Le Castellet airport (IATA code: CTT • ICAO code: LFMQ) is a French airport located in the town of Le Castellet, in the French department of the Var.

Location:

The airport is located 5 km (3.1 miles) north of the town Le Castellet. It borders the Paul Ricard motorsport racetrack. Le Castellet airport has been authorized as a French Level 1 listed airfield (open to general air traffic without restriction) since January 31, 2010.

History:

In 1962, Paul Ricard created the largest private airfield in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region with a runway 1,000 meters long, reserved for VFR flights. The construction of the neighboring racetrack in 1970 brought additional business to the airfield; and in 1972, Paul Ricard extended the runway to 1,750 meters, making it possible to land planes weighing up to 50 tons.

The Logistair airline was created in 1972 and was initially based at this airport, but the handful of routes to Mende, Millau, and Corsica, were not enough to sustain the company long term. It later relocated to Montpellier airport and changed its name to Air Littoral 2.

The airfield experienced intense traffic during French Grand Prix Formula One races from 1971 until 1990, and again since 2018.

In May 1999, a company called Excelis S.A. bought the site (airfield and racetrack) and in 2001 modernized the facilities: building a new terminal, a control tower and adding five new aircraft hangars and new runway lighting. Following the renovations, the airport opened to air traffic again in February 2002.

In November 2001, Le Castellet became an international VIP airport and the second biggest airport in the Var. In February 2010, the airport inaugurated a photovoltaic solar plant on the roof of hangar H5, which covers 5,000 square meters (53,819 square feet).

The airport is equipped to receive commercial aircraft like the Fokker 100, Embraer 135/145, BAE146, and MD83; business aircraft like the Falcon 900 and 2000, Phenoms, Citations, Learjet, Gulfstream, and BBJ; all types of recreational aircraft; fighter aircraft like the L39, Hunter, and Alpha Jet; and helicopters like the EC135, AS355B2, and Dauphin.

Infrastructure:

The airfield boasts a single runway oriented 13/31 (12/30 since November 5, 2020) (QFU 127/307) with a tarmac strip 1,750 meters long and 30 meters wide. The airfield is not authorized for VFR night flying, but it has authorization for IFR flying both day and night.

Level 1 rescue and fire fighting services (French name: SSLIA) (Level 5 available on request). Customs and police services provided by prior request. Air traffic control service provided by AFIS, airband frequency: 119.000 MHz.