French light aviation has continued to suffer a decline in activity, according to the Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile's (DGAC) annual report on light aviation for 1996.
They show a drop of 5.8% in the number of pilots licensed to fly powered aircraft of up to 2,700kg, along with a reduction of 15.1% in the amount of flight time, compared with 1995 figures.
Overall, the number of French general-aviation pilots has slumped since 1990 by around 20%, to 671,314 in 1996, "-and it seems to be falling further still", say DGAC executives.
The number of hours of instruction at flying clubs fell by 8%, while there were 12.2% fewer instructors - the total is now similar, at 2,364, to that recorded for 1990. One bright spot in the general-aviation picture is the decline in the number of light-aircraft accidents to occur in France.
These have fallen from a peak of 373 in 1990 to 251 in 1995 and 267 in 1996, with by far the highest proportion occurring in the Paris region.
The report notes that what amounts to a restructuring of the French light-aircraft industry has taken place, leaving just two main players: Aerospatiale's Socata, with sales of 52 aircraft in 1996, and Aéronautique Services, owner of Avions Pierre Robin and Akrotech Europe, with a total of 53 sales. Another manufacturer, Dyn Aero, sold 31 aerobatic and touring kitplanes in 1996.
Source: Flight International
