1. P Ortiz MD Spain Delegate FAI-CIMP FAI-CIMP Conference Zagreb 2009
Comparing ULM (Microlight) regulation and accidentology in two EU countries
P Ortiz MD
Spain Delegate FAI-CIMP
FAI-CIMP Conference Zagreb 2009

2. ULM Medical Regulations in France
Sport license requires an initial medical certificate stating absence of:
Weight – height deficiency
Cardiovascular illnesses causing alteration of left ejection fraction and/or rythm at effort or at recovery
Evolutionary pleuro pulmonary lesions
Severe morphological static and/or dynamic alterations, particularly in dorso-lumbar vertebral column with risk of acute pathology or accelerated wear
Epilepsy, loss of consciousness, vertigo, equilibrium alterations
Regulation:
- Law , 23 march 1999, Art. 5 on health of sport and fight against doping
- Code de Santé Publique (Art. L )
> It is not an aviation medical examination: all doctors can perform it.
> The Federation Drs will make a decision on the cases were a pathology is present and the candidate asks for revision.

3. ULM Medical Regulations in Spain
JAA FCL Class 2
Regulation:
DGAC, Orden ORDEN FOM/1267/2008 de 28 de abril (BOE 110, 6 May 2008)
> It is an aviation medical examination: only authrised AMEs can perform it.
> The Federation Drs have no official role to play

4. ULM Accidents

5. Causes of ULM accidents Spain 2007%
Human: Operational 52
Human: psychological (stress, excess of confidence) 12
Others / Unknown
Environment meteorological 8
Technical: systems failure/disfunctionning including poor maintenance 16
Human >
78 %
1/2
1/2
Adapted from : Min Fomento CIAIAC: Accidentalidad de ULM en España durante el año 2007 CIAIC ULM
accessed Aug 7,2009

6. Causes of ULM accidents France 2007%
Human: behaviour, decision 59
Human: skills failure 21
Human: medical 1
Environment external causes 9
Technical 10
Human >
81%
Adapted from: FFPULM Mémo Sécurité du pilote ULM Ed. 10/2008
accessed Aug7, 2009

7. ULM Accidents Number of registered ULM aircrafts Notified accidents
Year
Spain
France
2004
958
6423 10 98
2005
1042
6866 14
105
2006
1120
6993 16 92
2007
1206
8049 13 93
Source:
Spain: Min Fomento CIAIAC: Accidentalidad de ULM en España durante el año 2007 CIAIC ULM
accessed Aug 7,2009
France: Bureau Enquètes et Analyses / accessed Aug 7, and Aviation Civile / Aviation légère / Vol moteur ULM (secteur associatif) / accessed Aug 7, 2009

8. Accident / Aircraft Ratio
Spain
France
2004
1,044%
1,526%
2005
1,344%
1,529%
2006
1,429%
1,316%
2007
1,078%
1,155%
Average
1,223%
1,382%
F Test
93%

9. DISCUSSION
Though the limitations in the methodology and statistical approach, it seems that different regulatory approaches only result in number of participants and not in the safety
Aviation authorities apply different analysis methodologies in EU; Eventually EASA might bring a coordinated approach

10. CONCLUSIONS
As it seems to be the case in Gliding*, the level of medical requirements for the pilots seems not to correlate with the achieved safety in ULM.
The raw data to gain evidence exist and are nowadays easier to obtain, but they are difficult to process statistically due to the differences in accident reporting and analysis.
It is suggested to perform analysis from the descriptions / basic data and not from the interpretations of the different national bodies.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo
*Ortiz P, Panel 19 Air Sports Medicine Médecine des sports aériens ICASM Madrid accessed Aug 7,2009

11. Thanks ! Hvala !