Courchevel Airport Still One of Most Dangerous in the World
Courchevel airport is most famous for featuring in pre-film credits for the 1997 James Bond movie 'Tomorrow Never Dies' with Pierce Brosnan and also being named the 7th most dangerous airport in the world by the History Channel.
The airport is situated above the luxury ski resort of Courchevel 1850 at an altitude of 2003 metres altitude and has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just 1,722 feet long and a steep gradient of 18.5%. Planes take off by running downhill and going off a steep drop off and land by going uphill to help in slowing the aircraft down. There is no margin for error and several planes have ended up in the trees below the runway on taking off or crashing at the far end if they do not slow down in time on the approach.
The approach to the airport is very dangerous and through deep valleys of the French Alps and so pilots must pass a specific certification in order to be able to fly into the airport at Courchevel.
There have been a number of crashes and incidents since the airport opened 50 years ago, with the last serious incident being in October 2010 when a small plane misjudged the take off and crashed into the trees below, killing both pilot and co-pilot.
Larger airplanes like Twin Otters and Dash 7's, which could carry up to 50 people, used to be able to fly into Courchevel airport when it first opened, but now only smaller Cessna airplanes can land here, as well as helicopters.
Now a days the airport is a hub for the rich and famous to fly in on their private planes and helicopters to start their ski holiday at the exclusive Courchevel ski area. A restaurant sits right by the runway giving amazing fews of planes as they approach and from where you can watch the planes disappear off the end of the runway on take off.
The airport is unique as you take off downhill and land going uphill. The runway is so steep that smaller planes could gain enough momentum simply rolling down without their engines on and then glide off the edge.
There are a number of transfer services offering transfers to Courchevel, to and from the airport.
There are luxury transfer services where you can fly in by private plane or helicopter and have a VIP car pick you up and take you to your hotel, or there are smaller, cheaper transfer companies.
The airport is situated above the luxury ski resort of Courchevel 1850 at an altitude of 2003 metres altitude and has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just 1,722 feet long and a steep gradient of 18.5%. Planes take off by running downhill and going off a steep drop off and land by going uphill to help in slowing the aircraft down. There is no margin for error and several planes have ended up in the trees below the runway on taking off or crashing at the far end if they do not slow down in time on the approach.
The approach to the airport is very dangerous and through deep valleys of the French Alps and so pilots must pass a specific certification in order to be able to fly into the airport at Courchevel.
There have been a number of crashes and incidents since the airport opened 50 years ago, with the last serious incident being in October 2010 when a small plane misjudged the take off and crashed into the trees below, killing both pilot and co-pilot.
Larger airplanes like Twin Otters and Dash 7's, which could carry up to 50 people, used to be able to fly into Courchevel airport when it first opened, but now only smaller Cessna airplanes can land here, as well as helicopters.
Now a days the airport is a hub for the rich and famous to fly in on their private planes and helicopters to start their ski holiday at the exclusive Courchevel ski area. A restaurant sits right by the runway giving amazing fews of planes as they approach and from where you can watch the planes disappear off the end of the runway on take off.
The airport is unique as you take off downhill and land going uphill. The runway is so steep that smaller planes could gain enough momentum simply rolling down without their engines on and then glide off the edge.
There are a number of transfer services offering transfers to Courchevel, to and from the airport.
There are luxury transfer services where you can fly in by private plane or helicopter and have a VIP car pick you up and take you to your hotel, or there are smaller, cheaper transfer companies.
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