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Catavento

Visiting France

Where to find out how flying works in France, who helps visiting pilots on the ground, and who runs tours here. The sources hold the details, so it's worth checking with them before you fly.

Sites on the map

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Sites in France on a map

Before you fly

National body: Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL) (opens in a new tab)

  • The IPPI card is accepted in France, and third-party liability insurance is compulsory.
  • Foreign pilots can join the FFVL and get the same insurance cover as French members.

A short summary, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the current requirements with Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL) before you fly. Summary checked 13 Oct 2026.

Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL): current rules for visiting pilots (opens in a new tab)

Finding local knowledge

  • At Saint-André-les-Alpes, the local school says visiting pilots are welcome on the Chalvet site and that it will tell them about the day's conditions and the site's features. Shuttles run by the local club and the commune leave from the school.

Checked 13 Oct 2026. Sources: source 1 (opens in a new tab) · source 2 (opens in a new tab) · source 3 (opens in a new tab) · source 4 (opens in a new tab) · source 5 (opens in a new tab) · source 6 (opens in a new tab) · source 7 (opens in a new tab) · source 8 (opens in a new tab) · source 9 (opens in a new tab) · source 10 (opens in a new tab)

Europe

  • Rules for visiting pilots are set by each country, so licence and insurance requirements differ from one country to the next.
  • Many countries let visitors fly with an IPPI card plus a current national licence. The IPPI card gives no insurance cover.

A short summary, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the current requirements with the national body of the country you're visiting. Summary checked 13 Oct 2026.

Current rules for visiting pilots (opens in a new tab)

Checked 13 Oct 2026. Sources: source 1 (opens in a new tab) · source 2 (opens in a new tab) · source 3 (opens in a new tab) · source 4 (opens in a new tab) · source 5 (opens in a new tab) · source 6 (opens in a new tab)

Help on the ground

Businesses whose own websites say they help visiting pilots. It's worth contacting them before you go. These lists are indicative, not complete. We add more as we find them, so there are likely others not listed here.

On offer here: Site briefings (1) · Guiding (1) · Lifts and shuttles (1) · Tandem flights (7) · Courses (7)

Flying tours here

Organised trips for qualified pilots, as each operator describes them. These lists are indicative, not complete. We add more as we find them, so there are likely others not listed here.

Sites and contacts

Information only. Forecast direction is compared with each site's published wind range; speeds are shown but not judged. Always check the official site guide, the administering club and conditions on the day. You are responsible for your decision to fly.