Flying in Northern Ireland

[Blue Albatross]

I was wondering if you could help me. I am thinking about planning a trip home to Ireland and I begun prelim plans using PocketFMS. I noticed a distinct lack of airfields in the North and I was wondering if there are unlicensed farm strips that maybe don't appear on PocketFMS that I should consider? One of the main areas we wanted to visit was north Antrim, but there seems to be very little at all in the north available to GA pilots.

Any hints/tips?

Thanks,
B_A

[jollyrog]

Visit both sides of the border. Done right, your flying will get cheaper. Tax free fuel when departing the Republic to the North, maybe the same in reverse, but if not you can complete a form HO60 from the UK tax people and claim the tax back.

[mesh1matrix2000]

Causeway airfield just outside Coleraine recently opened. Ulster Giding club at Magilligan. Wild Geese near Garvagh

[JOE-FBS]

I had a holiday in Northern Ireland in April 2010 and rented from Ulster Flying Club at Newtownards on four different days. I visited Enniskillen, (London)Derry / Eglinton, Donegal and (because of the ash cloud) did touch and go at both Belfast City and Belfast International. The scenery is lovely, the airspace almost totally unrestricted and for the nights when you're not flying the next day, the drink is good!

The CFI at UFC, Dave Phillips, is a regular on the Flyer forum and a very sound chap. UFC has a nice rental fleet to choose from.

Some detailed notes about my trip are at these web pages:

FLYER Forums • View topic - Newtownards (EGAD) (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=63282)

FLYER Forums • View topic - Eglinton / Londonderry / City of Derry (EGAE) (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=62874)

FLYER Forums • View topic - Enniskillen (EGAB) (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=62711)

FLYER Forums • View topic - Donegal (EIDL) (http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=62872)

[dublinpilot]

Hi B_A,

There are some shorter strips, used mainly by microlighters.

The best guide for these is the Aviators Guide to Ireland Click Here (http://www.flightguide.me/page1.php?SessionID=205473304ea6e2c4eeefc)

It really is great, and sets the standard for flight guides higher than anything I've seen before.

If you let me know what you need in terms of surface type/length and if there is any particular towns that you are looking to visit, I'll have a look at my copy for you, but you really ought to get yourself a copy if you plan to visit Ireland, especially if you can manage microlight fields. There is just so many more in it than shown on any aviation chart.

As others have said, you get duty free fuel each time you cross the border, so worth planning your flights carefully ;) It does involve a little paperwork, but it's worth it ;)

dp

[irish seaplane]

Great advice there from PPrune'r Dublin Pilot. Copy of the guide is available online or from Transair.

Aviators Guide to Ireland VFR Flight Guide (http://www.transair.co.uk/sp+Aviators-Guide-to-Ireland-VFR-Flight-Guide+6974)

PM me when you have a copy and I'll email you a set of the GDP/GPX waypoints for all the private strips. I always visualise landing these strips as I fly over, pick them out, study the sock etc. Gets you used to picking them out, and figuring a low noise way in with the prevailing wind. There are over 60 farm strips in Northern Ireland, so there are loads to visit. When you consider there are 5 strips in Dungannon alone, the scope of strip hopping in NI becomes clear.

Irish

[PompeyPaul]

Something I've noticed, and wondered, is the vis in N. Ireland always seems to be really good ? Cloud generally seems good, so outside of the rain I think the weather in Ulster is very VFR friendly.

Is it just something I've noticed or is there some meteorological reason for it ?

[manitoubrian]

Pompeypaul,

You're winding things up with that last post, yes?

The weather in Northern Ireland is mostly SH** and sometimes it isn't even that good!

[NWSRG]

Pompey,

Have to concur with Manitou!

When the weather is good, you'll not get more beautiful scenery...the other 361 days of the year, you take your chances :E

[PompeyPaul]

Might just be luck. Whenever I've returned home I've noticed the vis is particularly clear compared to SE England.

I'd noticed that being at my home on one side of the Belfast Loch I can pretty much see Carrick all of the time on the other side. That's a distance of around 6Km and happens far more often than SE England.

I also noticed that cloud of around 2000ft seemed the norm.

Maybe it's just when I happen to go back home (in the summer / spring) but I'd often wondered why it was like that.