In the summer of 1964, an intriguing aerial ballet took place on the roof of the Pilat massif. At Crêt de l’Œillon, where work has been underway for a year in sometimes dire conditions, an Alouette III helicopter from the Héli-Union company landed 200 meters from the Pilat television relay. He must lead a decisive step in the work aimed at hosting the installations for the second television channel.
Our reporter Étienne Massardier tells in detail, in The Tribune – Progress of Thursday June 18, 1964, the mission entrusted to the crew of this helicopter. It involves “setting up, at a height of sixty-five meters, on the cylinder which already houses the antennas of the first TV channel, a square platform measuring 3.50 meters on each side and weighing 400 kilos approximately. As soon as this metal platform is installed, a 14 meter high crane will be sealed there piece by piece. After which, all that will remain is to build a second cylinder intended to protect the antenna of the second channel.
On the roof of Pilat, the wind plays spoilsport
On paper, the operation might seem quite simple. But on the ground, it’s a completely different matter. As has been the case since the start of this project, the capricious weather plays tricks on the technicians: “the installation of the platform is extremely dangerous and must be carried out with astonishing precision” writes our journalist. However, that day, the wind blew at more than 40 km/h on the roof of Pilat, when, to be perfectly precise, the helicopter hoisting could not be carried out with a wind exceeding 15 km/h.
“During the position adjustment operation, we were unable to avoid variations of around two meters. It’s too much, much too much, and wanting to risk such a crazy undertaking at all costs would be sure to lead to disaster,” explains Mr. Smith, chief pilot of the Alouette III.
Less than nine minutes to drop the platform at the top of the relay
Finally, the weather improved on Thursday June 18, 1964. “Around 6:45 a.m., there was a lull. The two witness flags, fixed on the antennas of the first channel, suddenly collapsed. That was all it took to give the green light for the Alouette III to take off: nine minutes later, the platform was released at the top of the Crêt de l’Œillon relay. Mission accomplished.
In September 1964, the second channel appeared
All that remained was to make the connections to put the transmitter into service. In mid-September 1964, viewers connected to the Crêt de l’Œillon relay finally discovered, on their screen, the images of the second television channel with the soap opera In the face of danger or the show Useful and Useless Tips.
The same operation carried out at the summit of Puy-de-Dôme
Ten days after Pilat, the sky tightrope walkers repeat the same feat at the top of Puy-de-Dôme where the television relay must be raised by 17 meters. The Alouette III helicopter – which seems ridiculously small in front of the relay and its 80 meters in height, places, here too, the new 400 kilo platform at the top of the transmitter. This time, the installations will not only broadcast the second television channel, but also regional programs for Puydôme viewers.
