Women in the spotlight!
Microlight flying is a passion that women share too! The Federation now has nearly 600 women members.
The "Flying as a Woman" Committee, led by Marie-France Jéhanne, was very active this 2018 season. It organised and developed many actions, events and gatherings, reserved exclusively for women pilots or students (men were still welcome). Here is a summary of these events, with full details in the latest ULM Info no. 105 from October.
15th NATIONAL GATHERING OF WOMEN MICROLIGHT PILOTS
The 15th annual Gathering of Women Microlight Pilots of FFPLUM, held from 1 to 3 June at Vinon sur Verdon aerodrome (Var), home of the PACA Regional Microlight Committee, was a great success.
This gathering lets members meet up every year, and also introduces microlight flying to the general public, particularly women and girls. It is a showcase and a hook that steadily increases the number of affiliated women. It opens up possibilities and brings benefits for our clubs and for local businesses: catering, accommodation, public transport - it generates gains in the broadest sense.
The "Flying as a Woman" Committee is calling on microlight clubs near a strip that can host paramotors, weight-shift microlights, three-axis microlights and gyroplanes to volunteer for the next annual gathering.
FLYING AS A WOMAN AT DASSAULT
A "Flying as a Woman" conference was held on 29 June at Dassault Systèmes to promote women's flying. Speakers addressing an enthusiastic audience were (from left to right) Marie-France Jéhanne, head of women's flying at FFPLUM, Marie Mateos, French and World Paramotor champion, Alain Marianne, microlight instructor at Chavenay, and Caroline Jeanpierre, professional pilot.
THE WOMEN'S PRESS ON THE TOUR
A team from Femme Actuelle Sénior followed the stage from Saint-André de l'Eure to La Flêche and interviewed our two all-women crews. The article appeared in the October issue of the magazine.
Click on the image to read the article
PROMISING YOUNG WOMEN
Valentine Le Tortorec earned her aeronautics BTS at the Tristan Corbière school in Morlaix. She is also a student pilot at Morlaix ULM club and at the Eole 29 club, and is very involved in the Federation.
Océane Guinard received a DGAC prize for her unfailing commitment during the 2018 microlight tour: a one-week course at an ENAC centre.
PILOTS FROM BLOIS
The Flying as a Woman Committee was of course present at the Blois show, together with the Youth Committee, on the FFPLUM stand. Several interviews with women pilots aged 15 to 75 were recorded and will soon be available on the FFPLUM YouTube channel.
Find all these articles in ULM Info no. 105
