AURA Regional Competition
The FFPLUM AURA Regional Competition was a superb showcase of talent and passion for microlighting, with flawless organisation and excellent performances throughout the weekend of 30 August to 1 September.
At this competition we welcomed 17 crews: 5 weight-shift microlights (4 single-seat and 1 two-seat) and 12 three-axis microlights (4 single-seat and 8 two-seat). Of these, 10 came from the Collectif France and 7 were mostly taking part in their first regional competition.
Many got caught up in the game and will be back for the next AURA regional.
Competition events
Day 1: Saturday
- Navigation and photo search: Pilots had to follow a precise route to find photos and bring them back accurately, demonstrating their navigation skills. On each return, the crew had to make a precision landing in a 10 m by 10 m square.
- To close the first day, two precision landing exercises in a predefined zone (a 10 m by 10 m square) were flown, with one constraint: completing the circuit in exactly 4 minutes to maximise scores. Every second too many or too few incurred a penalty. The pilots showed their skill and, after the first round, their performances improved further on the second attempt.
Day 2 Sunday
- Corridor navigation and beacon search event: crews began with a precision flight along a corridor 40 km long and 500 m wide, with each exit from the corridor affecting their score. They then had to overfly as many beacons (30 maximum) as possible, optimising their route, with this combined event limited to 2 hours, preparation included. Interestingly, the maps were handed out on the taxiway, with all competitors on a starting line, Le Mans style (on foot), with plenty of smiles. On their return, crews had to make a precision landing.
- and to close the competition, we had one last precision flying event: it showcased the pilots’ ability to handle their microlights with great precision, by landing in the 10 m by 10 m box marked on the ground.
- The final result of the competition was announced quickly before lunch, allowing certificates and trophies to be presented to the participants.
Key people
- Patrick Thépin: President of the FFPLUM AURA region, his presence added an official dimension and underlined the importance of the event for the microlight community. The AURA region remains the best represented among the members of the French MicroLight team.
- Michel Favier: Vice-president of the Feurs/Chambéon flying club, he played a crucial role in organising the event.
- Georges Monier: Head of scoring, he managed the scoring system and ensured an accurate and fair assessment of the pilots’ performances.
- Laurent Rapiteau: Competition director, he oversaw all the events and ensured the smooth running of the competition.
- The Collectif France: This group brings together the future pilots of the French team, who took an active part in the competition and also provided support and advice to the other competitors.
- And all the new crews who were present during these 2 days of competition: it was a fine mutual discovery, both human and technical, for all of us.
There was also quite intense media coverage, with Radio Bleu, the Forez press and local TV all covering the event.
See you in 2025 for the next FFPLUM AURA competition.
