AUDITION DIFFICULTIES,
SPEECH DIFFICULTIES….
BUT FIRTS OF ALLS
PILOTES

Our Project
To give deaf and those with speech difficulties pilots the possibility to fly within controlled aero
spaces.
As extension to the actions already taken by the Deaf Aeroclub of France since 1996, the FANS4ALL association (“Future Air Navigation Systems For All”) is an entity of general interest created in March 2017, working for the professional insertion of individuals with disabilities, in particular those which are hard of hearing or have speech issues, into aero related careers namely by improving proposed conditions for the practice of aero sports.
Our project
To give deaf and those with speech difficulties pilots the possibility to fly within controlled aero spaces.
A fact to be recognised; at the beginning of this association: In France, and even further in Europe, the activity of piloting light aircrafts by HIS (Hearing Speaking Impaired) pilots – a term which englobes deaf pilots and those with speech impairment, as well as pilots going through speech and hearing loss – presents currently in the complex climate a need for arduous and fastidious demands. Namely the fact that radio telephony is the only used means towards the exchange of information between the ground and the air. Nowadays, the practice of aircrafts being maned by HSI pilots is done by means of “radio error (with light signals and pre-authorised use on controlled aerodromes); Class D. The historical construction of the aerial control equipment (which is done by voice) and of medical regulations associated with these may appear to have allowed for the technological advancement which in turn facilitated their development into other forms.
From this fact, a project: to develop a ground-air communication system which integrates forms of exchange of data via other perceptive channels other than sound, adapted for cross-use, for the expected departures and arrivals (VFR) of light airplanes and landing. This system being able to take advantage of existing regulations and developments already achieved since the 1980s by means of digital liaisons CPDLC (Controller–pilot data link communications) of which deployment, pioneered by commercial airplanes, can be used for planes in general – that is the hypothesis that we propose – possibly under compatible formats taking advantage of the growth of information exchange automation. The catch being how to permit HIS pilots to navigate, whilst in command of an aircraft, through controlled aerial spaces and take off and land under the controlled spaces. In following the current perspectives of minimising current vocal exchanges for general aviation, the project FANS4All will benefit the whole of the aeronautic community.
The team FANS4ALL
Fédérer is our aeronautic expert for industrial partners, academics and institutions.
For the realisation of this project, the FANS4ALL association has since its beginnings surrounded itself with experts, whether institutional, scientific or industrial in order to put together a pluridisciplinary team, having even started to build a research and development effort which integrates the socio-technical regulamentory, medical and security challenges which can be associated with such a project.
Our modes of action
Our association proposes to to engage in the following, illustrative and non-exhaustive, means:
- Initiation or formation in professional or amateur careers in the aero field.
- Sensibilisation actions in aero careers for those with disabilities, in particular the hard of hearing and
those with speech difficulties.
- Sensibilisation actions in aero careers for those with disabilities, in particular auditory and speech disabilities, and accessibility to businesses, institutions, clubs or associations in the aero domain.
- Workshops and presentations on means which permit those of hard hearing and speech difficulties to access careers and amateur statuses on the aero domain.
- To work on scientific research directly or via the financement of selected initiatives which would
enrich the aims of our project.
Our objectives
To work on the scientific and social domain
- For the professional uptake of persons with disabilities, in particular the hard of hearing and those with speech difficulties, in aero careers and equally to permit these to practice aero sports.
- For the implementation of new navigation and traffic control technologies which would facilitate accessibility to those with disabilities or which would increase aero safety.
- To encourage innovant initiatives in terms of accessibility for the deaf and take part, as per law number 2005-102 for equal opportunity, in participating and acquirement of advanced expertise for those with disabilities.
- To convince regulatory bodies concerned of the technical, organisational and sécuritaire feasibility of innovative dispositives.
- To show that the disabled are a source of innovation to society as a whole.
The team FANS4ALL
Fédérer is our aeronautic expert for industrial partners, academics and institutions.
For the realisation of this project, the FANS4ALL association has since its beginnings surrounded itself with experts, whether institutional, scientific or industrial in order to put together a pluridisciplinary team, having even started to build a research and development effort which integrates the socio technical regulamentory, medical and security challenges which can be associated with such a project.
Our conviction is that the only technical characteristics can not suffice to determine the success or the failure of this socio-technico-regulatory project. The reflection must be plural and requires in this respect diverse and complementary expertise to enable this company to be both an innovation for the handicap and an innovation for the handicap! Discover our scientific and operational program here.
SCIENTIFIC AND OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME
The FANS4ALL programme covers susceptible innovations taking into account the consequences, for an aeroplane pilot:
• Deafness where even with medical aid, goals are not achieved including with the use of a hearing prothesis.
• Speech difficulties to which there are no medical solutions
• Deafness related to attention span (relating to alarms’ perception, or persistence to not change a plan of action,…)
• Situational deafness (Radio malfunction, broken windshield, no sound on radio, radio frequency error,…)
There is also the desire to contribute to innovation by means of automation for aero transports, with pluri-disciplinary concepts in the research for scientific recourses to materials’ science, human sciences and life sciences.
The programme is deployed in 3 phases, each lasting 3 years.
NEWS
Join FANS4ALL
The scientific and operational programme is driven by close collaboration with scientific research, the business world, the DGAC and aero service users. It can accomodate students (PhD, Masters, or upper level enginners) and all other volunteers with a desire to contribute to the cause. If you would like to join us, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you want to support our project, you can make a donation of you choice to the FANS4ALL Association
