The sixth Cannes AirShow, to be held from June 7 to 9, 2012, will be the opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Cannes-Mandelieu International Airport. Several special activities are planned, including a photographic presentation tracing the history of aviation and air shows.

Aviation hero

The current airport was developed following a major air show which hosted 50,000 spectators and proved to be the launch pad for the development of the airport way back in June 1911. In 1930, Paul Tarascon, the French aviation hero, invested the equivalent of several million euros to build the first airport on the French Riviera.

Exhibitors at the centenary event will include manufacturers Cessna, Cirrus, Hawker Beechrcaft, Embraer, Pilatus, Mooney, Daher Socata, Tecnam, Bose and many others. “There is nearly a 15% increase in participation this year compared to the 2011 show. Despite the economic crisis, the Cannes AirShow remains a ‘can’t miss’ event for general aviation in Southern Europe,” said Didier MARY, Director of the event.

More than 10,000 pilots and 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the sixth show this year. For news about this and other Cannes events, follow Cannes or Bust.

The destinations are Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Athens, Naples, Istanbul and Venice, all of which enter into service from April 2012 – just in time for the Cannes Film Festival 2012.

So if you are intending to attend the Film Festival, double check all these possibilities to get the best combination of convenience and price.

Resources:

Air France

Nice airport

Easyjet is already well established at Nice airport, with flight to and from European cities such as Rome, Lyon, Geneva, Basel– Mulhouse, Paris – CDG and Orly, Brussels, Berlin – Schönefeld (with Brandebourg from June 3), London (Stansted, Luton, Gatwick), Bristol, Liverpool, Belfast, Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Intercontinental travelers should check if it is possible to connect at any of these airports from their local airports.

For bookings, visit Easyjet.

Hotels, the Croisette and port off bounds

In practical terms, access to the town will be difficult between October 31 at midnight and Friday November 4 at 6pm at least. As you can see from the map, the inner city has been divided into two:

• Zone 1 includes the port, Palais, hotels and Croisette, which are all closed to everyone without a badge Oct 31 (midnight) to Nov 4 at 6pm
• Zone 2 includes the area between the railway tracks and Le Suquet. It will be closed to anyone without a badge Nov 1-4.

Extraordinary measures – such as locking manholes – have been taken, and the city will doubtless have a serious cleaning up period afterwards. It has been announced that the Schengen agreements will be suspended for the period, to try and keep organised gangs from attending (notably from Italy). Strict police controls can be expected across the region, with a strong likelihood of disturbances to train and bus schedules. There will also be heavy helicopter traffic throughout the week.

So my advice is stay away for the period if at all possible.

Sign in is via Facebook or Twitter and please be as clear as possible about dates, locations and times.

Photo courtesy of PlaneCheck.com

For the 2011 Cannes Air Show exhibition, Jacques Callies and Gilles Khaïat will attempt to set a new record: New York to Cannes in less than 24 hours in a Mooney Ovation2 GX (similar to the one in the photo) without extra fuel equipment. The pair are scheduled to leave from Bridgeport New-York, Wednesday, June 8th at 05:00 am, with a possible stop in Greenland, for an arrival prior to the Cannes Air Show opening at 10:00 am on Thursday June 9th.

The Mooney Ovation 2 GX is a modern and powerful (280 HP) single engine aircraft equipped with de-icing and oxygen, essential for flights over Greenland and in case of icy conditions. If the winds are favourable,  two stops will be sufficient at Goose Bay and Reykjavik. The Crossover would then be possible in less than 24 hours. A true performance!

Jacques Callies, pilot, editor of the Aviation & Pilote Magazine and Gilles Khaïat, attorney at law in Paris, already set a world record during last year’s Cannes Air Show exhibition, flying from Cannes to Tel-Aviv non-stop in 9 hours and 58 minutes in a Mooney M20J.

This 5th edition of Cannes AirShow will take place at the airport of Cannes LFMD, over three days from June 9 to 11. Details on their site.  Previous airshow news

These highly respected industry accolades, including the renowned Cruise Personality of the Year Award, will be presented in true French Riviera style – in the opulent surrounds of the Opéra de Nice, designed and constructed in 1882 by François Aune, a student of Gustave Eiffel.

Short-listed nominees are:
Port of the Year – ABP Port of Southampton, Le Havre, Port Everglades’ Cruise Terminal 18
Destination of the Year – Madeira, Stavanger, Var Provence Cruise Club (VPCC)
Onboard Supplier of the Year – Image, Mivan Ltd, MTN Satellite Communications
Environmental Initiative Award – Agilysys Hospitality Solutions Group, Eniram Ltd, French Riviera Cruise Club
Marketing Initiative Award – Iceland Travel’s Christmas Hot & Spicy video, Mifsud Brothers Ltd-Gozo promotion, NCL Norwegian Epic’s Studios
Innovative Shorex Award – Intercruises’ Mamas & Tapas Tour, Ambassatours’ Gray Line Big Pink Bus Tour Company, Tura Turizm’s Traditional Turkish Wedding

The Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards take place during an evening of music performed by the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra, part of Seatrade Med’s delegate social programme. The evening is hosted by the City of Nice with Insider Awards’ principal sponsorship from Fidelio Cruise Software GmbH and individual award sponsorship from the Mauro Terrevazzi Foundation and V. Ships (Cruise Personality of the Year) and MedCruise (Environmental Initiative Award).

Seatrade Med 2010 opens its doors on Tuesday 30 November, at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, for two and a half days of high-level industry conference, a major exhibition, Cruise Agent Day by Top Cruise and an exciting social programme. This is the first time the convention will be held in France, organised in association with the French Riviera Cruise Club and supported by MedCruise.

All the major aircraft manufacturers enrolled between July and mid-September. “They want to choose their location quickly so that they do not miss the only event in France dedicated to general aviation, and write down the Cannes exhibition in their calendar,” said Didier Mary, the event organizer.

In less than five years, The Cannes Airshow has become a major annual event. It brings together the leading companies in general and business aviation, allowing a demanding clientèle to discover the latest developments and industry innovations.

The show is held in Cannes Mandelieu airport over three days from June 9 to 11, 2011. Unlike previous years, the show will open on Thursday and Friday for professionals, with the general public visiting on the Saturday.

For details, visit Cannes Air Show.

The first is the Club Nautique de la Croisette, located at the Bijou Plage near Palm Beach. the Club organises lessons for children, teenagers and adults Monday to Friday in July and August as well as rentals. They also organise outings and picnics on Ile St Marguerite. Five lessons cost €126, although you might have to become a member of the club. For details visit Club Nautique de la Croisette or call 04 93 43 09 40.

The other option is also located at the Bijou Plage. Mer et Montagne offers lessons for 5-16 year-olds and rentals. Five half-days and a trip to Ile Ste Marguerite costs from €180. Get more details on 06 81 25 28 53.

If you know of lessons in Mandelieu or Antibes, feel free to drop a message below. If you want to sail or windsurf in Cannes, check this site for news about the wind and weather in Cannes.

Germanwings fly to many airports in Germany and Greece from Nice airport.