Alan, I think James Bond has a certain amount to answer for! I also have
dreamed of landing at Courcheval Altiport and then skiing down the mountain.
I have gone some way to making it possible, and would have taken my Europa
there this summer had not the Mistral been blowing down the Rhone at 60 kts!
Certainly you need an altiport endorsement for landing on any of their
sloping runway altiports and it needs to be current(within 6 months of exam
or actual landings, I believe.) Details in the French Bottlang. It isn't
however too difficult to get an endorsement. I happened on a school of
altiport flying while on a skiing holiday at Alpe d'Huez. There is an
absolutely cracking young female instructor there with dark brown eyes and
hair down to her waist (who would have given me serious trouble had I been a
bit younger!) A couple of hours flying gave me a reasonable introduction to
the principles of mountain flying and sufficient circuits to satisfy her
that I would pass the test (basically a few landings with a local examiner)
and it was brilliant fun, some of the very best flying ever, quite apart
---From the company! I forget how much it cost but I think it was a bit cheaper
than English flying school rates and worth every penny!You can also organise
training and check outs at Grenoble and no doubt at other flat valley floor
airfields on the border of the Alps.Happy Xmas David Joyce----- Original
Message -----
From: Alan D Stewart <alan.stewart@blueyonder.co.uk>
Subject: Europas on top in France
> Having just received the Dec 2002 (Issue 36) Europa News, I noticed on
> page 15 that one Remi Guerner has succesfully flown his French
> registered aircraft onto a number of mountain strips in France.
>
> For a number of years, I've dreamed of the opportunity to do exactly
> this. La Rosiere and Courchevel/Meribel are exactly where I would like
> to be on a calm weekend during a stable weather window over the next few
> months.
>
> I had assumed that piloting my own aircraft would not be permitted due
> to the local requirement that visitors possess a 'French Mountain
> Licence', verifying their competence in the prevailing conditions. This
> would be time consuming and costly to obtain.
>
> Are there circumstances where this requirement is waived ? Last years'
> 'Guide Delage' suggests not, but perhaps I'm in error ?
>
> Remi, please get in touch, or alternatively does anyone know of his
> personal email ?
>
> An arial shortcut to the Alps during the skiing season. Now that would
> be a great Christmas present !
>
> Alan
> BWFX
>
>
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