Les Ailes du Partage 2026

20th charity air tour of the association Les Citoyens Du Ciel - LCDC.

“Up there it was so good, I felt like...”

An Extraordinary Charity Air Tour!

This charity air tour, which flew across Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, was organised as part of the celebration of the 160 years of the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil, the 90 years of its South-West delegation, the 20 years of LCDC and the 15 years of partnership between FFPLUM and LCDC.

The aim was to offer 160 young people with disabilities or difficulties an educational aeronautical project, a unique experience to encourage them to push their limits and gain perspective on their daily lives. Despite difficult weather conditions (heatwave, wind), the planned flights were carried out thanks to 7 months of careful preparation with the establishments.

The charity tour in figures

· Period: 24 May – 3 June 2026

· Aerodromes: 6 stopovers (Saintes-Thénac, Yvrac, Tarbes-Laloubère, Montauban, Torreilles, Castelnaudary)

· Partner establishments: 15 establishments in the south-west (Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil)

· LCDC volunteers: 18 volunteers, including 1 young person trained by LCDC in …2017

· Equipment: 3 microlights, 2 aeroplanes, 3 minibuses

· Flying hours: 125 flying hours

· People carried: 163 people (149 young people + 14 educators)

Objective achieved

The legacy of LCDC:

“At 20 years old, as a partner of an institution that is 160 years old, together with FFPLUM we have written a new page in the history of INCLUSIVE and popular aviation, as the pioneers of the last century did.

Thanks to everyone, we have shown that this shared aviation is accessible to all. Our collective efforts have restored these young people and their educators’ confidence in the future. We held out our wings to them so that they could see beyond their limits: the horizon seen from the sky is visible to them. In their toolbox there is now a ladder to climb out of their situation – and it is up to them to build that ladder, with the help of educators, volunteers and flying clubs like yours, who work every day for this free aviation that we cherish and defend.”

The important role of volunteers

Without them, no action! Their tasks: flying, flight safety, running the “boarding pass/return to ground” workshop, issuing aeronaut diplomas, logistics, administrative reception, medical assistance and above all… good humour full of endorphins!

Words that touch

Children’s words:

· “Up there it was so good, I felt free to go wherever I wanted.”

· “There were swimming pools everywhere and I was too hot. I know that now I too will have a swimming pool and that I can fly off to where the sky is blue.”

Educators’ words:

· “Being put on the same level of happiness as our young people is simply fantastic. We realised how important it is to share a real emotion with them that unites us.”

· “It is not a patch of blue sky you gave them, it is a future they will build. We will be stronger in supporting them.”

Acknowledgements

To the 18 volunteers for their unfailing commitment. To the local flying clubs (Saintes-Thénac, Yvrac, Tarbes-Laloubère, Montauban, Torreilles, Castelnaudary) for their fantastic welcome and material support. To FFPLUM and the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil, and all the partners who believed in this project.