Nantes-Atlantique Airport: between operational challenges and future prospects
Nantes-Atlantique airport, a major player in air transport in Western France, faces recurring operational challenges that impact on its reliability and passenger experience. These difficulties, often exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, raise questions about the adequacy of current infrastructures to meet the needs of constantly evolving traffic. The stakes are high for this airport, which handles over seven million passengers a year.
Weather conditions test airport's resilience
Some days at Nantes-Atlantique are particularly trying for passengers and airlines alike. Episodes of bad weather, particularly strong westerly winds, can make landings difficult. These conditions have led to numerous hijackings of flights, forcing aircraft from various European cities to be unable to land on the Nantes runway. In such cases, some flights are forced to return to their point of departure, while flights departing from Nantes are cancelled, causing a cascade of disruptions for travellers.
The importance of efficient landing procedures
This is in stark contrast to the ability of other airports, such as Saint-Nazaire, to handle aircraft in similar weather conditions. This difference is explained by the presence of a more efficient landing procedure, such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS), on runway 26 at Saint-Nazaire. Nantes-Atlantique, on the other hand, remains dependent on a VOR/RNP approach for its runway 21, whose minima are deemed penalizing during westerly wind regimes.
The stakes involved in abandoning Notre-Dame-des-Landes
When the project to transfer the airport to Notre-Dame-des-Landes was abandoned several years ago, Nantes-Atlantique was left to face up to its existing infrastructure. The current approach axis, offset from the runway, had been designed as a transitional solution to avoid overflight of the city center, pending a transfer that ultimately never took place. This situation necessitates the implementation of more modern and precise landing procedures.
Towards a new era with RNP AR procedures
The Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) has scheduled a significant update of approach procedures at Nantes-Atlantique for 2026. The introduction of a satellite-guided trajectory, known as RNP AR (Required Navigation Performance - Authorization Required), aims to improve flight safety and regularity, even in poor weather conditions. This technology will enable aircraft to follow a more precise trajectory, while seeking to limit noise pollution for local residents.
Questions about the effectiveness of the new procedures
Despite these technological advances, some are questioning the full effectiveness of future RNP/AR 21 procedures. Some air traffic controllers, both active and retired, feel that the fact that the trajectory remains off-center could limit the expected benefits. What's more, when Runway 21 is impassable, pilots are forced to use Runway 03, which is equipped with an ILS but exposed to tailwinds. Simultaneous management of arrivals on runway 03 and departures on runway 21 complicates operations and impacts traffic flow.
A lack of collective vision for the platform's development
Beyond the technical aspects, a local press survey highlights a lack of collective ambition and the absence of a structuring project for the airport's future. The various stakeholders express an expectation of a clear roadmap to reconcile air traffic growth with growing environmental imperatives. Uncertainty surrounds the future development of this hub, which is vital to the region's economic attractiveness.
The importance of an operational compromise
For many players in the sector, a mixed solution, combining current procedures in good weather with an ILS or RNP approach along the Runway 21 axis in bad weather, would represent an operationally relevant compromise. The aim is to strike a balance between the need to ensure flight regularity and passenger satisfaction, while taking into account technical and environmental constraints.
Managing air disturbances at Nantes-Atlantique highlights the challenges faced by many European airports. Adapting infrastructures and procedures to climatic and technological changes, while maintaining a clear strategic vision, is essential to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of air transport.
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