Air Alpes - The Pilatus Years

The Pilatus Years

In 1972 three new Pilatus PC-6 joined the fleet:

F-BTCE (s/n 573),

F-BTCG (s/n 551)

F-BTCH (s/n 531)

The skill of the mechanics charged with working upon the Pilatus was typified in January 1974 when a five-hour Turbomeca "Aztazou" engine change without any adapted infrastructure is completed at the Val d'Isère Altiport altitude 2.450m under a temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius.

Finding opportunities for the Pilatus fleet, F-BTCG was used on contracts to create artificial rain on the island of Tenerife, and drought relief in Champagne and Brittany Regions by seeding the clouds to create rain in during the drought of 75-76.

Air Alpes began to sell off its Pilatus aircraft around 1975 but still found additional uses for some of them through 1977, such as fighting forest fires for the Hérault Department and the North Corsica Fire Department. Based in Calvi these airplanes performed "Guet Arme" missions which means monitoring and signaling a fire, taking action immediately in order to fight it. For these fire fighting missions, the planes were equipped with a 1.000 litre tank placed in the cabin. These 1.000 litre tanks could be deployed in just a few seconds via a trap door situated under the fuselage of the aircraft

After Air Alpe began phasing out its last Pilatus mountain flight routes from Courchevel, routes were continued for some time by Air Savoie and its Pilatus and a BN.2 aircraft, and a few pilots formerly with Air Alpes.

The Pilatus Fleet

F-BRPJ will be sold to the Nevers Parachutiste Center 1976

F-BTCG The Parachutist Center will buy Pilatus PC-6 1980

F-BTCH. The Parachutist Center will buy Pilatus PC-61980

F-BJSZ (s/n 525),

F-BQKY (s/n 549)

F-BOJJ (s/n 513),

F-BTCE (s/n 573),

F-BTCG (s/n 551)

F-BTCH (s/n 531)

Pilatus PC-6 Southern Alpes Routes 1972-75:

Gap - St Crepin, winter season, a Pilatus PC-6

Gap, Hautes-Alpes Gap - Serre-Chevalier, winter season, a Pilatus PC-6

Chambéry - Val d'Isère, Pilatus

Chambéry - l'Alpe d'Huez. Pilatus

Gap, Hautes-Alpes - Barcelonnette,

Vars (Hautes Alpes) - Serre Chevalier. winter season, Pilatus,