Despite the lack of objective measurements of noise,
Despite the concessions the pilots in the direction of local residents since 2006,
Despite warnings to the Minister, Nathalie Koscuisko-Morizet about the catastrophic consequences that will generated by drastic measures of flight restrictions on our airport,
the draft decree of total closure from 12 to 15 hours requested by Valérie Pécresse Nathalie Kosciusko Morizet, moves on.

To discover this monument, the first of its kind since the original ordinance of november 1973, click on this link (Sorry, only in French right now)

Here is a translation of the parts related to the flight prohibition

I. – The aerodrome is prohibited aircraft with a takeoff weight of more than 12 t;

II. – The aerodrome is prohibited for traffic 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (local time);

III. – Between 1 April and 30 September, the airport is prohibited for traffic Sunday and holidays from 12:00 to 15:00 (local time);

And the parts related to flight restrictions

IV. – The aerodrome is only available from 6:00 to 7:00 (local time) to based aircraft, evolving according to the visual flight rules (VFR)

V. – Outside the aerodrome control hours, the airfield is limited to Aircraft based on the airfield, according to the instructions of the official aeronautical documentation in force.

Only aircraft based at the airfield equipped with silencers and are on a list authorized to make training patterns during the following time slots:
1 – Aircraft night throughout the year;
2 – 1st of April to 30th September:
Saturday from 12:00 to 16:00 and after 20:00 (local time);
Sundays and holidays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (local time).
The Director of Civil Aviation Security North maintains a list of aircraft based Aerodrome equipped with silencers.

The aircraft equipped with jet engines are prohibited to use the aerodrome under Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

Madame Pécresse wrote: “These measures will restore between residents, elected officials and users, confidence and serenity that is essential for the continuation, of the aerodrome’s operations”

What is the dialogue, when only the abusive power of a Minister is enough to make a difference ? A minority of residents seems to have got it right !

How can we claim to sustain the operations of an airport, while forcing planes on the ground ? Users are not fooled by this sham.

These virtuous intentions, offered to a minority of complainants (367), conceals a large project written in the concrete :  the development plan for “Grand Paris”, and one has to be very naive to believe that in case of the disappearance of the aerodrome, it will be replaced by a green area, quiet and bucolic.

Fortunately, ministers change. It is not certain that our opponents today won’t be on our side tomorrow, if the caprice of a minister is a second Bourget-class airport or an industrial center (Guyancourt, does that sound familiar to anyone ?) and why not a second nuclear power plant ?

Time will tell. Sleep well, while the boat sinks.

Listen to : “La menace sur Toussus le Noble”,  a “Chronique du Ciel”, told by Frédéric Béniada, a reporter for the franch radio “France Info”. On the radio’s website.

Local copy : toussus sur France Info-12-06-2011 (2Mo)

Here is a translation of the broadcast :

Located a dozen miles from Versailles, Airfield Toussus-Le-Noble was founded in 1907, more than a century. It is a center of aviation history, which once saw the flights of the Farman brothers, Roland Garros and Robert Esnault-Pelterie, pioneers of our aviation industry. At the time, Toussus was in the middle of a field. Three years ago, to celebrate the centenary of this mythical airport, a large meeting was held under the patronage of Valérie Pécresse, Minister of Education, but also and especially Deputy of the Yvelines district.

At the time, she touted advantages of this platform as wealth-creating economic, historical and cultural. But times have changed. Today, for some electoral interests, Valérie Pécresse, did not hesitate for a time, said publicly that the closure of the airfield Toussus-the-Noble was an option, and that business aviation airport, on the Saclay plateau, the future world-class location which will be consolidated by 2014 over 30 000 scientists, was not strategic.

And we’re talking about 700 direct and indirect jobs from the airfield Toussus-le-Noble. Without any consultation and to try to pick up a few local voices, Valérie Pécresse, has proposed to his colleague and friend, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, responsible for transport, to impose, by order, comparable to those constraints that prevent people mow their gardens at weekends outside of well-defined niche.

Measures, that Valerie Pécresse, wishes to apply immediately. The draft decree is in the office of Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet which would only sign, before implementation, probably in early July.

“Mr Gandil, the Director General of Civil Aviation, could only try to save the face. Given this situation, one could question the legality of this measure and the effective mobilization of local residents. A few months ago, extensive consultation was launched with 20 000 inhabitants, municipalities bordering Toussus-le-Noble on real inconvenience caused by airfield. The results are surprising”, Said Christine Ascione, president of the association to defend the airfield Toussus-le-Noble.

The problem also in this case is that advocates and users of the aerodrome are poorly organized and may not have actually measured the determination and the exasperation of the opponents of the platform Toussus-Le-Noble. Moreover, despite the development of flight restrictions for the noisiest aircrafts, its leading residents opposed to the survival of the airport, continues to claim the outright closure, without further ado.

Their argument in a few words, “the airport has no place here.” Amazing, that Valerie Pécresse, Minister for broader ambitions, has fallen into a trap so easy. But the damage is done. The case of Toussus-le-Noble, will create a precedent that could be fatal to other airports, other airports. But rest assured, it’s a safe bet that our ministers will show off next week in the corridors of the Paris Air Show, to praise the qualities of our aviation industry.

The ADATE has decided to petition against the proposed closure of Toussus-Le-Noble, and for these purposes has appointed Jean-Paul HAUTIER

Please sign here, and spread as much as you can

The petition itself says :

• AGAINST the closure of the airport of Toussus-Le-Noble
• AGAINST the restriction of aeronautical activities on the airport of Toussus-Le-Noble
• AGAINST the establishment of so-called “silence periods” in Toussus-Le-Noble which stands for flight restriction for certain types of aircrafts

Or: Copy and paste the following link into your favorite browser

http://www.petitionenligne.fr/petition/aeroport-de-toussus-le-noble-petition-2011/1257