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Courchevel Altiport

{{short description|Dangerous airport in Courchevel, France}}

{{Infobox airport

| name = Courchevel Altiport

| nativename = {{lang|fr|Altiport de Courchevel}}

| nativename-a =

| nativename-r =

| image = Courchevel aeroport.jpg

| image-width =

| caption =

| IATA = CVF

| ICAO = LFLJ

| type = Public

| owner =

| operator =

| city-served = Courchevel

| location = Courchevel

| opened = {{start date and age|1962|||df=y|p=n|br=n}}

| elevation-m = 2008

| coordinates = {{Coord|45|23|51|N|06|38|04|E|type:airport_region:FR|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = France Savoie#France

| image_map =

| image_map_caption =

| pushpin_label = CVF/LFLJ

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Savoie

| website =

| metric-elev = y

| metric-rwy = y

| r1-number = 04/22

| r1-length-m = 537

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| r2-number =

| r2-length-f =

| r2-length-m =

| r2-surface =

| stat-year =

| stat1-header =

| stat1-data =

| stat2-header =

| stat2-data =

| footnotes = {{cite web |title=Un altiport dynamique toute l'année |url=https://www.mairie-courchevel.com/uploads/tx_dklikbrochures/Mag-hiver17.pdf |website=mairie-courchevel.com |access-date=24 April 2021}}

}}

Courchevel Altiport ({{langx|fr|Altiport de Courchevel}}) {{airport codes|CVF|LFLJ}} is an altiport serving Courchevel, a ski resort in the French Alps. The airfield has a very short runway of only {{convert|537|m|ft}} with a gradient of 18.6%.[https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/dvd/eAIP_02_JAN_2020/Atlas-VAC/PDF_AIPparSSection/VAC/AD/AD-2.LFLJ.pdf SIA AIP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102172502/https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/dvd/eAIP_02_JAN_2020/Atlas-VAC/PDF_AIPparSSection/VAC/AD/AD-2.LFLJ.pdf |date=2020-01-02 }} PDF {{in lang|fr}} There is no go-around procedure for landings at Courchevel due to the surrounding mountainous terrain. The airfield primarily sees use by smaller fixed-wing aircraft such as the Cessna 208 Caravan or Pilatus PC-12, as well as helicopters. The runway has no instrument approach procedure or lighting aids, making landing in fog or low clouds unsafe and almost impossible.

The airport is considered dangerous, as it features a difficult approach, an upward-sloping runway and ski runs in the adjacent area. The History Channel program Most Extreme Airports ranks it as the seventh most extreme airport in the world.Most Extreme Airports, History Channel, October 14, 2010

History

file:Altiport_Courchevel2.jpg

Courchevel Altiport was the brainchild of Michel Ziegler in the early 1960s. By 1961 plans were in place, and upon opening Courchevel Altiport was the first mountain airport of its type. Michel, along with his wife Martine, owned Les Pilatus - a restaurant next to the runway. This facility still exists today as a restaurant and accommodation for skiers in the region.{{cite web|url=https://us.media.france.fr/sites/default/files/document/press_release/A%20History%20of%20Courchevel.pdf|title=the history of Courchevel|publisher=france.fr|access-date=26 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lepilatus.com/en/chalet-lepilatus/|title=Primarily|publisher=lepilatus.com|access-date=26 February 2024}}

In the early 1970s, Air Alpes operated scheduled flights between Paris Orly and Courchevel utilizing de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter STOL-capable turboprop aircraft during the ski season. In case of bad weather, the aircraft landed in Chambery and the passengers were bused to Courchevel. Air Alpes had an office and desk in the Les Pilatus restaurant, which was later absorbed into the dining facility. In the 1980s, Tyrolean Airways served Courchevel with Dash-7 STOL-capable turboprop aircraft capable of carrying 54 passengers.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/55SswKIn18A Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140606193917/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55SswKIn18A Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55SswKIn18A| title = Tyrolean Dash 7 landing at Courchevel | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{better source|date=May 2019}} More recently, other de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters and DHC-7 Dash 7 turboprops have served the airport. Since 2014, Alpine Airlines is currently the only company worldwide to offer commercial flights to Courchevel Altiport.{{Cite web|url=https://alpine-airlines.com/en/|title=Alpine Airlines - Airline ' Courchevel Paris Tropez|website=Alpine Airlines|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-02}}

Facilities

As of 2024, the facilities at the altiport for aircraft include a 10 space hangar, a single fire truck, a tractor for aircraft towing and a refuelling station. Customers and pilots can make use of two small chalets by the runway.{{cite web|url=https://altiport.mairie-courchevel.com/altiport-de-courchevel/fonctionnement/equipements.html|title=EQUIPEMENTS|publisher=Courchevel Altiport|language=FR|access-date=26 February 2024}}

Incidents and accidents

  • On 3 January 2003 a Cessna 172 that departed the altiport was forced to make an emergency landing in a field, after the aircraft was forced to divert to Albertville due to reduced throttle noted on takeoff from the Altiport. The original destination for the aircraft was Cuers.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/le-pilote-decolle-de-laltiport-de-courchevel-altitude-6-580-pieds-pour-un-vol-a-destination-d/|title=The pilot takes off from the Courchevel altiport (altitude: 6,580 feet) for a flight to...|publisher=BEA|access-date=2 March 2024}}
  • On 14 April 2016 a Piper PA-34 N1010FM stalled during landing flare, leading to a hard landing which ruptured the left main landing gear. The aircraft left the runway. There were no fatalities.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-piper-pa34-registered-n101fm-on-04-14-16-at-courchevel-73/|title=Accident to the Piper PA34 registered N101FM on 04/14/16 at Courchevel (73)

|publisher=BEA|access-date=2 March 2024}}

  • On 1 July 2016 a Eurocopter EC120 Colibri F-GVTA lost control on final approach at 10m. The helicopter struck the ground and landed on its right side, causing a total loss of the aircraft.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-helicopter-ec120-registered-f-gvta-on-01-07-2016-at-courchevel-73/|title=Accident to the helicopter EC120 registered F-GVTA on 01/07/2016 at Courchevel (73)|publisher=BEA|access-date=2 March 2024}}
  • On 25 February 2017, a EAPC Pilatus PC-12 OO-PCI crashed on landing, following the pilot flying carrying out the final 5% lower than the guide slope.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-pilatus-pc12-registered-oo-pci-on-25-02-2017-at-courchevel/|title=Accident to the Pilatus PC-12 registered OO-PCI operated by European Aircraft Private Club on 25/02/2017 at Courchevel (Savoie)|publisher=BEA|access-date=25 February 2024}}
  • On 8 February 2019, Bluewings Piper PA-46 F-GUYZ crashed into a wall of snow after the pilot throttled back too late on landing. There were two minor injuries recorded.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-piper-pa46-registered-f-guyz-on-08-02-2019-at-courchevel/|title=Accident to the Piper - PA-46 - 350P registered F-GUYZ on 08/02/2019 at Courchevel (Savoie)|publisher=BEA|access-date=25 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/pa-46-accident-passengers-wrongly-believed-they-were-flying-with-airline/146739.article|title=PA-46 accident passengers wrongly believed they were flying with airline|publisher=flightglobal.com|access-date=25 February 2024}}
  • On 13 July 2019, a Cessna P210 N732RS crashed due to landing before the runway threshold.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-cessna-p210-registered-n732rs-on-13-07-2019-at-courchevel/|title=Accident to the Cessna P210 registered N732RS on 13/07/2019 at Courchevel|publisher=BEA|access-date=25 February 2024}}
  • On 6 August 2021, a Piper PA-46 F-HYGA crashed after striking an embankment above the runway threshold which tore the aircraft's undercarriage. The aircraft continued along the runway for a further 100 meters, before coming to a halt and catching fire. There was one fatality.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-piper-pa46-registered-f-hyga-on-06-08-2021-at-courchevel/|title=BEA|publisher=Accident to the Piper PA46 registered F-HYGA on 06/08/2021 at Courchevel|access-date=25 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ledauphine.com/faits-divers-justice/2021/08/06/crash-d-aeroplane-a-l-altiport-de-courchevel-au-moins-un-mort|title=Crash d’aéroplane à l’altiport de Courchevel : un mortt|publisher=Le Dauphine|language=FR|access-date=25 February 2024}}
  • On 16 June 2022, a privately owned and operated Diamond DA42 F-HIMY crashed into an embankment.{{cite web|url=https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-diamond-da42-registered-f-himy-on-16-06-2022-at-courchevel/|title=Accident to the Diamond DA42 registered F-HIMY on 16/06/2022 at Courchevel|publisher=BEA|access-date=25 February 2024}}
  • On 17 February 2024, a EAPC Pilatus PC-12 OO-PCN crashed on landing, with the aircraft overrunning onto a snow covered embankment and a wing being torn off. There were two crew members onboard, and no fatalities.{{cite web|url=https://www.aviation24.be/airports/courchevel-altiport-cvf/belgian-pilatus-pc-12-skids-off-runway-at-courchevel-altiport-pilots-slightly-injured-after-loss-of-wing/|title=Belgian Pilatus PC-12 skids off runway at Courchevel Altiport: pilots slightly injured after loss of wing|publisher=aviation24.be|access-date=25 February 2024}}

Tour de France

The altiport has been used as the finish line of Tour de France stages on numerous occasions, given its steep gradient and location close to the ski resort of Courchevel.{{Cite web |title=Tour de France 2023 : Arrivée à l'altiport de Courchevel ! - Mairie de Courchevel |url=https://altiport.mairie-courchevel.com/altiport-de-courchevel/actualites/actualite/tour-de-france-2023-arrivee-a-laltiport-de-courchevel.html |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=altiport.mairie-courchevel.com |language=fr}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

!Year

!Stage

!Start

!Finish

!Stage length

1997

|14

|Le Bourg-d'Oisans

|Courchevel

|{{convert|148.0|km|abbr=on}}

2000

|15

|Briançon

|Courchevel

|{{convert|173.5|km|abbr=on}}

2005

|10

|Grenoble

|Courchevel

|{{convert|177.0|km|abbr=on}}

2023

|17

|Saint-Gervais-les-Bains

|Courchevel

|{{convert|166|km|abbr=on}}

Statistics

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=CVF}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|Courchevel Altiport}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180906/http://www.airliners.net/photo/Tyrolean-Airways/De-Havilland-Canada/0461066/%26sid%3D1e51cc68271bf01cadb3d3b006bcaed7 Photo of DHC-7 on runway]
  • [http://www.world-airport-codes.com/france/courchevel-1704.html Airport information ]

{{Airports in France|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airports in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Category:Buildings and structures in Savoie

Category:Altiports