Presenting microlight flying to the GTA

For a little over a year, the Federation has built a close relationship with the GTA (Gendarmerie of Air Transport). It was after a first-response team (EPI) training course at the BEA that Captain Patrick Pipart, of the Roissy Investigation Section (SR), wished to meet us to deepen his knowledge of the microlight world and learn in detail about the safety actions deployed by the Federation. He is himself a microlight pilot at Persan-Beaumont, on 3 axes.

Relations between clubs and the local BGTAs are good, as we were able to see during the information days held at the end of last year in the GTA South region. We will repeat these sessions for the North region as soon as health conditions allow. GTA personnel are all volunteers for this field, and many are also pilots with a passion for the air.

The gendarme's uniform may be intimidating, but it should not be: they are above all major players in safety and prevention in aviation. Their investigations into the causes and circumstances of accidents help improve our own safety.

For the first time since our Federation has existed, we were asked to contribute to their training, and around 60 gendarmes were able to attend a presentation of our microlight activity and the federal organisation. Thanks to the support of General Gesnot, commanding the GTA, 13 gendarmes will take their microlight certificate this year, and this operation will be repeated in the following years, for the benefit of affiliated clubs.

So we have good things to share.

Jean-Christophe Gibert

Safety-Training Division