as navigator.

Supporter licences are not accepted.

Can I bring someone with me?

The competitor may be accompanied by:

• A navigator with all mandatory documents up to date
• Technical helpers or support.

They must inform the organiser regarding entry charges and the race director regarding the sporting side.

Companions other than the navigator do not have access to the briefings, unless the race director grants an exemption.

What status will competitions not organised by the federation have?

In France, microlight competitions must be approved by the FFPLUM through the Sports Division. They are included in the season's sports calendar and are official.

If you have a project, it is very useful to talk to the Sports Division to determine its status and insurance cover.

The CRULMs organise regional competitions. CRULMs may apply to host a national competition at a site that has already been approved for a competition.

A club must rely on the Regional Committee to host and organise a competition

Equipment

Is it planned to sell competition items on the FFPLUM website?

From January, the federal shop will gradually add products for competitive practice (clothing and accessories). A dedicated questionnaire will be offered to gauge what people expect. The idea is to offer products targeted at licence holders.

I fly a single-seat weight-shift microlight fitted with a Rotax 447 engine that burns 10 litres per hour. Can I take part in competitions in France and be competitive despite this fairly high consumption?

You need to consider the weight-shift's efficiency and not just its hourly consumption. At a speed of 80 km/h or 120 km/h, the efficiency will be 8 km/L or 12 km/L.
Moreover, given the events in the catalogue of national and international competitions, the share attributable to pure machine efficiency is now limited.

In a pure economy event, it is generally flying with the engine off that makes the difference between crews.
That leaves the other events, where you need to excel and where efficiency has no direct impact.

Events and rules

Could you please tell us where the discussions stand on getting a PL2 category accepted at the UK endurance world championships in August 2024?

To date, there is no PL2, for rules and insurance reasons according to the organisers.

When will the 2024 version of the rules for the 2024 French championship be published, please?

Probably early 2024. The work has already been started by a paramotor working group.

Open Slalom France 🇫🇷: have the stadiums been tested as planned in 2023? Will there be a slalom open in France in 2024?

No, no tests have been carried out yet on the two sites targeted. We are keeping the aim of holding a French Slalom Open in 2024.

Will there be bonuses at the 2024 French Championship for people who took part in regional competitions in 2023? If so, in what form?

Yes, in Classic Microlights and STOL.

For paramotor, the 2023 bonus system is being dropped in favour of a permanent ranking. Details will be announced by the end of 2023, along with the catalogue of events if we progress as we hope. A dedicated working group made up of the race direction, members of the Sports Division and various competitors is working on the subject.

When and where will the next Paramotor Classic World Championship take place?

The next endurance-oriented PPG World Championship is scheduled in the United Kingdom from 3 to 10 August 2024.

Must the events of regional competitions be taken from the official event catalogue of the current year?

Yes, that is the rule. However, the race director may introduce new events, as a trial, with a view to developing the catalogue for the future.

For paramotors: to appear in the permanent ranking, competitions must be consistent with one another, and it is also important that competitors know the events they will have to tackle before the competition.

A working group will be set up and changes should come into effect for 2024. We are aiming for the end of January to publish the new « regional » catalogue

Will there be a national paramotor ranking in 2024? If so, which competitions will count towards the ranking and how?

For paramotor, the 2023 bonus system is being dropped in favour of a permanent ranking. Details will be announced by the end of 2023, along with the catalogue of events if we progress as we hope. A dedicated working group made up of the race direction, members of the Sports Division and various competitors is working on the subject.

Regarding the national ranking, how do you take into account the fact that some events are inaccessible? For example, slalom is currently inaccessible to almost everyone. So those in the slalom world championship will get points while the others do not even have the chance to try. That is demotivating and unfair.

For the moment, given the small number of competitors due to the lack of sites, slalom is not affected by this ranking.

Are you planning to find a way of recognising pilots who fly distance flights, and if so how?

Will there be a team ranking at the 2024 French championship?

Licence, insurance and medical certificate

I fly a two-seater: does my navigator have to be a member?

The navigator contributes to the crew's performance.

They are considered a competitor and must therefore be a member, with an up-to-date medical certificate of no contraindication to microlight flying in competition.

Do I need special insurance, and which medical certificate is required?

The cover under the FFPLUM insurance programme includes flying in competition. Third-party liability cover is compulsory, but we also recommend taking out Personal Accident cover. You must hold a medical certificate of no contraindication to microlight flying in competition that is valid on the date of the competition (less than one year old).

A valid Class 2 medical certificate is accepted.

France Team

There was talk of funding SIV (simulation of incidents in flight) courses for paramotor competitors. Will this be introduced in 2024, and if so for which competitors and on what terms?

Flight safety is a federation priority. It must be driven by the pilot as part of their own development, and support is already available in the regions.

This subject, raised by the sports team, will be started from 2024 as part of an approach that is currently being drawn up:

• • with the definition of objectives: aim for demanding types of flying.
  • the content of courses co-designed with the host club or school: content adapted to paramotoring and to the discipline.
  • and the definition of target groups: according to the level to be defined and the pilot's background.

Two dates are already scheduled in April and October 2024 and will be shown in the calendar as national courses.

Precise information will be communicated in good time so that the target groups can be mobilised.

When will the members of the France Paramotor Team WhatsApp group be updated (removing those who no longer compete and adding the new ones)?

The update is scheduled for Tuesday 28 November.

But where is the national competitors' ranking? What is the point of having one if it cannot be viewed for almost the whole season? Is the aim to have a surprise at the end?

The various rankings are ready, on the 2022 model or on the new 2024 “permanent ranking” model??? I am not authorised to make the decision......

How do I get selected for the France Team? How are selections organised?

Access to the France Squad is organised by the DTN in 2 cases:

- Following a talent-spotting at competitions or other sporting events.

- At the pilot's request. An assessment is scheduled.

https://ffplum.fr/images/Sport/2023/Fiche_pratique_Collectif_France.pdf

https://ffplum.fr/images/Sport/2023/Demande_dintegration_au_Collectif_France.pdf

How are you going about forming a French team for 2023-2024 in the Classic Class?

What help and motivation do you offer potential competitors if you want a French Classic Class team?

For 2023, we have already re-created the France Squad, which is the antechamber of the French team, to which can be added crews who took part and proved themselves in international competitions before 2023.

The members of a French team are selected on this basis.

Squad competitors have support already in place during the year (squad gatherings) and other support being developed for 2024. They also benefit from the sharing and feedback of former competitors, which allows them to progress faster.

Hosting a competition or an introduction day (application, procedures, budget, volunteers)

What is the procedure for hosting a competition?

As president of a club or school, contact your CRULM and inform the FFPLUM.

Apply using the form that can be downloaded from the link > https://ffplum.fr/images/Sport/2023/guides/Fiche_Candidature_evenement_sport.pdf

A set of specifications defines the technical needs and the support available.

Support is offered for developing the project at every stage.

Other helpful links:

• https://ffplum.fr/images/2023/Fiche_DESCRIPTIVE_competition_REGIONALE-CORRECTION.pdf
• https://ffplum.fr/images/2023/Fiche_PRATIQUE_competition_REGIONALE-CORRECTION.pdf

Other

Why are the SPORT web pages not up to date? There are lots of sections and links that do not work.

The site is being updated.

Why is there no national Paramotor ranking this year, 2023?

There is a ranking ready based on the new 2024 permanent ranking rules, OR the application of the ranking based on the 2023 rules without taking bonuses into account. Awaiting a decision by the Sports Division before the end of December 2023.

I have already taken part in a few competitions since 1989... but always as a tourist. For 2024 I would like to take part with the idea of getting results: how many competitions should I plan to take part in and what budget should I allow?

The answer depends on the class, the discipline and the level of flying. The best thing is to talk to competitors in the same class and to the race directors.

What is the budget for competing?

The answer depends on the class and the discipline. The best thing is to talk to competitors in the same class.

Can several aircraft take part within a club?

Yes, depending on the discipline.

How can I train alone to take part in regional competitions?

If you are a beginner, it is best to take an introductory course and get in touch with local competitors.

On 27 November I will not be in France and will not be able to take part in this webinar. Will it be possible to listen to it again on the FFPLUM website?

We are looking into the technical possibility of recording it and making it available for download.

The materials shared will be available on the federation website, and the questions will be updated with those asked during the webinar.

Watch the SPORT division conference at the Mondial de l'ULM 2023: Click here

On 28 August at 19, a webinar will be held for pilots flying in to the MULM at Blois from 1 to 3 September. This webinar will explain the flight instructions, the essential information and the procedures to know about for the event.

A link will be sent to you by email 2- 5 days beforehand to join the Zoom meeting.

On 12 April 2023, the French Microlight Federation held its second webinar, on the theme "Call for Projects". In all, more than thirty people came together to exchange views and discuss this theme. The presentation shown is available below:

PDFApril PSF webinar presentation

On 8 February 2023, the French Microlight Federation held its first webinar, on the theme "Organising a regional competition". In all, more than thirty people came together to exchange views and discuss this theme. The presentation shown is available below:

PDFPresentation shown during the video conference