CNFAS STATEMENT: Sallanches, in the general interest

The "Conseil national des fédérations aéronautiques et sportives" (CNFAS), the "Comité de Sauvegarde de Développement de l'Aérodrome de Sallanches" (CSDAS) and the "Club aéronautique de Sallanches" opposed, a year ago, the unlawful order issued by the mayor of Sallanches to close Sallanches aerodrome. That order was withdrawn and was followed by an application from the municipality, with the same aim, to the minister responsible for civil aviation. That first success was therefore only temporary.

It is now urgent to convince the authorities that Sallanches aerodrome is essential to aviation safety, at a time when a ministerial closure order is reportedly about to be issued, taking effect on 31 July 2020, even though the closure procedures have not been followed.

To this end, the CNFAS commissioned a panel of two renowned experts, Mr Bertrand Vilmer, aeronautical engineer, former experimental test pilot, court-appointed expert approved by the Court of Cassation, court expert at the Paris Court of Appeal, founding member and honorary president of the national company of aeronautical court experts and member of the Académie de l'Air et de l'Espace, and Mr Hervé Chavardès, aeronautical engineer and court expert at the Caen Court of Appeal, to give their opinion on the consequences for air safety that would result from the closure of Sallanches aerodrome.

Their conclusions are unequivocal. Sallanches airfield must not close.

The presidents of the federations:

FF Aéromodélisme Laurent Henry

FF Aéronautique Jean-Luc Charron

FF Aérostation Benoît Pelard

FF Hélicoptère Michel Méry

FF Parachutisme David Roth

FF PLUM Sébastien Perrot

FF Vol Libre Véronique Gensac

FF Vol en Planeur Jean-Emile Rouaux

F RSA Dominique Simon