VFR to the Isle of Man

[LeeP-PA28]

OK - so since qualifiying I've been tootling around my usual flying area, venturing further north and south and exploring new areas. I'm getting used to flying on my own for long periods, handling myself and the aircraft in different conditions (usually all within an hour of each other!) and maintaining accurate planning and flying.

So my next "big one" will be a VFR flight to the Isle of Man.
I've got myself some new crewsaver lifejackets and an EPIRB for flying over water - I'm just starting to put pen to paper on the routing / procedures and considering the paperwork :)

I'll be taking a club PA28 and aiming to route over Leeds Badford (will go to the south if they don't permit my Class D transit) to Pole Hill, routing out to Blackpool then following the route of the Class F (W2D) with a LARS service from Warton/Ronaldsway due to the amount of traffic that *could* be in there.

Obvioiusly I need approval to enter the Isle of Man CTR - can I do this at reporting points (even though I am VFR?) - i.e. VANN / MORBY etc?

I've read that Andreas is OK as as bad weater / emergency landing but to look out for stones (keep to the north side). Also, the handling charges aren't compulsary at Ronaldsway and one should hold their ground in respect to that (getting a taxi to the terminal and paying the landing fees direct there). Fuel can be obtained at Shell / Area Mike about 20% cheaper again than the handling agents - anything else to consider...?

Thanks a lot :)

Lee

[wet wet wet]

No big problem going to the IoM.

It's the same as any other Class D airspace, make sure you have clearance to enter before you do! But they will have your flight plan and will be expecting you.

The handling issue is a problem at any airport that deals with commercial traffic these days. If you want to park in the Restricted Zone (i.e. outside the terminal) then handling is a must as someone is required to escort you to/from your plane. The handling agents there are set up to handle airliners and charge accordingly. Airports get round this by having separate parking areas for GA outside the Restricted Zone, but these often involve a long landside walk to the terminal. At Ronaldsway Manx Flyers provide this service, but their facility is on the opposite side of the airport to the terminal. Of course they can charge you what they like to use their parking.

I have heard that you might be able to park at one of the maintenance areas which are closer to the terminal, but don't know who to contact or what they would charge, otherwise it's Manx Flyers.

If you divert to Andreas then Special Branch might get suspicious, remember to tell them that you are going to/from the IoM.

[trex600]

Dont forget to fill in your GAR form, Flight plan's are optional but recommended
due to the water crossing. I'd try to get your call into IOM earlier than normal to assist them with any other inbounds.

[Flyingmac]

Just got back from a trip to the TT races. Filed a VFR flight plan. (Lots of water). No problems at all. Just the £46 bill from Ravenair.

[Halfbaked_Boy]

Don't waste your money on Ronaldsway - fly into Andreas.

The primary runway itself (can't remember number/direction, sorry) isn't too bad, but the bit you need to exercise a little care on is the turnoff from the runway towards the parking area, there is a lot of loose gravel there, but at idle power taking it steady, you'd be very unlucky to sustain any stone/chip damage.

Just so you know, you don't have to fly into Ronaldsway for customs, you can fly straight into Andreas so long as you give the local constabulary a call beforehand letting them know.

Cheers.

[Johnm]

Ravenair aka Manxflyers provide handling (which is mandatory at Ronaldsway) for light aircraft. They are on the opposite side of the airfield from the terminal, so it's wise to phone them before hand to sort out access to facilities and transport.

Ravenair are (I think) based at Liverpool.

[trex600]

Manx flyers / Ravenair are the handlers,
They looked gutted when i told them i wanted to depart at 8am the following day but after paying over £50 to be compulsory handled
(escorted 100 yards by foot) i didn't care. Very nice people tho..

I felt ATC had an attitude problem, Both on arrival and departure!
They even moaned i hadn't called called them on the R/T early enough when i was 15nm SW of there zone, Using words of 'In the future make sure you'

[LeeP-PA28]

Thanks for all the info chaps. I had considered Andreas but wasn't sure on the customs procedures. I'll be arriving at approx 7PM and not sure if that's too late for them there - I'd likely be departing early.

I've arranged no hotels yet - waiting for the weather before I firm up! So will keep the option open :)

[IO540]

The Andreas runway is in a terrible condition.

Last I heard, from a local pilot, is they are seeding the broken tarmac with grass.

[NoMannIsAnIsland]

I felt ATC had an attitude problem, Both on arrival and departure!
They even moaned i hadn't called called them on the R/T early enough when i was 15nm SW of there zone, Using words of 'In the future make sure you'

Sounds unusual, in my experience ATC at EGNS are OK. Where were you inbound from? What level were you at? Had you filed a FPL?

[AdamFrisch]

A bit off topic, but what exactly is the point of a VFR flight plan when nobody cares, nobody knows you're even coming? Evidenced by the OP about the ATC giving him crap for not calling up earlier. It's obvious that a VFR FPL is as useless as tits on a boar. A radar service is ten times more useful. I understand it's a requirement in this particular case, but still...

[first taff]

</title><title>Photos (http://www.ukga.com/photos/view?contentId=22385&pageIndex=2)

saw this and hope you find it usefull
regards First taff

[Chinesespaceman]

We went into Andreas a few weeks ago and vowed never again.
The photo doesn't really show just how bad it really is. As said in earlier posts, landing can be achieved if you choose the better part of the runway, however one still has to taxi back over all the rubble with the worst area being between the runway and the parking area. To say most of the stones are the size of your fist is not an exageration.

For our return for the TT we elected to go into Ronladsway - you pays your money and takes your chances

Filed a VFR Flight plan for the flight to Ronaldsway and got brought in by the controllers very well. Didn't file a flight plan for the outbound flight as we left early due to deteriorating wx; the controller didn't even give us a basic service, all we go was "remain vfr in the zone". Maybe they think if you haven't filed a plan you don't deserve a service?

The best ATC I have experienced to date was from Wharton on Thursday when going to Walney Island, couldn't be more helpful and professional

[NoMannIsAnIsland]

the controller didn't even give us a basic service, all we go was "remain vfr in the zone". Maybe they think if you haven't filed a plan you don't deserve a service?

A "zone" is controlled airspace, therefore basic is not available. You will have been under radar control service until you left CAS, at which point you should have been given the choice of ATSOCAS. Quite a few pilots misunderstand this in my experience. When did you go?

[IO540]

A bit off topic, but what exactly is the point of a VFR flight plan when nobody cares, nobody knows you're even coming? Evidenced by the OP about the ATC giving him crap for not calling up earlier. It's obvious that a VFR FPL is as useless as tits on a boar. A radar service is ten times more useful.

Very true :ok:

A VFR FP is required when going abroad, and is advisable for S&R purposes if you crash somewhere remote.

That photo doesn't show the huge chunks of loose tarmac all over much of the runway. And the caption

However the runway (11-29) was truly appalling as it comprised of broken up tarmac and was covered with stones some as big as your fist and did not appear to have been swept on any section despite assurances that it would be. As a result the spats on our aircraft were substantially damaged and have had to be removed to be repaired. Other aircraft that flew in seemed to have suffered a similar fate. It would have been cheaper in the end to fly into Ronaldsway.

is really appalling and unfortunately reflects why I am wary going into a lot of places. There seems to be an attitude among some airfield operators that it is a pilot's risk. This is true in practice but not if somebody decides to take it further. If I had a runway and invited a fly-in, I would make sure the runway is suitable, with no loose rubble, potholes, etc.

I am suprised people didn't get prop damage.

[A and C]

I have used Andraes for the past five years for the TT and as a stop on the way to the Northwest 200.

The surface is breaking up badly in places so you have to make sure that you dont stop when taxing on the rough areas and only do your run up when on a loose stone free area or on the grass.

Having no one on the radio is not a problem.

To pick a runway to use the wind sock at the far end of the field (not the one by the buildings) is the one to use.

I have had no damage to the aircraft by taking these precautions over the last six visits and the money saved over the landing & parking charges at Ronaldsway are of the magnitude that with two more visits I will have saved the price of a Prop.

The owners of the site know that something has to be done with the site, proposals to put a grass runway along side the hard have been dropped due to the two fold increase in the price of the crops that currently grow on that ground.

The hard runway will require IRO £80K to resurface a strip for light aircraft so you can see why the owners have to make a case for this sort of investment when most of the readers of these forums don't want to part with more that £15 for a landing.