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Airplane Flights
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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.
| AIRPLANE - OPERATION TIMES |
| Daily tours available weather permitting |
| Early season - 1000hrs - 1630hrs |
| Late season - 1000hrs - 1900hrs |
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.
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
As the season progresses and days get longer flights can continue up to 7.00pm
| AIRPLANE - LOCATION |
| Meribel Atiport - altitude 1800-1900m |
The air strip in Meribel is situated in an area of Meribel called 'Meribel Altiport'. 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.
| HOW TO GET THERE FROM MERIBEL |
- SKI
With its location so close to Altiport green Ski run it is possible to ski very close to Meribel's Altiport just having to walk a short distance across the Altiport Hotel veranda down some steps and into the operating companies office. Their office door is the door with hundreds of stickers on.
- FREE BUS
The last bus stop of the free meribus route is Meribel Altiport. The stop itself is located near the entrance of the Altiport car park. This bus travels to all areas of Meribel picking up and dropping off at every stop - you do not need a lift pass to travel free on the Meribus, it is free to everyone. Once off the bus you need to walk into the main car park and along the front of the Altiport Hotel. The Airplane operating companies off is under the steps.
| AIRPLANE - operation / duration / format |
Meribel - has a landing strip that is made of asphalt meaning that in fact it is a proper runway but during the winter months it is covered in snow. If the snow is not cleared as in Meribel the landing strip is known as an Alti-surface not a runway. When landing and taking off from an Alti-surface the plane needs skis instead of wheels.
When landing on snow planes with skis do not have brakes pilots through their skill and experience have to make the flaps go down by pulling back on the controls, power down and slide the plane to a stand still.
When ready the pilot will guide you to the plane, he will climb on to the wing and stand next to the open cockpit. From here he will direct you as to where to stand on the wing as you climb up to get in through the open cockpit window. The person sitting in the back will have to get in first - the pilot will tell you this.
When 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.
Meribel Flight - single valley - 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 coming into land the pilot will line the plane up decrease power, float in, and land. By making the flaps go down by pulling back on the controls the pilot will then power down further before turning it off in order to slide to a stand still. Planes with skis have no brakes to stop with it is all pilot skill and precision.
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.
| AIRPLANE - FLYING CONDITIONS |
| Winter Conditions |
| Summer Conditions |
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.
| AIRPLANE - RESTRICTIONS |
| NO RESTRICTIONS |
Late on in the winter season when the temperature starts to rise and the snow starts to soften weight restrictions may come into practice.
| AIRPLANE - SUGGESTED ITEMS |
| Normal shoes |
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.
| AIRPLANE - NUMBERS |
| Minimum - 1 |
| Maximum - 2 |
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.
Late on in the winter season when the temperature starts to rise and the snow starts to soften weight restrictions may come into practice.
| AIRPLANE - EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS |
| AIRPLANE - Mousquetaire D140 |
Designed for mountain flying the Mousquetaire D140 is ideal for landing on Glaciers
Cockpit layout and design is similar in every plane small to large with the main six instruments in the same position across the board
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