A
sightseeing tourist flight in a small light aircraft is one of the most
thrilling and exciting ways of seeing the snow capped mountains in all
their glory from the air. As the plane banks it all becomes clear - the
mountains, the ski runs the resorts. Darting over and past mountains the
airplane flight is an experience you will remember forever.
Airplanes are not allowed to fly in bad weather by law. These
conditions include Snow, Sleet, Rain or heavy cloud - all the conditions
that are are not suited to a tourist,
sightseeing flight.
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Early in the season December / January / February when the
days are shorter and the nights get darker earlier the last flights are
around 4.30pm
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As the season progresses and days get longer flights can
continue up to 7.00pm
The air strip in Meribel is
situated in an area of Meribel
called 'MeribelAltiport'.
The Altiport also has the most popular beginner
green ski run named after it which runs along the top of the runway
itself. The Airplane operating companies office
is situated in the Altiport car park near the Altiport Hotel under their veranda next to the steps.
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how to get there
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WHITETRACKS HOST
Collected
from your Courchevel Chalet or Hotel you and
the other participants will be transported straight to the Altiport in Courchevel. The
Whitetracks host will then take you to the Airplane office where they
will then introduce you the Pilot. They will then walk with you to the
Airplane, take photos and make sure that you have understood the
instructions on how to enter the plane.
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The
Whitetracks host will then wait patiently at the Altiport
until your Airplane tourist flight has finished ready to escort you back
to your chalet or hotel. Whitetracks Host
There has
been a flying surface in Courchevel since 1953
but until 1992 when the landing strip as it is today was built for the Albertville
Winter Olympics the strip was grass field that went across the mountain
not down. Unlike Meribel it is a runway that is
true to its name during the winter months the asphalt landing strip is
cleared firstly by a plough and then swept clear in order to remove any
access snow that the plough can not remove.
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At 2000m
the runway is officially the highest runway in Europe
it is 535m long by 40m wide and slopes downwards or upwards depending on
whether you are taking off or landing. CourchevelAltiport can cater for larger planes carrying
up to 35 people.
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When ready the pilot will guide you to the plane, once in the
airplane the pilot will make you put your seatbelts and headsets on
before he performs his last checks. When the pilot is ready he will turn
the plane around and point it straight down the runway for the takeoff.
By increasing the power the plane starts to move swiftly down the runway
until gently and gradually the planes skis leave the
ground.
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meribel Flight - singlevalley
- 10 minutes
Three Vallees Flight -
meribel / courchevel / val thorens - 20 minutes
Haute Tarentaise - 30 minutes
The landing is just as impressive as the takeoff and the
flight itself. When landing at Courchevel the
pilot must land on full power this is due to the upwards angle of the
runway. If the plane is not at full power it will not make it to the top
of the runway.
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Once the plane has come to a stand still
and the propeller has stopped rotating the pilot will open the cockpit
and remind you where to step as you walk off the wing to the ground.
Flying conditions are different in summer and winter -
Conditions in winter are said to be much calmer due to ground expelling
less heat due to snow cover and the fact that the snow is white which
stops the ground absorbing the heat from the sun. In the summer the
ground heats up much quicker which produces more thermals in turn
creating more turbulence meaning a much bumpier flight.
Normal shoes will be needed to partake in the activity
- Ski Boots are NOT allowed to be worn as they would cause serious damage
to the plane wing and cockpit when climbing in and out.
If you wish to take part in the activity by yourself you will
need to pay the minimum charge which will be the price of two people.
Sometimes it maybe possible to have three passengers if two of them are
small children.
The Cesna 172 is a good plane for
learning as it is very stable. It is also a very good plane for tourist
flights as the wings are high so will not impede vision in anyway
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Cockpit layout and design is similar in every plane small to
large with the main six instruments in the same position across the
board
