Italian Alps · Paragliding site
Live seven-day Alpine flying weather with launch direction, altitude and local site information for Praille.
Site briefing
Praille is a paragliding launch in the Italian Alps. Its recorded elevation is 1,210 m and its mapped launch aspects are SE, S. Compare the live forecast at launch with winds aloft, gusts, cloud base, rain and daylight before checking current local access and airspace information.
This flight is an opportunity to see the northern slope of the central valley between Nus and Chatillon, fly over castle of Fenis etc.. You can make a small XC and land in Antey, where is the local PG school and an official landing site (approx 20km XC).
Grassy field next to the road (visible from road) with some trees on both sides. High voltage power line just below the takeoff but it does not disturb or endanger the takeoff. Please note this is not an official takeoff, use it when the grass is short or when no livestock is present. Always be kind if meet the landlord.
Fields down in the central valley (between Nus and Fenis, be aware of high voltage power lines). Good suggestions: 1) Chatelair airfield when they are not using it (verify before at Aeroclub). 2) Big field next to the Fenis castle. It is occasionally used as hot air balloon takeoff or landing field. -> Please DO NOT use this landing. The owner does not appreciate it at all. WARNING: almost any green and smooth looking field in Aosta valley has got the watering system installed with dozens of sprayheads erected on 1-3m high metal poles. Make sure you see them where you plan to land. Best is to check the candidate landing site(s) before.
By car: Get to Nus by motorway or state highway. From Nus follow the directions to S. Bartelemy, or observatory. Go up for a while, after passing Blavy go towards the S.Bartelemy valley and take the steep turn right up to Praille. By Bus: there are buses going from Aosta to S.Barthelemy. Pick the bus at Nus get ask to be dropped off at Blavy or the stop behind it. Schedule at: http://www.savda.it/it/orari.php or in a PDF file http://www.savda.it/it/orari/32/aosta-saint-barthelemy.php From Blavy its a 15-20min walk up the footpath. By walking: there are some footpaths going up from Nus which also pass through Blavy. From Blavy, follow the yellow marks, then go up until you reach the gravel road, then go right and up until the asphalted road - the takeoff site is there!
Strong valley breeze will almost certainly make the flight (and landing) impossible on sunny summer day afternoons (even after 11AM). So use this flying site only in the morning and monitor the breeze intensity. Never fly with northerlies, westerlies and foen winds. Very turbulent and strong.
Do not fly westward from the takeoff site - the ATZ of Aosta Airport starts there. Avoid flying over the central part of the valley at more than 1000ft AGL (300m above valley base level) as the approach of Aosta is there. Beaware of the ULM traffic over Chatelair airfield, considering their circuit is very limited by different obstacles, try not to interfer with it, best is to inform them on 130,000 Mhz.
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Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.
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