Châteauroux-Centre "Marcel Dassault" Airport (IATA: CHR, ICAO: LFLX) is an airport serving the French city of Châteauroux. The airport is Located at the heart of Europe and in the centre of France, 5.5 km north-northeast of Châteauroux in Déols, a commune of the Indre department in the Centre-Val de Loire region in France.
The airport is named for Marcel Dassault and is located on the site of the former Châteauroux-Déols Air Base. The airport supports aviation industry uses including cargo, pilot training, airports firemans training, aircraft maintenance, painting, storage, dismantling and recycling.
The history of Châteauroux airport has always been closely linked to that of aviation and the aeronautical industry. In 1936, Marcel Bloch created a first aircraft manufacturing plant which was taken over by SNCASO a few months later in application of nationalization laws. It is in this factory that the hunters Bloch MB.152 will be produced.
In 1951, the US Air Force chose Châteauroux in agreement with the French government, to install its most important air base because of its favorable climatology and its central European position. The airport then becomes CHAD (Châteauroux Air Depot), CHAS (Châteauroux Air Station). The " base aérienne de Châteauroux-Déols " Châteauroux-Déols air base will accommodate up to 8,000 Americans during this period. In 1967, the airport platform was transferred back to France. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the local authorities rehabilitate the infrastructure and launch the commercial activity in 1974.
Today Châteauroux-Centre Airport serves as a pilot training site for both commercial and military planes. Users of the facility include: Airbus, Air Caraïbes, Air France, ATR, the Belgian Air Force, British Airways, EasyJet, KLM, the French Air Force, French Bee, Hi Fly, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Transavia France with all types of aircraft up to the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. In the years 1990 to 2000, the airport was used regularly by Air France and British Airways to train future pilots and flight crews for Concorde. The Châteauroux airport has also devoted part of its activity to air freight. Its predominantly industrial vocation allows it to handle all types of aircraft (such as the An-225) and cargo 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is a transit airport that does not no "slot"and relies on road transport.
Since 1 January 2000, the Châteauroux-Center airport has been an 'authorized cargo security agent'. It is one of the few French airports that made this approach and obtained the approval of the French Civil Aviation Authority. (DGAC) This allows it to offer shippers, carriers and freight forwarders a "cargo security" service controlled by the airport security supervisor.
Planespotting GuideLocation : Many Spots around the airport
Authrization : Not required
Security : Any problem, if the rules are respected
Weather : European weather
Time / Light :
Traffic : not regular
Car : is absolutely necessary
You can get an idea of the views if you see below at my planespotting gallery
NB : If you have some informations, feedback or any update about this Don't hesite to write ......