Before the Christmas of 2006 I decided to visit the Airbus Factories at the Blacnac Airport near Toulouse in France. Since I had some remaining vacation and a lot of time off in lieu of wages, I decided to take two weeks off spending the first week on visiting the Altiport Courchevel, that is situated in the French Alps. I had seen many photos on www.airliners.net from there, and especially the landing of a Dash-7 aircraft seemed a bit hair-raising. However, aircraft of this size no longer fly there since the whole runway is needed for take-off. The runway is situated at an altitude of 2010 metres, it is 537 metres long and has a difference of height of 64 metres from the one end to the other. This means that it has a fall of 18.66 per cent at the steepest point. The first 123 metres are by and large flat and the last 134 metres have a fall of 12.5 per cent. By clicking on the top photo you can download a pdf file, that contains the information of the airfield.

Flying on the field is just as special as it sounds. Naturally an aircraft can only take off downhill and only land uphill. When the pilot steps on it at the start of a runway, only a couple of seconds go by before he cannot see the runway anymore. After app. 100 metres the runway breaks off to quickly disappear under the nose of the aircraft, and it only appears again when the aircraft goes down 18.66 per cent, and then you realize that the end of the runway is very near, but we got up into the air in due time. A very special thing was that the altimeter started off with showing 6600 feet, but we sunk 100 feet before we took off. You are certainly not used to anything like this in Denmark.

I got a very good talk with the pilot Alexandre Combes, who was present at the club house. Of course, I told him that I did not have any certificate anymore but that I had flown a lot in Greeland many years ago. Actually he offered me that I took the aircraft into the air when the aircraft was ready at the end of the runway, but I told him that it would be best if he took care of things. I must admit that I later regretted this, and I am sure that if I get another chance I will not turn down such an offer.

I chose the long tourist flight of 30 minutes that took us through the three valleys after which the club is named. Since I was the only passenger I naturally had to pay for the whole flight (= 140 €), but it was worth every euro. It was an incredibly beautiful flight that took us across the exclusive ski resorts, that were still active. For example we passed the Val Thorens and naturally we had a good view to the Mont Blanc. We also passed another altiport “Meribel”. It was only 400 metres long, was situated at the same altitude and only had a fall of app. 10 per cent. Consequently, this was not a good place for an C-172 aircraft.

The landing took place with a very high approach and almost at idle speed. The aircraft flared out and landed on the first part of the runway, that is not so steep, and immediately after the landing the pilot applied almost full power to be able to go uphill, and the speed did not rise in spite of the extra power. When the hill top was passed speed was reduced and the aircraft was parked.

If you wish to land at an altiport such as the Courchevel you must have an altiport check-out, that you can obtain in this flying club. If you click on the link of the club that can be found at the top photo, you can read more about how it is done, what it costs and what to learn. This also includes flying in a mountainous area and flying from a place standing on high ground. Such a check-out only applies for 6 months. This means that you will need a new check-out if you have not flown over an altiport during these months. If you are in the area and if you are a pilot you can also choose to fly with an instructor. If he writes this down in the log book it will count as one hour. This is a very exciting way to renew your rights. By the way, people speak very good English in this club.

Poul-Jørgen

All photos can be enlargened by clicking on them.

The sign outside the altiport

The Club house With the hangar in the background. As you can see the snow is not totally gone yet.

A wide angle photo that is taken from a spot app. 5 metres above the field, and as you can see it is only possible to watch to the spot where the field is sloping downwards. For the same reason you must always drive to the edge at the far left of the photo to check out if an aircraft is on its way or perhaps even coming uphill, if people are not watching out in the tower since this is an AFIS airfield. Then it will be possible to get a view of the whole field.

This is the view of the road leading to the airfield.

Here I have driven and come much more into the heights and it is not until now that the whole runway can be seen downhill.

This photo has been taken below the tower, from where you also get a total view of the runway. The little house to the left is the petrol station. You can get this wide angle photo in total size by clicking on it. This also applies to the next photo and the previous photo.

Here you see the runway from the bottom upwards, and you can just see the tunnel that leads the road under the runway. The end of the runway can be seen to the left of the photo, and as you can see it has to be taken very literally the story about the end.

This is the C-172 F-BXZS of the club that gave us a tour of half an hour. It was a very beautiful trip in the Alps, and I really recommend anybody who comes in the area to take such a flight, that you can get all year around since the runway is cleared of snow during winter. Since the place is an exclusive ski sport during winter my impression is that there is much more traffic at this season.

A good view from the aircraft at 8000 feet.

The view from 8000 feet with at city in the distance. Please notice, that the dark area in the middle of the photo is the shadow of a cloud.

As you can see here you must fly at more than 8000 feet to fly over the mountain.

Here it is even more than a bit higher than 8000 feet.

Unfortunately I did not get the name of the place, but as you can see the snow is not totally gone here on 26 April 2007.

The LFLJ seen from the aircraft during approach. As you can obviously see the runway is sloping a great deal and ends (or starts) on the valley edge. You can also see that only the apron with hangar and belonging buildings is fairly horizontal.

A last minute photo shoot out of the rearmost left side vindow with the apron at the bottom of the photo.

I am sorry for the dark shadow of the aircraft, but I would like to include the photo anyway, since it shows the position of the airfield very well.

It must be a great job for an AFIS-employee with such a location.

One of the few aircraft that I saw approaching the airfield even though I checked the airfield out one time everyday I was in the area. I lived at the hotel in Albertville that was situated app. 50 kilometres away from Courchevel. I had ordered the hotel from my personal computer at home – something that is very easy.

The same aircraft can be seen here and on the next two photos during taking off. Here we are starting to get downwards.

The aircraft is in the air nice and easy before the last 134 metres, that are only sloping 12.5 %. The building in the background is a restaurant that is probably only open during winter.

Then adieu Courchevel.

Here you see the second of the only two aircraft that I saw on the airfield besides the one I was flying with myself. However a helicopter dropped by in the last minute to photograph during take off.

Here is the place that you go to in order to supervise incoming traffic. In the background you can see one of the hotels of the ski resort.

In the background you can get a look of the town of Courchevel.

The helicopter of Heli-Alps has just taken off. I just arrived there at the same minute it took off, and therefore I was not prepared very well, but fortunately my camera was ready on the seat next to me.

The helicopter of Heli-Alps was equipped with a strecher holder on its side. I guess it will be useful during winter.