Creation of the altiport
Spring 1961: Robert Chauchon, a veteran of Paul-Émile Victor's polar expeditions and a friend of André Tournier (technical director of the Méribel municipality), attempted a landing on the Tougnette slope with a three-seater PA 11. This first landing attempt in Méribel ended in failure when the aircraft struck a cable. André Tournier then suggested establishing a landing zone near the Fontany forest.
July 1, 1961: Michel Ziegler and Robert Merloz founded the company Air Alpes. The initial idea was to establish a route from Courchevel and Méribel to Geneva and to launch a sporting activity involving skier drop-offs on glaciers. They proposed this idea to the mayor of Méribel, Mr. Borgey, a schoolteacher in Les Allues, and to André Tournier. This idea was also proposed to Jean Blanc, technical director of the Courchevel municipality.
End of summer 1961 Start of the work to develop the future Méribel piste. Cutting through the trees in the Fontany forest, earthmoving of the hilly ground and leveling over 200 m.
January 1962 On a simple, rudimentary runway groomed by a team of instructors from the Méribel ski school after each significant snowfall, Robert Merloz made his first landing in the Piper PA 18 F-BKBP (150 hp), immediately followed by Michel Ziegler in the Pilatus Turboporter F-BJSZ equipped with a Turboméca Astazou II turbine engine.
Year 1962 During the autumn, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) issued the first provisional approval to use the Méribel runway. This provisional authorization allowed the first landings on the Gebroulaz, Chavière, and Bellecôte glaciers above Champagny (the latter two now included in the Vanoise National Park) near Val Thorens, and also enabled the development of the first "mountain qualifications." This marked the beginning of the first group drops of six skiers with instructors onto these glaciers using the Pilatus.
In its first year, there was no infrastructure on the Méribel runway. Courchevel was often swept by strong winds, so the planes gathered in the shelter of Méribel. An old snowcat from the Paul Emile Victor expeditions was used to haul 200-liter drums of gasoline and kerosene up to the edge of the runway. A chalet-restaurant with five bedrooms was built alongside the Méribel runway. The road was improved and occasionally cleared of snow. The municipality built the first ski lift next to the runway, and the first metal hangar was erected.
Winter 1962/1963. In the presence of Michel Ziegler, who had flown in from Courchevel piloting an Air Alpes Pilatus equipped with an Astazou turbine, Henri Giraud and Robert Merloz landed in Méribel in a Piper PA 18. Their respective passengers were Joseph Szydlowski, known as Jojo la Turbine, president of Turboméca, and his wife. Joseph Szydlowski remarked: "Méribel is a high-altitude port; why don't you call it an Altiport?"
Two "regular" routes were opened: Courchevel/Méribel – Geneva and Courchevel/Méribel – Lyon Bron. The weather that winter of 1962/1963 helped the small company to develop. There was practically no snow in the resorts. This facilitated the development of ski lifts on glaciers, such as La Grande Motte, Haute Maurienne, Sources de l’Arc, Haute Savoie, Dôme du Goûter, Le Tour, and the Col Infranchissable above Les Contamines-Montjoie at the summit of the Tré la Tête glacier.
The French team of the time, including Killy, Vuarnet, Périllat, Duvillard, and Mauduit, notably used the airplane as a ski lift on the Chasse Forêt glacier.
In 1963, a second Pilatus aircraft was purchased. Flights opened to Megève, La Plagne, Tignes, and Val d’Isère. Michel Ziegler focused primarily on the Courchevel airfield, while Robert Merloz managed Méribel. Nano Chapel, an Air France captain, became Merloz's first student.
In 1964, the statutes of the Méribel Aero Club were filed. Nano Chapel was elected its first president, and Robert Merloz served as the volunteer instructor. A new Morane Rallye 150 hp (F-BLSS) was purchased in Tarbes and used during the summer months. The first members raised the funds to purchase this aircraft by selling one-hour flight passes. These first members are Mr. BORGEY, mayor of Méribel, André TOURNIER, his technical director, Gaston CHAMONAL, owner of the Grand Cœur hotel, Dédé GACON, taxi driver, Gaston DREYFUS and his wife.
In 1965, Robert Merloz was a full-time flight instructor in Méribel. During the autumn of 1965, following a friendly phone call from Henri Giraud, the flying club rented a nearly new Piper PA 18 F-BNAO, equipped with Federal skis, from Mr. Sibue of Saint Jean d’Arves. Also during 1965, contact was made with Manuel Fernandez, a set designer from Aix-les-Bains, who would manufacture the first plastic skis for the Morane landing gear. Problems with the Morane's nose landing gear prevented the Rallye from being used systematically in winter. Therefore, the Piper flew on skis in winter, and the Rallye on wheels in summer.
In 1966, Robert Merloz was hired in the spring by the SFA (French Aeronautical Federation) at the national center in Challes-les-Eaux and continued to volunteer as a flight instructor on weekends. Nano Cappel was still president and instructor in Méribel. Michel SIVRY and Jacques RIBEROLLES, two other Air France captains, come to help Nano at the club. The activity is essentially seasonal, winter/summer.
Year 1967 On May 29, 1967, his birthday, Robert Merloz left the SFA and returned to Air France, where he joined Nano Chapel.
Year 1968 In the spring, three Piper PA 19 90 hp aircraft were purchased from the club. These were former L 19s from the French Army Light Aviation (ALAT). The PA 19s flew on skis in the winter, and the Morane in the summer on wheels. In the spring of 1968, Jean-Paul Blondel joined the club as a full-time instructor. A few weeks later, he was killed in a landing accident in Méribel, along with Philippe, the young son of Jean Tricart.
In 1986, the altiport was transferred from the Air Alpes company to the Municipality of Les Allues, which entrusted its management to the Méribel Aeroclub. Runway resurfacing work was carried out in 1987, and the same surface is still used on the current runway of the Méribel altiport.
On June 8, 2014, the Méribel Altiport was officially renamed "Méribel Altiport - Robert Merloz". A plaque on the hangar was unveiled at this inauguration. On this occasion, Michel Ziegler spoke of his friend in these terms:
Robert Merloz is from Savoy, originally from the Côte d'Aime. At that time (1960), he lived in Levallois, like many Savoyards, where his father ran a moving company.
We met at the Paris Chamber of Commerce business school on Rue Armand Moisant, and it was together that we learned to fly at the Air France flying club in Toussus-le-Noble, flying Stampe and NC 852 gliders.
He followed me to Breguet in Aire-sur-l'Adour, where he worked in sales of high-performance gliders. It was there that he met his wife, Madeleine.
From the very beginning, I suggested he join me in the Air Alpes adventure, and he did so enthusiastically. During the early years, he was a dynamic and skilled architect of this unique adventure, "The First Steps of Mountain Aviation."
Air Alpes entrusted him with the management of the Méribel altiport. He left his mark on it.
And it is only fitting that the municipality decided to name its altiport after him.
Robert MERLOZ Altiport ceremony on June 8th, 2014
