Courchevel aero club

[Tango Oscar]

Hi all,

I'm off to Courchevel in a couple of weeks, and am considering hiring an
aircraft with instructor for an hour or two. This is just for a jolly really, I don't intend to train for any ratings etc. Anyone have any experience of the aero club there ? Are they friendly/welcoming ? Do the instructors speak english ?

I have sent them an email, but as yet, have not received a reply.

Any info appreciated:ok:

(edit do to dodgy spelling)

[nouseforaname]

I've not been out there yet but have been planning to for a long while now. Just can't find the time.

Looks like a really cool place, you can do the Courchevel altiport permission thing with the instructors. I think it's only about 5hrs training. You might as well do it then you could fly out there some time. I'm pretty sure that the 5hrs only gives you permission to land at Courchevel. Robert Christien (not sure if it's spelt right) but that's who I was intouch with. Seems a reasonable chappy..

pm me if you want his number or just google 'aeroclub courchevel'

[cblinton@blueyonder.]

Fantastic:D
I did my altiport rating at Christmas with Robert Christen http://www.adgs.com/C/GB/ecole-generalites.htm
It takes three hours and is worth every penny.
I am going back there in the Bonanza soon for some more.
Email me if you need any more imfo;)

[TangoZulu]

I did my Courchevel altiport rating last March with Robert Christin and would highly recommend it. The "Aeroclub des Trois Vallees" is primarily him I think with some admin assistance.

Two aircraft - C172 (wheels) and Jodel D140 (Skis/Wheels) - both very tidy and quite comparable to aircraft I have flown here in the UK at my local flying club.

Took about 5 hours which included a trip around Mont Blanc at about 12500 ft in the C172 - getting up that high was interesting - and if you get the chance go to the St Sorlin glacier in the Jodel with RC for a couple of circuits and maybe a full stop landing.

I spent most of the week while my friends were skiing flying and completing the Courchevel rating - some of the best flying I have done to date.

TZ

[Brooklands]

A few years ago Aerobatic Flyer posted a link to a video of mountain flying in france. I've had a rumage around with the search facility and managed to find the orinignal post
If you want a feel for what glacier flying is like, this is a fantastic video for those of you with a high-speed internet connection:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/parientefilms1/amis.mpg
It's a video about 9 minutes long showing a flight from Méribel to the St Sorlin glacier, followed by a landing at l'Alpe d'Huez, then a return to Méribel. It was posted on the FNA forum by Denis Pariente.
Right click on the link, and save the file.
Warning number 1! The file is about 30 Mb. It will take forever to download with a normal dial-up internet connection.
Warning number 2! It might give you an uncontrollable urge to drop everything and head to the Alps now!
The link still works, and the soundtrack is great.
Enjoy,
Brooklands

[Tango Oscar]

Hmmm - thanks for the replys.

If the altiport rating is only 3-5 hours I may well go for that. It sounds like fantastic fun.

What's involved in the ratng ? Is it simply a case of being signed off, once the instructor is happy you are competant, or is it more structured than that i.e with some sort of ground exam etc. Presumably the rating lapses pretty quickly ?

Thanks again:ok:

[cblinton@blueyonder.]

Tango
It is simply a case of being signed off.
The flying will be mainly landing and takeoffs ,however these are not touch and goes as you takeoff and land in opposite directions.
Some basic mountain flying skills are also involved and how to join the Courchevel circuit as if the AFIS is open or shut. The sign off lasts for 1 year and a landing is required every six months to stay current.
I am seriously thinking of returning in the Bonanza within a few weeks when the weather is good so who knows we might meet up there:cool:
http://www.cblinton.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/1136633553.JPG
Finals
http://www.cblinton.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/1136633878.JPG
Clearing the apron!!!

[stuartforrest]

I enquired last year but my good lady utterly refused to let me do the rating as she was pregnant at the time and utterly bonkers. I hope to go back some time and do it so I can wander in there in my Bonanza every so often. My friend has a chalet there and we usually enjoy a week or two there skiing each year.

Imagine the fun if my plane was there while we were skiing and then you could skip off for a bit of flying some times during the week. That would combine my two favorite pastimes.

[Adrian N]

Just a word of caution. It is quite possible to complete the Courchevel site-rating in a very short time (2 or 3 hours) if you are competent and current. But please remember that learning how to land on a sloping runway in the prevailing conditions of the day is not at all the same thing as learning how to be a safe mountain pilot.

There are so many things to be aware of, and conditions can vary so much. If you are signed off for Courchevel when the wind is calm, and return a few months later when there is 10 to 15kts, you will have a nasty surprise. If you are signed off in the winter, and return in thermic conditions in the summer, you will hopefully do no worse than frighten yourself. If you learn to leave and join the Courchevel circuit when the visibility is good, do you know enough to find your way there when it's hazy, or when cumulus clouds are forming on South-facing slopes between 4000 and 8000 feet (as they often do), or when it's a bit overcast? If you get slightly lost in the mountains, can you sort it out safely? Bear in mind that there are many insidious hazards which you will not find on any maps - mainly cables, some of which can be far above the ground and quite invisible until it's too late.

I don't want to put anyone off - mountain flying is one of the most exhilarating things one can do in an aeroplane, and it has become my passion. I would strongly recommend anyone who wants to fly themselves to Courchevel to spend as much time as they can training there, to forget about the sign-off (although that will come naturally), to try to learn all they can about the techniques needed to stay safe, and to become as familiar as possible with the different landmarks so that you can find your way there safely.

Better still, go there several times and do the full mountain rating. It's a significant undertaking, and may seem a bit like getting an instrument rating when all you want to do is climb through the occaional layer of stratus to fly VFR on-top, but it's rewarding and will make trips to Courchevel much safer.

[cblinton@blueyonder.]

Fully agree with Adrian's post and you would be foolish to attempt a flight there in anything but good conditions without the full mountain rating.

However on the "altiport sign off" you are shown how to fly to the circuit from far out as Chambery and the cables across the valley etc. If the weather was not suitable one could stay in Chambery and wait for an improvement. If all you want to do is use the altiport I consider the "sign off" to be enough.

I would love to do the full rating one day:D

[Dufo]

Just a reminder.. I forgot if we actually annouced the runway for departure/landing on afis @LFLJ. I was too busy with other stuff I guess :O
Anyone remembers?

edit: runway number that is

[werewolf]

2 flying clubs at Courchevel altiport:
1. Aéro-club des 3 vallées (Robert Christin): see above
2. Aéro-club Courchevel: http://www.aeroclub-courchevel.com/

[Tango Oscar]

Don't think there's a need to call which runway. there's only one for taking off and one for landing, so doesn't seem much point !!
For anyone interested, this was the most enjoyable flying I've ever done. I completed the altiport rating in just under 4 hours. Just need a mountain rating now := :O