The aeroclub, French side, has had to face many great issues since hurricane Irma (Sept. 2017). The loss of their chairman, in Nov. 2018, has complicated the situation further more. Last Sunday, Frédéric Elaidi was elected “president of the flying club” by a renewed Board. "Blue skies" to the team and members that will surely make the association soon fly on a brighter side.
The Grand-Case flying club finds its wings
The forty members of the Grand-Case flying club [SFG / TFFG], before the passage of Cyclone Irma, were obviously not there Sunday February 10, but the most irreducible volunteers did indeed respond to the club- house at 09:30 am to give the association a new boost.
The precipitous death in mid-November of the incumbent president, Yves Blanchet, had plunged the pilots of the club into a kind of state of bewilderment. We also had to wait a bit, out of respect. How to fill the void left by the creator of the club, the one who was appreciated by all and recognized for his omnipotence? “He was almost our god. He knew everything ”, will not hesitate to say William Demy, one of the pilots who had absolute confidence in him.
The problems are now clearly identified, numerous and sometimes thorny. Planes must be made to fly again as quickly as possible, so first check their “potential” (translate: aptitude to take back air). All administrative documents must be taken over and checks and even updates carried out. We must also, of course, relaunch membership to find the sinews of war. The list of tasks to be accomplished, endless or almost, does not seem in any case to frighten an already solid team and soon united around the new president, Frédéric Elaidi. The skills, intelligence and energy are there. Still, strategic choices, to ensure the future and prosperity of the club, will have to be quickly made with regard to the aircraft themselves. As for the search for new instructors ["Flight Instructors"] with at least a PPL (French) and a theoretical CPL (English or French), it is engaged and rather on the right track since contacts have been established, including in metropolitan France. ; if anyone can still apply, it seems however that local applications are preferred.
If you are interested in aeronautics in general and want to join, why not, the flying club, do not hesitate to contact the secretary, Lucie Maroy (Travel-Emotions agency, Grand-Case terminal).
Remember that in order to be authorized to fly in Saint-Martin, it is necessary to have previously, among other things, an "aeronautical English" qualification.
Do not forget that the Grand-Case platform also offers parachute jumps under the supervision of Marc Moreau, an introduction to piloting thanks to a DGAC approved simulator, and soon gyrocopter flights with Carlos Becquard.
Good luck to the Grand-Case flying club and Blue skies to all those who will have the chance and the joy of discovering our island a little more… differently.
Composition of the flying club office:
President: Frédéric Elaidi, Treasurer: Aaron Deerdam, Secretary: Lucie Maroy, Security manager: Charlie Bernard, Educational manager: Valeriano Galati
_J. Girauld
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