Courchevel: go-around possible?

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Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby Skipskatta » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:07 pm

Looking at the video below, is it at all possible to go-around (once you're in over the runway)? Would it be too steep a climb to avoid the surrounding mountains? Concidering the steep runway, landing long seems not to be a problem. But failing to be aligned with the runway at touchdown could make a go-around necessary.

Are there any bigger airplanes flying there today? And have there been any accidents at this airport?




Edited to embed video - RLN


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Re: Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby Dan4th » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:06 pm

Welcome to Iconic!

Well, I found this::::::::::::::

Main article: Courchevel Airport

Courchevel's AltiportCourchevel's airport (45°23′51″N 6°38′06″E / 45.397395°N 6.634884°E / 45.397395; 6.634884) also has a certain degree of infamy in the aviation industry as home to one of the shortest runways in the world, with a length of 525 metres and a gradient of 18.5% in order to help slow landing aircraft. The airport has a dangerous approach through deep valleys which can only be performed by specially certified pilots. On landing there is no go-around procedure, as most of the world's airports have - there is merely a very steep hill which has seen a few accidents since the airport first opened. Larger propeller aircraft such as the Twin Otter and Dash 7 (carrying up to 50 people) have been regular users of the airport over the years, but have since been phased out of use and smaller Cessnas and helicopters are often seen sitting on the tarmac nowadays.

The History Channel program Most Extreme Airports, ranks it as the 7th most dangerous airport in the world.[4]



While there doesn't seem to be an official go-around procedure,
you would think that the "Certified Pilots" would probably have
devoted a great deal of thought to this issue!

It seems there have been a few "incidents" over the years
which would explain why Otters and Dashes have been
phased-out......

Lots of very EXCITING YouTube videos out there!

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Re: Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby 10680 » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:30 pm

Not in the same league, but, when skiing, I fly to Innsbruck. The approach is along a valley between the mountains. On certain approaches you go round the Bergisel ski jump (look out the window and you see it next to you). The pilots have to be licenced and only get three attemps. After that you get diverted. My dad had two work colleagues who were killed there in the 60's when their plane flew into a mountain.

But I doubt if there are (m)any pilots who would attempt a landing (anywhere) when they are not happy.
I'd rather be skiing
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Re: Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby Olicat » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:09 pm

Short answer: I wouldn't like to find out!

Long answer: Possibly, depending on what the Aircraft is and what it's engines can do ;)
Fly fast jets and/or C130s over my house please, I'm bored!

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Re: Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby Cluny » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:34 pm

Im not sure but they did film the opening scene of "Tomorrow Never Dies" at Courchevel [which included low passes in landing/takeoff config performed by the late Mark Hannah] or somewhere similar so maybe there is ;)
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Re: Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby 10680 » Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:11 am

I'd forgotten that Mark Hanna did that.

I suppose there's a difference between knowing you're going 'round and emergency
I'd rather be skiing
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Re: Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby Xplumberlives » Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:59 am

10680 wrote:I'd forgotten that Mark Hanna did that.

I suppose there's a difference between knowing you're going 'round and emergency




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Re: Courchevel: go-around possible?

Postby Skipskatta » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:40 pm

I guess the Dash-7 was the biggest plane ever operating on Courchevel?
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