Reader's Question - Re-register UK ULM in France

Colin Smith writes;

Hello . I have a Mini-max ULM currently registered in the UK as an SSDR.

UK regulations do not permit an SSDR to fly outside the UK.

I am Resident in Belgium fairly close to the French border and plan on buying a house in France quite soon.

Can anyone help me by letting me know if it's possible to import my Aircraft to France and register it there?

It was on an LAA permit until 2014 and the LAA supervised the construction process.

I am very fond of it and do not want to part with it if possible.

Quite happy for any permit inspections necessary.

many thanks.

Colin Smith

Comments

[Roger Camp]

Hi Colin,

i re registered my Irish registered Shadow last year, a painless procedure, and at the moment all done online. My email is rocam22000@hotmail.com if you need more info.

Regards

Roger Camp

[David Walsh]

Hi Colin Smith,

Re: UK ULM conversion to French registration.

Whilst this is theoretically possible you'd have to be a masochist to voluntarily enter into the French bureaucracy involved, especially post Brexit.

If you are a fluent French speaker and enjoy wading through treacle and spending money this could be just what you need to fill your days.

My advise would be DO NOT DO IT!

I spent much time and monies getting a German built glider trailer into the French system: it was a nightmare and this was for two founder members of the EU with a common road border.

You might have thought that after 40 years of bureaucratic "harmonisation" across Europe that changing the registration documents on a trailer would be simple: think again.

The simple bit was dealing with the German authorities (I have no German), they were pretty efficient.....

Sell your UK aircraft and buy in France, an additional advantage is that there are far more ULM aircraft & types available here in France.

All the best,

David Walsh
SW France

[Roger Camp]

Hi David, I agree to a certain extent with your comments, but i found the DGAC to be more than accomodating (it is a bit different than a trailer). I downloaded the forms and using googl translate i completed them and sent them by email to the DGAC, less than 3 weeks i had the provisional PtF. It might be worthwhile to purchase a ULM here in france but i dont see or have seen anything cheaper than the UK and you will still have to "wade" through the treacle to re register in your name, Regards Roger