The Airports module (“Airports” menu, /airports/) gives each airfield a sheet with the runways, frequencies, navigation aids, VAC chart and aerodrome services. Search for an airfield by ICAO code or by name (for example LFPN or Toussus).
What an airfield sheet contains
From top to bottom, when the data exists:
- A closure banner if the airfield, a runway or opening hours are affected (“Aerodrome currently closed”, “Currently outside operating hours”, “Runway(s) currently closed”). It is deduced from NOTAMs and from the hours estimated from the VAC.
- The weather banner, described in Reading an airfield's weather.
- The header: ICAO and IATA code, name, airfield type, town, elevation, coordinates, number of open runways and length of the longest. Badges may flag a private airfield, PPR required, parachuting, winch launch or military use.
- A satellite view with the runways drawn (open, restriction, closed) and their lighting, full screen if needed.
- For non-military French aerodromes: the VAC chart, the aerodrome services and the decoding of the VAC text.
- The SIA AIP charts, with the AIRAC cycle, a total and a filter by name, runway or type, grouped into instrument approaches, departures, arrivals and aerodrome.
- The runways table: designation, magnetic heading, length, width, surface, slope, lighting and status.
- For heliports: the heliport sheet and the FATO and TLOF areas.
- The runway condition (RCR) if one exists.
- The frequencies table (type, description, frequency): a “VAC chart” badge with the AIRAC cycle or “NOTAM” with the reference shows where a frequency comes from.
- ATIS, with their clickable phone number.
- Navigation aids with ident, type, name, frequency and distance.
- Obstacles published within 5 NM: obstacle, position, top, height and lighting.
Airspaces are not on the sheet: they are shown on the NOTAM map.
Opening the VAC chart
The VAC chart is only available for French aerodromes (ICAO code starting with LF). It opens inside the sheet, and the “Open in new tab” button gives the PDF. There is no dedicated download button.
On a small screen or a touch device, the VAC is rendered as images, one per page, with previous and next buttons. On a large screen, it is a PDF viewer with zoom and fit to width. The viewer offers ten reading themes (normal, dark, night, red, amber, sepia, contrast, grey, colour-blind…). The PDF comes from the SIA and is kept for one day.
Decoded services
Prepavol reads the text of the VAC's AD 2 section and builds a “Service, Status, Details” table from it, with the “VAC chart” badge and the date of the AIRAC cycle. The services covered include fuel, ATS services, SSLIA, customs and police, night VFR, transit hangars, repairs, handling, flying clubs, weather and flight preparation.
- Fuel: available types (AVGAS 100LL, UL91, MOGAS, JET A1, electric charging), conditions (self-service, H24, prior notice, based aircraft only) and payment methods indicated.
- VAC hours are in UTC; the local time is shown next to them, and a “Currently active” indicator shows what is active.
- A “Bilingual text FR / EN” switch is offered.
The other sections of the VAC (conditions of use, hazards, procedures and instructions, lighting aids, radio instructions) are grouped in the “VAC Decode”.
AIRAC cycle and updates
Aeronautical data follows the 28-day AIRAC cycle. In the application, a banner is shown 7 days before a cycle change and up to 3 days after, with a button to hide it for that cycle. Decoded services, frequencies from the VAC and charts are recalculated at each new cycle. Obstacles carry their own cycle mention.
Obstacles
Obstacles come from SIA publications (AIP ENR 5.4) for France and some overseas territories, within a 5 NM radius. Power lines and unpublished obstacles do not appear.
Frequently asked questions
Can the VAC be downloaded as a PDF?
The chart opens in the sheet and in a new tab, where your browser lets you save it. There is no dedicated download button, and direct access to the PDF address from outside Prepavol is refused.
Why is there no VAC chart for a foreign airfield?
The VAC is a French publication. For an airfield outside France, Prepavol shows the available AIP chart when one exists.
Are the hours shown guaranteed?
No. They are decoded automatically from the VAC and shown in UTC with the local time. Check the official chart and NOTAMs.
Can frequencies differ from the VAC?
Yes, when a NOTAM changes a frequency: the sheet then shows the NOTAM badge and the old value.