Villard-Notre-Dame Airfield

The primary reason for closure was a fatal accident involving a ULM (ultralight) aircraft. The pilot and creator of the airstrip, the renowned mountain aviator Henri Giraud, was killed along with his passenger during a takeoff attempt. A subsequent investigation by the French BEA (Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety) highlighted the extreme and inherently dangerous characteristics of the airstrip. Its very short length, exceptionally steep gradient, and high altitude were contributing factors, leading authorities to permanently forbid any further aviation activity at the site for safety reasons.

The site is completely abandoned as an airfield. Since it was a simple grass strip carved into the mountainside with no permanent buildings or infrastructure, the land is reverting to its natural state as a mountain pasture. It is inaccessible for any aviation use and is not maintained.

Villard-Notre-Dame was not a conventional airport but a private, high-altitude airstrip, known in French as an 'altisurface'. It was created around 1999-2000 by the legendary pilot Henri Giraud as a personal project to push the boundaries of mountain flying. It was famous within the niche community of mountain aviators for being one of the most extreme and technically demanding landing strips in the world. The grass runway was only about 180 meters (590 ft) long with an average slope of approximately 28%, situated at an altitude of 1,520 meters (4,987 ft). Operations were exclusively private, specialized ULM flights conducted by its highly experienced creator.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening this airfield. The official government decree, the fatal accident that prompted its closure, and its failure to meet any modern aviation safety standards make its revival as an active airstrip impossible.