Sallanches: all united before the Conseil d'État

After the abrupt decision to close Sallanches airfield, taken by the Minister for Ecological Transition on the initiative of the DGAC, the FFPLUM, the FFA and the FFVP, united within the Conseil National des Fédérations Aéronautiques et Sportives, together with the Sallanches flying club and the users' association, lodged an informal appeal with the minister at the beginning of September.

This appeal gave access to essential studies drawn up by DGAC departments which conclude, just like the panel of court-appointed experts we had commissioned, that Sallanches airfield is of general interest for air safety. It also emerged that the necessary mediation procedures had not been followed and that no alternative solution had been considered.

The minister's failure to reply to our informal appeal for two months amounts to its implicit rejection. The same parties have therefore decided to file an appeal for abuse of power with the Conseil d'État against the ministerial order and, in parallel, an urgent application to suspend the same order on grounds of illegality. These exceptional actions show everyone's determination to put forward a fair and well-founded position.

Beyond the particular case of Sallanches, it is indeed essential that the authorities play a proactive mediating role in defending airfields, in liaison with local players and territories. For the CNFAS, as for the local players, the aim is not to oppose but to build. Silence, the lack of a strategy and the abandonment of our airfields without compensation are not a strategy for the future.

The CNFAS

• 9 federations, 140 000 members, 3200 clubs, 24 000 powered aircraft, 2000 gliders.
• Public-interest associations recognised by the Ministries of Transport and Sport, the federations offer young people in our country, on a voluntary basis, an ideal, aeronautical training, an exciting and demanding way of life, and above all a professional future.
• The federations play a very important role in France's place in the aeronautical world: success in sporting competitions, supervising young people in aeronautical activities, training pilots, training engineers and technicians, innovation through amateur building, and preserving flying heritage.