Ste Anastasie

Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole sits inland from the Var coast on the St-Quinis massif — a south-facing launch used by the local club under a strict military-airspace agreement. The takeoff is visible from the landing and offers a possibility to top-land, but the area is small and ringed by tall trees, so it demands good landing skills. Access to the launch is on a very rough track that only 4x4 vehicles can handle — most pilots walk up from the landing in about 20 minutes. This is a members-and-permission site: you can only fly it when the military zone is open, and radio contact is mandatory.

Launch & conditions

Large south-facing takeoff on the St-Quinis massif, visible from landing. Top-landing is possible but the area is small and surrounded by tall trees — requires good landing precision.

Getting there & local rules

Landing sits on the north side of Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole village, between the railway and the St-Quinis massif — car park available. Access to launch on foot from landing via a stony climbing path (~20 min, 1 km, 180 m gain). Only 4x4 vehicles can use the very rough track to launch.

Local rules & hazards

Site sits inside a military zone with heavy helicopter activity — flyable ONLY when authorization is granted by the military base, which is published daily by the local club (check before going). Ceiling 650 m ASL (about 15 m above the highest summit of St-Quinis). Radio on FFVL frequency (143.9875 MHz) is MANDATORY. Flyable only in SSE and S winds; E and W winds create heavy downdraft on the relief — do not fly. In summer afternoons, watch for strong thermals in front of landing, and for downdraft from the forest on the south side (strong gradient in stronger wind).

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Ste Anastasie, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Ste Anastasie with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.