Airport runway strife

Plans to exploit the full lenght of the runway could be grounded

Given that the town has no rail link and suffers chronic congestion on the roads, particularly in summer, it is no wonder that the well-heeled crowd and busy businessmen prefer to come in by private plane or helicopter.

However, the resulting noise pollution has long been a focus of controversy, despite limits set by the prefecture to limit the number of flights and the hours of the day when they are allowed to fly.

As well as the smaller airlines and private aircraft, there are helicopter shuttle services from Nice and Monaco, plus it is used by emergency ambulance helicopters and the Canadair water bombers for fighting forest fires.

Until now the airport has not been able to make full use of its 1,200 metre runway, as running alongside is the River La Mole which bends round at the end of it. As the law demands a minimum distance be maintained from the river, the last 150 metres of the runway cannot be used.

"The project proposed is so we can use the full length of the runway on the existing flight path to improve safety for takeoffs and landings," explains the Director Francois André. "It also means that the airport will be able to take the more modern aircraft."

The problem is what to do with the river. "The planned relocation of the section concerned, by about 200 metres to the east, is necessary if we are to reap the full benefit of the runway. The alternative was to build over the river at this point, but a feasibility study showed that this option would have had a greater impact on the environment and the bio-diversity than the simpler diversion of the channel," says the director.

Predictably there is fierce opposition to the plans from nearly every quarter, including local officials in La Mole, and not only because they feel it will be an eyesore.

Environmentalists want to protect the nature while residents worry about the extra noise or a plane crash.
Already in 2009, over 100 trees were felled in the interests of safety. Described as "a massacre" by nature-lovers, in fact the destruction was offset by tree planting schemes elsewhere.

Certainly, the mayors of the neighbouring municipalities would prefer the airport to remain within its present limits. One man who feels particularly strongly is Gabriel Ciarimboli, Mayor of La Mole: "It is regrettable that the interests of the airport are not compatible with the general trend towards eco-tourism, and our vision for the village of La Mole in the post-industrial age," he said.

Mr André argues that it is important to be able to receive the more modern aircraft, as not only are they safer but also quieter than older machines. The airport's customers are mainly businessmen and wealthy individuals who provide much needed jobs in the area and generally benefit the local economy.

"Business leaders must be able to return to their head offices quickly which means we need to be flexible. We have found that these customers use more modern aircraft. Without this project, these guests might stay away in future," he adds.

A decision from the prefecture is expected any day now.                              

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