VFR flights Greece/Turkey/Ercan, N. Cyprus

[birdstrike1]

I am looking to fly VFR from UK to Ercan, Northern Cyprus via south of France, Corsica, Italy, Greece and Turkey. I have a JAA PPL and UK IMC Rating. Greece, Turkey and Cyprus don't appear to have VFR charts. Can anyone help with this trip in regards to charts, airfield plates, avgas availability and GA friendly airfields on route (and somewhere nice to stop off)? I am planning to do this in a PA28 Archer. I understand that Turkey recommend flying airway route using recommended entry and exit points. Can anyone please help?? :bored:

[atb1943]

Hallo Birdstrike 1

Apologies for only now getting back to you with a reply to your very first post. Obviously not a lot of private flying is done to and within Turkey, which is a pity, when one considers what treasures there are to see. And in spite of having one of the oldest and richest aeroclubs in the world (THK - Turkish Aeronautical Aviation), general aviation is fraught with bureaucracy, poor facilities (if any) for GA, much hanging about waiting for transport, fuel, plus exorbitant costs for handling. :ugh:

It is absolutely necessary to do your homework well in advance, and, if landfall is unavoidable, do as few landings there as possible. I assume Ercan is not an airport of entry, in which case you'd need to choose, say, either Bodrum or Antalya (both have Avgas), but try to find out from the main handling agents (generally HAVAS) just what you may expect to have to fork out for their services. Be prepared to argue the toss, and make clear that you are not a private Airbus, but a small Piper. A flight plan is necessary, and when within Turkey don't fail to add in 'remarks' - 'VFR flight under ECAC agreement' or similar. Turkey has signed the ECAC agreement and it is mentioned in their AIP! All that as background, and to dispel any impression that VFR flying in Turkey is not on, but it can be daunting, though the actual flying is a cinch. We even got away with a dud transponder (until we got over the border from Bodrum, when Athens made us land in Kos to get it repaired!)

The AOPA Turkey rep is always of assistance and it is worth contacting him - his name is Erdogan Menekse, and you'll find his website here. I am listing those I recommend you to check out below, and hope they help:

DEVLET HAVA MEYDANLARI ÝÞLETMESÝ GENEL MÜDÜRLÜÐÜ (http://www.dhmi.gov.tr)
Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü (http://www.shgm.gov.tr)
www. menekse-aviation.com.tr
www. burakhavacilik.org.tr (that's AOPA, but it's also Mr. Menekse)
Havaþ (http://www.havas.com.tr)
and a visit to www.aopa.gr may be worthwhile too.

The Jeppesen VFR trip kit for Greece (and whatever else you need to get there) is recommended, plus the IFR charts for the individual Turkish airports and enroute chart ME(H/L)1/2 (unless you prefer the full IFR trip kit for Turkey).

Hope this helps, and good luck! :ok:

cheers,

atb

[birdstrike1]

Hi ATB!

Thank you for all the useful info, incl. links. :ok: The more homework I do- the more questions it raises! I am unable to buy (or even view!) the Turkish AIP from within the UK. I am looking to cross from Greek airspace into Turkish airspace, but am unable to confirm entry and exit points within that area. :ugh:
I am planning to route through Turkey via Antalaya to fuel up and then follow the coast VFR crossing the shortest crossing to Ercan to avoid mountanous airway routes: high altitudes will require oxygen. However I cannot get confirmation from Turkish CAA that VFR in a G-Reg aircraft is permitted.

Landing and parking fees for Ercan are very reasonable in price and the use of a handling agent is not neccessary, but there seems to be no AvGas supplier in Northern Cyprus- either from Ercan airport or Gecitkale Airport. :confused:

Thank you for the time you spend replying to me, I found it all very usefull and if you or anyone else can supply any further help/guidance- then fantastic!!! :E

Birdstrike1

[Alimentesh]

Hello
Can anybody let me know if there is a problem flying from Turkey to the Greek Islands?

Ali

[M-ONGO]

No, not at all. Only an issue if you want to go to Cyprus.

[YODI]

I'm a greek Cypriot and I did a similar trip this July from Bournemouth to Armenia flying through all the countries you mention, also in a single but Jeta1.
I can help with advice on airports etc but not routes as we flew IFR airways pretty much all the way.

We went from Brindisi in Italy to Thessaloniki, Albania wouldn't allow overfly at all so we tracked south to avoid, There was no issue crossing Thessaloniki to Izmir at all.

I guess that if you won't get permission to fly Vfr turkey to Cyprus but again it's just a guess, the trip is great. Enjoy :)

[M-ONGO]

I guess that if you won't get permission to fly Vfr turkey to Cyprus but again it's just a guess, the trip is great. Enjoy

He most certainly won't! He'd have to route Turkey - Rhodes - PFO or LCA if he wanted to fly to the legally recognised airports of Cyprus. Only the Turkish recognise Ercan. He could, however route from mainland Turkey to Ercan.

[Alimentesh]

Hello Yodi

Yes I too will be flying JET 1A, your list if airports would be very helpful.

All I was trying to ascertain was that if I flew via Rhodes to Turkey, would there be any problem, politically, by the Turks having first flying through the Greek Islands?

Ali

[M-ONGO]

All I was trying to ascertain was that if I flew via Rhodes to Turkey, would there be any problem, politically, by the Turks having first flying through the Greek Islands?

No, not at all. I've done it several times.

[YODI]

Well we did Thessaloniki to Izmir and it wasn't an issue at all, both main airports.

[Alimentesh]

Thanks everyone

[Alimentesh]

Did you ever do the trip to Cyprus ?

Ali

[Sam Rutherford]

I believe (though because we followed the advice I don't know if it is correct or not) that if the Greeks identify subsequently that you have flown to/from Ercan it can cause problems. But no problems with the Turks.

We can help with AVGAS deeper into Turkey, but it is very expensive.

Happy flights, Sam.

[500 above]

Sam is correct in that anyone originating from the unrecognised by ICAO airport "LCEN" must stage through a mainland Turkish airport at present. Mainland Turkey to Greece is not a problem.

If anyone is heading to Pafos, contact me. We operate an FBO style hangar there and can help with permissions, advice etc. Avgas and Jet A1 available. There is always a warm welcome for fellow GA pilots.

Sam, it's about time you paid me a visit again...

[Sam Rutherford]

I know, I know!

Definitely in January '15 en-route Cape Town, possibly before on the way to the Lebanon in October if I can find a couple more planes!

Cheers, Sam.

[500 above]

E-mail me, let me know! The tavernas await Sam. Hangarage obviously included in the equation for mates.

[tomellis6680]

Hi,

Since you guys seem to know what you're doing, I wonder if you could help with any info re our proposed flight plan and any issues we may have with it. We are going to fly VFR from Leeds to Zakinthos via Le-Man, Corsica, Rome and then on to Zakinthos. I'm ok with France, just wondered about Italy and Greece? We are in Diamond DA40D so Jet A1 all the way! Hope you can help......thanks

[YODI]

Myself and a friend did a similar journey also in a DA40 we went to Thessaloniki but then continued to Armenia.

As for Italy we stopped in Perugia and Brindisi.

The weather from Perugia was terrible for us so ended up off course almost the whole journey but it was very easy to deal with, from Brindisi we followed the coast south and tracked for Corfu as you can't overfly Albania.

I would consider a stop in Corfu, and maybe make the Zakynthos journey in one go.

[tomellis6680]

That's really great thanks, how was handling, park etc in Greece as can't seem to find any information about it, nobody to call etc?

[500 above]

Try [email protected]. They will coordinate handling anywhere in Greece. Let me know if you get to Cyprus.

[tomellis6680]

Thanks for your help with this, i will did try that email but it rejected?

[500 above]

+30 210 3534315 Try calling them on this number. I was in Athens three days ago and the email worked. Im back there in a couple of days, I'll check their email address and let you know.

This is outdated, but may be of help;

AOPA Hellas Flying in Greece (http://www.aopa.gr/aopa/?t=4&c=11&s=0)

Lastly, I would try and contact Kyprianos Biris of AOPA Greece. They have negotiated good rates for small GA aircraft.

[email protected]