Shaun O'Neill <<oneill.shaunr>>
writes:

Not satisfied with imposing a little used R71 no go area above the
western end of the Chabre ridge (well, much more than just that), the French
military are now looking to impose a large firing zone somewhere locally. As the
maps show (source: local HG club secretary), one possible site is just to the
west of the higher Chabre take off. This, as many will remember, was the take
off for the majority of the 2009 worlds.

It would be a real shame to lose the ridge run which can easily take one over
into the Rhone valley and back, I believe the local clubs are starting to tackle
the issue.

I personally think it is really quite serious. The Chabre area is already
protected ‘military side’ by the R71 A and B zone. Mid-week flying is already
compromised. I have tried to contact Salon ATC by telephone to find out if R71
is active or not and I’ve never succeeded.

West from Chabre we rapidly hit a 2200m max altitude when R71 is active. If the
proposed airspace restrictions become active we risk to not be able to go under
(hit the mountain) through or over the barrier.

We often do not take airspace too seriously, remember the R196 A and B - this
can be activated (normally only when there is an aircraft carrier in Toulon)
from 1000m above ground upwards added to this, earlier this year there was an
impressive air miss, filed during a paraglider competition.

Yup, weekends in the summer months are fine, but, March, April and May mid-week?
No panic, are the FFVL sure or just going to sacrifice Chabre to keep the other
areas open?

Didn’t the army get given most of the Larzac Plateau to test their toys, maybe
Richard Walbec can remind us?

http://forum-vol-libre-diois.fr/viewtopic.php?t=254