(...but didn't like to ask)
Most FTO in France are not flight schools (which also exists in France) but non-profit associations, held under the 1901 law and often called “aeroclub” or “AC”. Fractional ownership (an aircraft syndicate) is very seldom used in France and few rental companies exist.
Some aeroclubs are more than one hundred years old, owning from one to twenty aircraft with the average being around four planes. The largest ones have permanent employees for instruction, maintenance and administration.
There are several consequences to the non-profit status:
- Flight Instructors are not paid (unless they are employed by the club) for instruction but clubs usually charge an additional fee for double command
- Maiden flights to non-members are allowed up to 8% of the total hours flown by the AC fleet without being considered a commercial activity. This is a marginal source of revenues for the AC who offers them to the open public. The pilot in command (PPL or CPL holder) should have logged at least 200 hours and 30 hours on type in the last 12 months
- Aeroclubs do not pay VAT or commercial taxes as a company does, provided that all members pay the same annual fee which grants them the right to vote in the general assembly as well as to be elected to the board
- The tax administration states that every person who does not fulfil these conditions is a client (vs. a member). It could consider the aeroclub as having a commercial activity, with major consequences regarding the tax status. Therefore, you should understand that the annual membership fee (most of the time between 150 and 300 €) is non-negotiable in regard of this tax rule
- To overcome this tax problem which has lead AC to be fined up to 150,000 €, some AC propose a very low membership fee balanced by higher hourly rates. Others are dealing with the problem by having one part of their activity declared under the commercial status for the sake of the temporary members.
If you would just like to enjoy a few hours up in the air while in France, it makes sense to fly with a Flight Instructor acting as a safety pilot (and maybe handling the radio as well).
Contact the nearest aeroclub (you can use www.navigeo.org which is available in English) and present yourself as a JAA licenced pilot. You would probably be proposed to fly with any English speaking FI available, often an ATPL licenced pilot building hours. Ask for the invoicing scheme as, most of the time, the FI will use his/her own account and you pay only the hourly rate + the additional double command fee, saving the need of a membership fee.
Should you want to fly the bird all by yourself, you may first contact commercial rental companies which offer a wide range of aircraft for hire:
The following aeroclubs are non-profit associations which propose either reduced membership fee for visiting pilots or a low membership fee for all:
Lyon Bron (LFLY) www.aeroclublyoncaalb.com
This aeroclub offers a reduced membership against higher hourly rates.
Perpignan (LFMP) www.aeroclub-roussillon.com
Visiting pilot membership :60 € + 20 € /month
Corsica Ajaccio (LFKJ) www.flyingcorsica.fr
Visiting pilot membership : 100 € for 3 months
Libourne Artigues-de-Lussac (LFDI) www.libourne-aeroclub.com
Pilots holding a current (medical and BFR) european PPL should have an aircraft checkride with our instructor, and pay a reduced registration fee (80 € for 3 months) prior to solo flying
Gaillac Lisle-sur-Tarn (LFDG) aeroclubdugaillacois.fr
Annual membership fee is 50 €
Rodez Marcillac (LFCR) www.ailes-ruthenoises.fr
Temporary membership: 20 €
Hourly rate for C172: 133 €/h
Hourly rate for C150: 115 €/h
Double command fee: 10 €
Granville (LFRF) www.aeroclubgranville.fr
Temporary membership for 2 weeks: 50 €
Temporary membership for 2 months: 80 €
Abbeville (LFOI) http://aeroclub.abbeville.free.fr
Annual membership fee for those over 25 years old is 140 € but visiting pilots only pay ¼ of the fee
Pamiers Les-Pujols (LFDJ) http://acb.pamiers.pagesperso-orange.fr
Fees for visiting pilot (member of the French Aeronautical Federation) :
1 month: 25 €
6 months in a row: 65 €
Fumel-Montayral (LFDX) http:/acvl-fumel.pagesperso-orange.fr
Annual membership fee is 77 euros without temporary fees but the hourly rates are very interesting :
Jodel 112 (with double command): 82 €
Robin DR400 (with double command): 122 €
Montpellier Candillargues (LFNG) www.accamargue.fr
Temporary membership for 2 months max: 80 €
Cholet Le-Pontreau (LFOU) www.acp-cholet.fr
Annual membership fee is 20 € !!!
Cannes Mandelieu (LFMD) www.aeroclub-antibes.com
Variable fee according the time of subscription
Saint-Valery Vittefleur (LFOS) http://aeroclub.cauchois.free.fr
Annual membership fee is 80 €
Grenoble Le-Versoud (LFLG) www.aeroclub-gresivaudan.com
Annual membership fee is 60 €
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