Bonjour mes amis

Je parle le francais un petit peu.

English is easier for me. I am about to purchase a holiday home in Picardy and would like to know how I can set up a private strip, if it is at all possible. Having the land to do it is not necessarily the problem, just the administration and local government. Any help?

REX

Now if you think British administration is crap, wait until deal with the unsurpassed champions, namely the French Admin.

If I remember well you will have to talk to "la Mairie" of your place and la "prefecture" to start the proceedings.

May I suggest you contact the FNA "Federation Nationale Aeronautique" an organisation gathering all the pilots, aeroclubs together.
They are bit like AOPA I suppose but with a much greater weight in the dealing with French issues.

Perhaps someone has a link for you ??

It is allowed

the best is to have a plane registered as an ultralight (Avid Flyer...)

Good luck with the French administration, as AMEX told you, they are world champion of complications, uneffisciency, uncompetency...

It will be difficult but not impossible. The mayor of the commune where your property is located has to be first contacted and convinced, and thisiwil also depend on how far other habitations are located, noise, etc.
If he is convinced ,and is prepared to give in writing a non-objection letter, then it is worth starting the process. I believe the Direction de l' Amenagement du territoire has also something to say before but the mayor should be able to tell you this.
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You can start, as suggested , by looking at the fna website. they have a good link to french internet sites site .try the DGAC one and ask the question there . they have also an own Forum and you can also try to ask there if someone has stated the process of operating its own field.
Good luck and keep us informed of the results.
the fna web site is : www.fna.asso.fr/fna/
(please, do not put "le" after the asso on the address )