Les Ailes Montpelliéraines: the pleasure of flying in the sun!

At the gateway to the Camargue, on the Languedoc coast and a few minutes' flight from the wild landscapes of the Cévennes, the microlight club Les Ailes Montpelliéraines is the base of a band of aviation enthusiasts.

This club was founded in the 80s by a team of pioneers, worthy descendants of a hero pilot of the Great War who created Candillargues aerodrome in 1922. They built everything with their own hands, with the few resources available; our hangar and our facilities bear their mark for ever.

From 2014 on, the club took a decisive step forward under the presidency of Jean-Paul Leweurs, in particular with the creation of a solid technical and training team by our current chief pilot Yvan Pham.

In 2024, with more than 60 members, including 8 instructors, Les Ailes Montpelliéraines is one of the largest microlight organisations in the south of France. It has three aims:

• To provide its members with a fleet of 2 NYNJA microlights as well as the club's facilities,

• To train future pilots: 50 % of the 600 annual flying hours are instruction,

• And, since 2021, to train microlight instructors.

Pleasure, passion and friendliness are the guiding principles of this 100 % community-run organisation. The members are united by the pleasure of flying, of sharing their experience and skills, of progressing and helping others progress in flying, and of course of letting off steam putting the world to rights among friends, of being Saint-Exupéry for a moment, and above all... to dream.

2) Interview with the president Patrick GUITTON

Patrick Guitton, what is the recipe for running a club that is a good place to be?

P. Guitton : We are talking about a leisure activity, so it is essential to understand members' fundamental aspirations:

• Getting their certificate is a challenge for student pilots,

• Flying in the skies of our beautiful region in quality machines for the pilots,

• Passing on their knowledge and experience for the instructors,

• Enjoying convivial moments with family and friends,

• Being players in a fine project of aviation passion and living together for the club's management team.

You need solid administrative and technical organisation, impeccable management of material resources such as aircraft maintenance, but also rigorous and forward-looking financial management. And of course a team of competent, committed instructors to whom I delegate real powers of prevention and, if necessary, discipline. Finally, we are lucky to have a quality airfield in LFNG Candillargues, as well as the support of local elected officials.

Is the organisation entirely run by volunteers?

P. Guitton : Absolutely! It is the strength of the voluntary sector that makes flying possible for everyone at the lowest cost. And we agree that volunteering does not rule out competence, rigour and seriousness. Our reward is intangible but immense; it lies in the fulfilment of a passion and the success of a collective project, the club.

What indicators show that the goal has been achieved ?

P. Guitton : Let me rather mention a few snapshot moments that make us proud of the work done.

- Sensing the emotion of the grand-father who takes his grandson on a first flight,
- Sharing the infectious good humour of a crew coming back from a flight,
- Seeing the little tear of emotion of a newly qualified solo pilot of 50, who has already achieved a great deal in life but is at that moment like a kid who has just seen Father Christmas,
- More than 60 % attendance at our annual general meeting, which is admittedly an institutional moment for information and discussion but also, and above all, a time for sharing the club spirit.

 

3) Interview with chief pilot Yvan PHAM

Yvan Pham, what is the role of the chief pilot of the Ailes Montpelliéraines?

Y. Pham: The role of a chief pilot is varied and demanding. It requires recognised technical aviation skills, great rigour and a keen sense of responsibility. I make sure that club members can get answers on a range of subjects such as meteorology, regulations, aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and so on. Thanks to my expertise and leadership, I am responsible for the safety and security of flights, while promoting enjoyable and relaxed flying at the Ailes Montpelliéraines.

What does an aviation professional who has seen it all do in a small voluntary organisation like the Ailes Montpelliéraines?

Y. Pham: There is no such thing as a “small organisation” when you fly. I caught the aviation bug very young. It led me to become an airline pilot and then an airliner instructor, and it has never left me. Flying is therefore a passion. I came across the Ailes Montpelliéraines while I was looking for a hangar for my biplane, a Starduster. The club’s founding president, Yves Aubin, welcomed me with great kindness and asked me to help him develop his club, so I gladly took on responsibility for instruction and discovered the world of voluntary associations. I have worked to pass on my knowledge to novice pilots and to instil in them the rigour of what I had learnt over the years in my profession. We recently reached a new milestone by setting up an instructor training school. Helping others develop their passion is a real personal satisfaction.

Les Ailes Montpelliéraines

Route de L’aérodrome
34130 Candillargues

04 67 12 07 75