Air Alpes - The Early Pilatus Years

The Early Pilatus Years

In 1962, from Pilatus Aircraft Company of the first Pilatus PC-6 (PC-6/A-H2 Porter F-BJSZ s/n 525) was acquired. It was equipped with a Turbomeca engine Aztazou. This aircraft could carry seven passengers plus pilot. This purchase was possible because Mr Joseph Szydlowski, founder of the Turbomeca Company (manufacturer of engines for planes and helicopters), provided the engine for this aircraft free of charge. Later on, he became an Air Alpes' shareholder.

A few years later, on November 15, 1968, an aircraft of this type beat the International Altitude record and reached the altitude of 13.485m. The pilot, Bernard Ziegler, eventually became Director of Department "Airbus Test Flights". It took 4 years for this record to be beaten.

The works undertaken the previous summer at the Meribel station for the creation of a new Altiport ended in January, on a summarily graded runway (400m x 15m with a medium slope of 6%), the Piper F-BKBP and the Pilatus F-BJSZ will land for the first time at Meribel. That year a Chalet/Air-Terminal and a hangar were built.

It is during its inauguration that Szydlowski, Turbomeca CEO and one of the Air Alpes' first shareholders, invented the word "Altiport". This term became a new dictionary entry 10 years later.

That year the S.F.A. Pilots (Aeronautical Training Service), Mr Marcel Collot and Jean Delparte, both trained by Mr Hermann Geiger, undertook the task of writing the first basis of the regulation manual, establishing, the conditions under which the aircraft can take off on various surfaces other than the flat surface of small airports or aerodromes and to classify the different types: altiports, airstrips and glaciers. Air Alpes worked very closely to the development of this regulation.

A Piper PA-18 Super Cub F-BNAO (s/n 188236) was leased to replace the slightly damaged F-BKBP. Opening of the first winter routes. Lyon/Courchevel/Meribel and Geneva/Courchevel/Meribel (Flights ALP 121 and 122).

Inter stations flights and glacier skiing drop-offs were offered to passengers. This activity was very important during the first years of Air Alpes' operation. These landings could only be realized with a high altitude guide. A very close cooperation was established between the ski-instructors and guides from the various ski-resorts.

From the Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Isère Altiports, the main glaciers of the "Mont Blanc", the "Tarentaise", the "Vanoise" or the "Oisans" were now accessible. For each flight only a maximum of 6 persons and 1 guide could be accommodated.

This activity ended in 1979 after a ban of glaciers landings.

A contract was signed with ORTF. It made provisions for the supply of a relay platform to broadcast life images of the "Tour de France", Paris–Roubaix and others prestigious cyclist events.

The first few years of these flights were made with a Pilatus PC-6, then with a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, F-BOOH. This contract ended in 1973. For the broadcasting of these events a special equipment was installed on board of the aircraft.

Scenic flights of the Alps and especially the "Tour du Mont Blanc" for many years attracted customers charmed by the discovered landscapes.

In 1963, a second Pilatus PC-6/A-H2 F-BQKY (s/n 549) joined the fleet, creation of La Plagne Altiport (300m x 25m medium slope of 14%) and first domestic seasonal routes in Corsica.

Commercial agreement with Gyrafrance (Helicopter Company). Air Alpes developed its General Aviation (air advertising, parachuting, maiden flight).

In 1964, Megève Altiport was inaugurated on December 20, 1964. In November, leasing of a Beechcraft Sferma "Marquis" F-BLLR, twin-engines, 6 seater and equipped of 2 engines Turbomeca "Astazou" for flights to Lyon Bron Airport.

In 1965, the Geneva/Courchevel winter route offered connecting flights to "Val d'Isère" (250m x 25m medium slope 18%) and "La Plagne" Altiports

In 1966, in July, De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, (CF-UCD) was presented to the staff of Megève and Courchevel Altiports.

Air Alpes offered training of high altitude flying.

Construction of a new chalet/air terminal at Courchevel, fitted with a bar/restaurant.

In the "Pilot Journal", Air Alpes entered the comic industry with the adventures of Tanguy and Laverdure. "Special Mission" designed by Albert Uderzo and Jije from Jean-Michel Charlier's scenes appeared in the editions 363 to 393, then in an album in 1968, and then in a TV series "Les Chevaliers du Ciel" - (Third series - episode 8)

In 1967, the Alpe d'Huez council asked Air Alpes to be in charge of the planning and following up of the Altiport construction. The Courchevel Chalet/Air-Terminal was built. It was moved and placed on a hard base surface by a helicopter. This helicopter was borrowed from Aérospatiale. (Runway 430m x 25m with a slope of 11%).

The same year, the Alpe d'Huez, Avoriaz, Tignes ski-resorts were also used during the winter season.

The summer program in Corsica: domestic routes: Ajaccio/Propriano/Calvi.

Creation of a new Altiport in the Alpes: "Les Arcs" (400m x 25 medium slope of 14%).

A third Pilatus PC-6 was added to the fleet: registration: F-BOJJ (s/n 513), equipped with a piston engine. It was modified a few years later as a PC-6/A-H2, thanks to the installation of a Turbomeca "Aztazou" engine.

In June, the Tactical Approach Landing and Radar (TALAR) system was tried at Chambéry. A Pilatus is specially equipped with this system for the occasion.

Air Alpes ordered a DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 series to be delivered in October.