A page is turned…
Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, on the shores of the Arcachon basin, the great family of the aeronautical community in all its components (civil, professional, recreational, light and heavier) paid a last tribute to Bernard Chabbert.
We all felt that a page was being turned, not only because Bernard’s personality is irreplaceable, but also because it reflects a stage in the development of aviation whose main balances date back to the early 1970s: a harmony between all forms of flying, strong support from the State and public opinion, established manufacturers, well-rooted airfields and facilities, a generous training system, and leading air shows and media.
It is clear that this chapter is coming to the end of its cycle. One could symbolically trace the moment back to the clumsy remark by the Mayor of Poitiers (who later admitted her mistake) in 2021, who claimed that “aeroplanes should not be part of children’s dreams”. In his tribute to his father, Antoine Chabbert, himself an airline pilot, recalled that his father had childhood dreams all his life and knew how to make us share them. True to the spirit of “The Little Prince”.
The freedom to fly, and the extraordinary sensations and joys it brings, answer a deep desire. It is only the way it is put into practice that is changing, and other chapters are being written. And although the times are particularly difficult, the desire to fly is still there. Microlighting has an extraordinary opportunity to meet the demands of the age as well as possible, provided it avoids two pitfalls: that of the State and public opinion, who would end up grounding us all for want of properly understanding our activity, and that of the microlight community, which might be tempted to withdraw into itself in the name of an idealised vision of the past. It is the role of clubs, instructors and all passionate people involved to defend and promote our activity more than ever. And as Bernard used to say, behind the aeroplane stories there are human stories of encounter and fellowship.
We also learned with sadness of the passing of our dear Hubert de Chevigny, a great figure of our activity. For the Federation’s 25th anniversary he had recalled his role in the emergence of our movement. He also made us dream of that daisy-cutter kind of aviation, simple and full of airfields, the microlighting of adventurers and encounters. Among other things, he explained how our roots allow us to project our wings further.
So we have plenty of resources, with Hubert, Bernard and many others, to write the new chapters in the history of aviation, in which microlighting has more than ever its place. Behind all this lie humanist values that are reassuring. What better to wish ourselves for 2023?
Fine flights and fine encounters, with all the diversity and respect that our activities deserve.
A very happy new year 2023!
Sébastien PERROT
President of FFPLUM
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