Legendary Airport · France
Courchevel: The Ski-Jump Runway
At Courchevel, in the French Alps, the runway looks like a red ski run that someone paved. It’s about 537 metres long and slopes at around 18.6%, one of the steepest runways anywhere. Aircraft land going uphill and take off going downhill, launching off the end like a ski jumper.
Courchevel is one of France’s best-known ski resorts, and its altiport, the French name for a small mountain airfield, lets light aircraft and helicopters bring visitors straight to the slopes.
Why the slope helps
A runway this short would be impossible on flat ground for most aircraft. The slope does part of the work. Landing uphill, gravity helps slow the aircraft quickly. Taking off downhill, gravity helps it accelerate. Pilots aim to touch down near the bottom of the slope and then add power just to keep moving up to the flat parking area at the top.
No second chances
Here’s what makes Courchevel serious: once a pilot is committed to landing, there’s no go-around. Beyond the top of the runway, the mountain keeps rising, too steeply for most small aircraft to climb away safely. Pilots have to judge the approach correctly the first time, often with snow glare and mountain winds to deal with.
That’s why flying into Courchevel needs a specific qualification. Pilots train for the altiport before they’re allowed to use it, and there are no scheduled airline flights. Visitors arrive by private aircraft, air taxi or helicopter.
The real numbers
Courchevel in figures
537m
Runway length
About 1,762 feet
18.6%
Gradient
Among the steepest in the world
Uphill
Every landing
Downhill for every take-off
None
Go-around option
Once committed, the aircraft lands
Part of a family
Courchevel isn’t alone. The French Alps have several altiports with similar sloped runways, serving resorts like Méribel. Together they’re a reminder that aviation adapts to the landscape, not the other way round. Compare it with Lukla in Nepal, whose uphill runway works on the same principle at much higher altitude.
Sources & Further Reading
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How steep is Courchevel’s runway?
About 18.6%, one of the steepest runways in the world. It is roughly 537 metres long.
Why do aircraft land uphill at Courchevel?
Landing uphill uses the slope to slow the aircraft quickly on a very short runway. Take-offs go downhill, which helps the aircraft accelerate.
Can a pilot go around at Courchevel?
Not once committed to the landing. The terrain beyond the runway rises too steeply, so pilots must get the approach right the first time.
Who can fly into Courchevel?
Pilots need a specific qualification for the altiport, and only small aircraft and helicopters can use it. There are no scheduled airline services.
What is an altiport?
A French term for a small mountain airfield, usually short and steeply sloped, serving ski resorts and high valleys.