Small but “robust”, the airport of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez thinks of itself as a giant these days in terms of activity.
“June, July and August constitute 60% of the year and the month of July alone, 20%”specifies from the outset this Friday the director Joseph Azzaz, posted on the restoration wing of the site which overhangs the track.
Closed at night
Managed by the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur Group since 2013, the places more specifically dedicated to business and VIP aviation are necessarily running at full speed in this period of tourist abundance stamped “luxury”, in the old port of Saint-Tropez in Pampelonne.
“We operate from 7:30 a.m. until sunset, which is until around 9 p.m. at the moment. We close at night because there is no light marking and that does not correspond to the will of the group anyway”specifies Mr. Azzaz, sweeping the space between the road and the green setting at La Mole.
The comings and goings may well be on demand for this market, but the development of regular lines is of course part of the business model local. Already present, operators such as GlobeAir, which claims “Europe’s leading award-winning private jet charter company” or Air Mountain, which offers the Var destination six times a week from Sion and Geneva.
The end of car testing
“The aerodrome exists because the particular destination of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez requires it”underlines the director while insisting on the CSR approach followed by the group to meet the challenges of sustainable development.
An approach which means that today the group has turned its back on ancillary activities such as “tests of thermal cars” which once, hand in hand with the builders, guaranteed another source of income.
Taxi aviation has a hit in the wing
The other downturn this year concerns “first-timers” in the “aviation taxi” sector. “Some may have disappeared. This is linked to the rise in prices, including that of fuel”indicates Joseph Azzaz who, for his part, is keen on the moderate increase in his price list “despite inflation on all items”.
A sign that the economic model still has a bright future ahead of it, the repair, in two stages this winter – and for the next twenty years – of the runway and aircraft parking spaces, is scheduled. That is the shutdown of the reactors from mid-November to mid-December 2023 and from mid-January to mid-March 2024.
Wind and temperature: the cursed duo
The airport in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez has to face two “enemies” this summer.
“The strong easterly wind which raged more specifically during the first half of July was unusual. This phenomenon very clearly impacted our operation with many planes which had to be diverted or which purely canceled their arrival. The force of the wind must not exceed 15 average knots on the ground for landings and take-offs”details Moloise management.
Moreover, given the special configuration of the site, visiting pilots must first undergo specific training on site on board the machine they are supposed to pilot on site.
Another penalizing factor is the high temperatures. “The hotter it is, the less lift there is, so the operator must also take this into account for each flight, even if it means cancelling”indicates the local direction.
Landmarks
4,000: Number of annual movements in business aviation.
– 5%: 2023 trend compared to 2022 for aviation activity to date.
3,000: Number of annual helicopter movements in 2022, a record year.
– 16%: 2023 trend compared to 2022 for helicopter activity to date.
– 20%: 2023 trend compared to 2022 for the services activity to date.
18: Number of full-time, year-round permanent contracts, reinforced by 10 to 12 full-time contracts in the summer.
1,071 meters: Length of the track for 30 m wide.
