Airliner Storage & Maintenance Facilities at the Châteauroux Airport
Location and History
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Located in the heart of Europe and in the center of France, Châteauroux-Centre Airport is an industrial airport specializing in freight, pilot training and aircraft maintenance/storage. Paris lies 270km to the north.
In 1936, Marcel Dassault created his first aircraft manufacturing plant at this site, later the location of Châteauroux-Déols Air Base.
In March of 2007, the French state transferred management responsibility to the Regional Council of the Centre, which decided to develop the airport's industrial activities, both in the field of air freight traffic and aircraft maintenance.
The Châteauroux Airport Today
The airport is assigned ICAO code LFLX, and IATA code CHR.
 The control tower at the Châteauroux Airport in France |
It features asphalt runway 03/21 3,500m (11,483ft) in length and 45m in width, capable of receiving the largest aircraft flying today, including the Boeing 747, Airbus A380 and Antonov An-124. It offers a CAT 1 ILS (Category 1 Instrument Landing System).
Châteauroux-Centre Airport is used by both passenger and cargo planes. It also serves as a pilot training site for both commercial and military planes. Users of the facility include Airbus, Air France, British Airways, EasyJet, KLM, the French Air Force, Lufthansa and other airlines and air forces.
The airport has a large aeronautical maintenance area utilized by a number of companies. Dale Aviation Ltd specializes in the line maintenance of commercial Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft. This company also stores aircraft with operational support, and offers dismantling and recycling of aircraft at the end of the life.
The airport grounds are entirely enclosed by a perimeter security fence that meets ICAO standards, and controlled access gates.
It is located two hours by road from Paris, and is situated just outside the town of Châteauroux. The airport is a multi-modal site served by the A20, A10 and A71. It also features a dedicated rail link that connects the airport with the French railways (SNCF) Paris - Toulouse line.
For more information, visit the website of the the Châteauroux Airport or phone +33 2 54 60 53 53
Aviation maintenance and storage facilities at the Châteauroux-Centre Airport |
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Airport ImprovementsNew facilities were underway at the Châteauroux-Centre Airport in 2021, including a new control tower (right) and a new hangar (below). |
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Airliner Storage at Châteauroux During the COVID-19 Outbreak
As anyone that flies, has ties to the aviation industry, or watches TV knows, the worldwide outbreak of the Corona Virus had a major negative impact on airlines and their fleets, worldwide.
Hundreds of airliners were placed in storage around the world.
Châteauroux-Centre Airport stored a number of airliners during the COVID-19 pandemic, including eleven (11) British Airways A380s. A total of over 40 airliners were reportedly stored at the airport during the peak of the pandemic. Many have been restored to active service.
Scenes Around the Châteauroux-Centre Airport in 2020
British Airways Airbus A380s in storage at the Châteauroux Airport - June 17, 2020 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
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Hong Kong Airlines jetliners at the Chateauroux Airport - June 17, 2020 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
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Stored Air Caraibes airliners at the Chateauroux Airport (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
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Garuda Indonesia A330-941, Registration F-WWYP, at the Chateauroux Airport (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
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Scenes Around the Châteauroux-Centre Airport in 2021
Airliner operations around the Châteauroux Airport in 2021 (All photos by DELEHELLE Eric) |
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Interactive Map of the Châteauroux-Centre Airport Area
Cocooning of British Airways Airbus A-380s ... YouTube video uploaded by the Châteauroux-Centre Airport |
Map of locations of active and post-WWII airplane boneyards and plane storage facilities
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