Chamonix altiport
 

Hi

Has anyone any experience of flying to this airfield? I have been looking at it and seriously considering it and was wondering what experiences anyone has had of it. It would be in a single, probably a PA28. I have access to a cheap C152 but think it may not be up to it - would this be a fair assumption?

All opinions gratefully received.

Many thanks

SK

I think you are talking about Megeve or Salanche as they are the nearest altiports to chmonix. Iflew out of Megeve last may and it is something every pilot must do once!!! But you cant just pitch up there as you need an Alpine rating(about 5 hrs ) with a french instructor, i drove there and whent up in the club Jodel,a 180hp four seater. Happy landings and let me know if you go.

Hi

Thanks for that. I think I meant to say Courchevel not chamonix - sorry!!!

Absolutely no problem at all in a 152, or a PA28.

I've flown there many times in a variety of aircraft including 90hp Jodels and Cubs, and lack of power / size is not an issue.

What is an issue is technique. You need to be taught to use Courchevel properly, or you will most assuredly break your aeroplane and you will not be reimbursed by your insurer.

There are 2 flying clubs active at Courchevel (Aéroclub des 3 Vallées, and Aéroclub du Dauphiné - both have websites, but I don't have the links), and you can do a site check with an instructor that will take you 3 to 5 hours if your general flying is at a good level to start with.

Incidentally, there are 3 landing sites in the Chamonix valley (one for emergency use only, and 2 private airstrips), as well a large number of official glacier landing sites - so your initial question wasn't too far wrong! I wouldn't try any of them in a 152 or a PA28 though!;)

About 6hrs total flying time in a 152 in nil wind. It is capable of making its way up there with a runway eleveation of 6580ft. 528nm if you take the "direct" route. Very interesting ski-jump layout that lands into the mountain.

Altiport training required before a flight is accepted into it. There is a flight training school there that has a 172 and Jodel I think. They also have a C150.

They have 2 ratings, a snow free rating called mountain wheels rating. You can then do a snow extension. You can also do a specific altiport rating that covers you for use of that facility but needs to be maintained by 6 month flights.

http://www.adgs.com/C/GB/ecole-mtge-roues.htm

I hope this helps.

Have alook at this link all about Courchevel.

http://www.higher.flyer.co.uk/html/lflj.html

AF

Do you know if the 3 Vallees club does own aircraft instruction? (yeah, I know, why don't I phone them...:rolleyes:

No they don't they require you to use there aircraft. You need the rating to fly into them in the first place which means you would have to find a pilot with an appropriate rating to actually get your aircraft to the airport in the first place.

There aircraft are also a know quantity to them in what are marginal conditions!

Aim Far,

Bose-x is correct. If you're interested in an altiport check-out, however, there are plenty of mountain instructors who can help you and who are based at airfields you can fly yourself to safely.

Altiports like Courchevel are pretty tame, so there is no special need for local knowledge. At Courchevel, however, the landing fees in winter are extortionate, and this is a good reason for using locally based aircraft.

You need to be careful about getting mountain instruction in your own aircraft if it is complex or unusual in any way. Flying in a mountain environment is quite intimidating at first, and your brain can go into overload. If the instructor is relying on the student to handle the undercarriage, propeller, and other systems, things can go wrong. There was a well-known case of a British-registered Cessna 210 that landed gear up at an altiport due to the student being overwhelmed and the instructor being unfamiliar with the aircraft.

Thanks guys. I'm flying over that way at the start of May anyway and the altiport rating was on my list of things do this year. I had figured on flying to somewhere like Chambery to pick up an instructor but I'll look into both options.

If you're going in May, I can highly recommend training at Megève instead of Courchevel. Megève's runway will be clear of snow by then, and it's a nicer place to be in May which is the height of low season!

You will also get lots of opportunities for glacier flying, which is quite an experience.

Many thanks for the advice guys. I shall contact the clubs, review the finances and see what I can do.

Cheers

SK

Hi SK,

(Didn't we meet in SA last year?)
I'd go along with what's been said above.
If you're going to the 3-vallees, my recommendation would be to have a go on one of the Jodel D140s at Meribel. They don't clear the snow usually during the winter there and fly with wheel skis.

You can arrange for an instructor to meet you at say Chambery, Challes les Eaux or Annecy and fly with you to the altiport.
The 5 hour course only qualifies for one field and lapses after a few months. You can do the full french altiport rating, which is nearer 30 hours and covers you for all altiports and glacier landings ;¬))}

The big Jodel is an ideal plane for the job and a lot of fun to fly. They generally recommend about 60hp per seat minimum in the mountains.

Two separate ratings now. The ski / glacier rating allows you to use any snow covered altiport or altisurface (mountain landing site). It used to authorise use of the same sites when clear of snow, but that is no longer the case - you need to get the standard mountain rating.

Hi Mark 1

Hows it going? Did you go back and finish off?
My main motivation in doing this is to go skiing down there on the odd occasion so I may look at the rating for one field at the mo, purely for financial reasons

Thanks again

SK

SK

Bear in mind that the site authorisation expires 6 months after your last landing, and if you are going to be flying to sites like Courchevel, you really want to be in current practice. I wouldn't recommend arriving there more than say 3 months after your last landing at a mountain airfield... you really do risk getting something wrong and breaking the aeroplane.

Mountain flying isn't difficult, but as with aerobatics or instrument flying currency is essential.

Agree with the above posting. Would like to add cost info/;

Landings between 1st Mayand 30th Nov No charge.
Hangar = free

Landings between 1st Dec and 30th Apr Charge €60
Hangar = €300/week.

GG

Ouch!!!! Thanks for that!