THE AERODROME OF GRENOBLE-SAINT-GEOIRS
From 1938, a military aerodrome had been installed about 2 kms to the North of the town of SAINTÉTIENNE-de-SAINT-GEOIRS. This aerodrome, meant to be used to support the operations of the Alpine Army Corps, consisted of a simple flat surface of about 110 hectares which was grass covered and later on used by the Secretariat General to Civil and Commercial Aviation almost exclusively for light aviation.The geological nature of the sub-soil, which consists of layers of sand, of aluvio-glacial origin, meant that all necessary material for the construction of runways, parking zones, roads could be found on the spot.
Important savings were therefore made in the cost of these constructions.
In May 1967, after a preliminary study of expected air traffic during the Games, the decision was taken to extend the runway by 200 m to 2050 m so that it could be used by all types of middle distance aircraft including the Caravelle. In August 1967, it was judged that this airport could be usefully equipped with an I.L.S. system for landing without visibility.The important road constructions giving access to this airport should be noted, from N. 519, to avoid the difficult crossing of the town of SAINT-ÉTIENNE-de-SAINT-GEOIRS.
