Helicopter lifting transports and sets down a sling load where lifting equipment can neither access nor be deployed. In Perpignan, Helicat PyrĂ©nĂ©es does not need to travel: our main base is at PerpignanâRivesaltes Airport, north of the city.
On an urban site, this proximity mainly changes one thing: positioning transit time is reduced to a minimum.
An old city, a layout with no room to spare
Perpignanâs city centre is organised around the Castillet and the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, within a network of narrow streets, small squares and adjoining buildings. The Basse runs through the city and separates the districts.
With this type of built environment, the question is not whether the load is heavy. It is where to place a craneâs outriggers. Often, there is nowhere. The helicopter works vertically and clears the street in a few rotations rather than over several days.
Added to this are the protection perimeters around monuments, which govern the operation and the overflight. This is not an obstacle; it is part of the file, handled upstream.
Around the city, three very different types of terrain
The plain of Roussillon
With its business parks, greenhouses, farms and networks, needs are typical: industrial roofs, elevated technical equipment, structures.
The coast and the lagoons
From Canet to Saint-Cyprien, with sensitive environments where vehicle access is regulated and where the helicopter avoids ground traffic.
And the AlbĂšres to the south
They rise quickly and drop into the sea. There, the track ends before the work point, and mountain constraints reappear just a few kilometres from the coast.
What an operation in the city centre requires
Helicopter lifting in an urban environment requires more preparation than an isolated site. A ground safety perimeter is needed, coordination with the municipality, sometimes a temporary road closure, and a time slot chosen outside peak hours.
The loading area is set away from the dense sector, on flat ground, accessible by truck and clear of power lines. Its selection determines the number and duration of rotations.
The operation takes place in four stages: on-site survey; DGAC, prefecture and local resident authorisations arranged for you; slinging with a ground team and radio coordination; then a weather window confirmed the day before, with rescheduling at no cost if conditions do not allow safe flight.
The tramontane: factor it into the schedule
Perpignan is one of the windiest cities in France. Under sling, in an urban environment where there is no margin for error, sustained wind makes the load unstable and postpones the operation.
This is not an insurmountable constraint; it is a constraint to plan for. On a site that requires a street closure, postponement must also be coordinated with the municipality, which is one more reason to build it into the schedule rather than endure it.
A local base, and two others in the mountains
Our operations depart from PerpignanâRivesaltes Airport, the La Llagonne altiport in Cerdagne, and our Luchon Valley base in Marignac.
For a site in Perpignan, everything departs from Rivesaltes. For a high-altitude site inland, La Llagonne avoids having to come up from the plain.
Our flights are operated under specialized operating certificate FR.DEC.0204, which covers aerial work.
See also helicopter lifting in Pyrénées-Orientales, our projects and our helicopter lifting page.
Frequently asked questions about helicopter lifting in Perpignan
Can you carry out helicopter lifting above the historic centre?
Yes, subject to the authorisations specific to urban overflight and to the protection perimeters around monuments. These rules cover the route and altitude as much as the operation itself. This is the first point checked for a city-centre project.
Do you need to close the street?
Not systematically; it depends on the drop zone and the flight path. When it is necessary, the request is made to the municipality and included in the file. A well-prepared closure lasts a few hours, for the duration of the rotations.
Do you operate along the coast and around the lagoons?
Yes. This is a case where the helicopter avoids vehicles crossing sensitive environments. Overflight and set-down in these areas are subject to specific rules, which are checked depending on the sector and the period.
What information should be provided to obtain a quote?
The weight and dimensions of each load, the number of items, the address and precise location of the drop point, known access constraints, and the deadline. You will receive our reply within 48 hours.
