🇫🇷 Châteauroux Déols airport

Châteauroux-Centre "Marcel Dassault" Airport (IATA: CHR, ICAO: LFLX) is an international airport located 5.5 km north-northeast of Châteauroux, France. Established in 1936 by Marcel Dassault, it is currently owned by the Centre Val de Loire Regional Council.

Type of Facility and Operations: The airport primarily specializes in air freight and aeronautical maintenance, with customs services available on demand. It operates 365 days a year, 7 days a week, from 08:00 to 20:00, and on request from 20:00 to 08:00. The airport is a Category A international airport with a BGTA (Air Transport Gendarmerie Brigade) ensuring safety and security. It handles all types of cargo, including dangerous goods and perishables, with no slot restrictions for airlines.

The airport also serves as a training ground for pilots, offering a clear airspace for takeoff and landing maneuvers. It is utilized by major airlines, the French Air and Space Army, and business aviation for training due to favorable weather conditions.

Notable Features and History:

• Longest Runway in Europe: Châteauroux-Centre Airport boasts a 3,500-meter runway, capable of accommodating large aircraft such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 747, and Antonov 124,.
• Aeronautical Maintenance Hub: It is home to the first European aircraft dismantling platform and the French Airport Firefighter Training Center. In 2022, a new 8,520 m² hangar was inaugurated for aeronautical maintenance, capable of housing an A380 or up to five A320s simultaneously. Vallair Industry uses this facility for aircraft conversion from passenger to cargo. Other MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhaul) companies like Dale Aviation, Satys (aircraft painting), and Egide Aviation (light aircraft maintenance) also operate here.
• Multimodal Capabilities: The airport features a railway line within its premises (600m x 3 tracks) connected to the POLT (Paris – Orléans – Limoges – Toulouse) railway line, 3 km away, offering rail/air multimodal solutions. It also has approximately 8,000 m² of warehouses, including 500 m² of refrigerated storage for perishable goods.
• Historical Significance: In 1951, the US Air Force established its largest air base in Europe at Châteauroux due to its favorable climate and central location. The airport was known as CHAD (Châteauroux Air Depot) and CHAS (Châteauroux Air Station) during this period. The facility was returned to France in 1967, and commercial activity resumed in 1974. On January 25, 1994, it was officially named "Marcel-Dassault Airport".

Current Status: The airport continues to develop its technical activities, including maintenance, aircraft storage, painting, dismantling, recycling, and valorization. The construction of a new 42-meter control tower further confirms its growth. It employs 66 staff members, including ground agents, firefighters, OPS agents, AFIS agents, infrastructure agents, administrative staff, and commercial service personnel.

*Sources researched: chateauroux-metropole.fr, sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr, chateauroux.aeroport.fr, fr.wikipedia.org*