Altitude : 3 060 m ASL (the roof of Reunion Island)

Access : Direction of CILAOS from Saint-Louis. Once at CILAOS take the " Thermes " direction to the top of the village, then to BRAS ROUGE. Stop at the block, departure of PITON DES NEIGES path.

If you have 2 cars, please, leave one one in town to pick you up after the flight. Then, a 3 hours walk to Piton des Neiges refuge where you can sleep. Another 2 hours walk to join the summit before sunrise.
If there is no wind or if it is coming from Cilaos cirque, take off below the summit (small road which runs along the left crest looking at CILAOS) to find a pass looking onto CILAOS cirque. Takeoff in the scoria hillside. If the wind comes from the east (SAINT-BENOIT) take off from the summit, just under the flag. Get away from the relief, then turn right to cross the pass (flying over the takeoff towards CILAOS)..... This takeoff is possible with a 15/20 Kph max wind. No risks of rollers behind the crest on CILAOS side.

Aerology : This flight is possible in anticyclone conditions, or light wind from any sector. As soon as you reach the summit, and if the conditions are good, don't wait to take off because the wind can increase quickly and the sky is quickly overcast ! ("A sea of clouds") The alternative : a magnificent crossing or a four-hour trek downwards on foot !
Evening flights are possible when the sky is clear again. Guaranteed thrills and ecstasy...

Flight plan : When in the air, possible ballistic flight until the 3 Salazes, even Taïbit (crest among Cilaos and Mafate). Please, open your eyes, scenaries are great.
Possibility of crossing for patient and experimented pilots, but be careful, the aerology of the cirques is strong, some still remember it !

Landing : Settle on the helipad (big white cross on the left of the village and of the lake looking at the exit of the cirque, visible from the top). Do the approach between the road and the gully (ravine) situated to the left of the landing looking at the exit of the cirque, but not on the gully, because risk of heavy turbulence if the thermic activity is set up (which happens early in the morning !)

Toward 3 Salazes (Mafate cirque in the backgroung)