Hi All,

Planning a trip from Nottingham to Jersey and then staying for a couple of days, might explore some of the other islands and even head off to France?
Have the lifejackets and PLB sorted, looking for anyone that has done this trip to the Channel islands and could offer any advice on their experiences?
Thanks in advance (Heli is R-44 Raven 11)

Avoid the third bistro on the left by the harbour in St Helier. They don't put enough garlic in the Moules.

UK104,

Check the weather/sea state.
File a flight plan
Brief your land immediately/land ASAP and ditching plans before you get airborne.
Calculate CP / PNR
Practise an egress/jettison of your exit.

Ralph

I guess it depends upon when you decide to go if Weymouth restricted zone active etc - not an issue though if you route from Bournemouth.

Get an up-to-date Pooleys/vfr guide which should have flight plan instructions for your flight to Jersey - I think it routes ORTAC - Jersey is like another country - if you know what I mean?
It's all been done before as far as flight planning is concerned.

PS Good article in Gasco Flight Safety Issue Summer 12 re Ditching

What's the routing? Did it in R22 many years ago and more recently by 109.
PM if you want more info on the short or long way.

Don't forget...

PRIVATE AIRCRAFT COMMON TRAVEL AREA FLIGHTS/TERRORISM ACT 2000

If you are flying to/from the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Eire or Northern Ireland you must fly via a designated airport under the Terrorism Act OR give 12 hours prior notice in writing for the Police area in which the Port is situated. Please refer to the Police contact numbers printed on the rear of the GAR. It is an offence under the Terrorism Act to wilfully fail to comply with this legislation.

Hi Chop Jock is that 12hrs from departure point or the landing area for police notification? Departing from my house then landing at Jersey Airport? Thanks

GAR (General Aviation Report) form must be submitted to police 12 hours before departure from UK departure point, and 12 hours before arrival back there. Both out and return legs can be done on the same form rather than fill out two separate ones.
Flight plan is also required.

I've flown Jersey-UK many times (mainly as I live in Jersey), I've forgotten the GAR on several occasions and they always let me complete it at the aero club on arrival.

You'll need to file a flight plan before entering CI airspace, remember it's class A and D airspace and you'll need a SVFR clearance before entering, they usually keep you below 1,000ft. Try and avoid arriving during commercial dept or arr times as they'll divert you off to America. Make sure you call for clearance 15nm outside the CI CTR/CTA.

Also if you're flying VFR they will refuse landing if the cloud base is below 600ft or the vis is below a certain level (can't remember exactly, maybe 3km), I've been caught out a few times and had to divert to France. Remember your passports just in case! The nearest diversion airfield is Dinard and they have immigration facilities.

I usually fly via ORTAC which is just north of Alderney and coast in to UK via Bournemouth, going over Isle of Wight. Remember your routing on the flight plan, it must be a valid route other they'll refuse it. Make sure it shows your coasting in/out points.

Avoid Cap De La Hague like the plague, it's something like a EUR20,000 fine if you even slightly clip the airspace.

On arrival, you'll have to hover taxi along every single little taxi way, don't cross the grass or take shortcuts. Bear this in mind when close to MAUW as you may have to taxi downwind for a fair while. You can only park to the south east of the run way, on the grass next to the car park, by the aero club. Don't park with the planks, stay well away, they get funny about that. There's often another R44 parked there, just stick it next to that, this is assuming your in either an R22, R44 or 206. If you're in anything larger then you have to park at Aviation Beauport which costs about the same as landing at Gatwick!

The prevailing wind is westerly.

If you decide to fly around the island you must stay over water and fly anti clockwise, stay below 1000ft and don't breach rule 5. You can't land anywhere except the airport. When rejoining you can fly over land. (remember a flight plan for every flight)

On leaving Jersey you can file a flight plan and leave immediately subject to SFVR cloud base and vis limits.

You'll need a nord-ouest french aviation map for the channel islands.

Jersey often use Approach, Tower and Ground frequencies so it's useful to have these ready, en route you'll also talk to Guernsey approach.

If you fly to Guernsey, they have GA parking restrictions at present and you could be forced to use a handling agent so call them up first.

The ATC controllers are all fantastic, very helpful and relaxed.

Let me know when you're next visiting, it's always nice to meet other heli pilots! Happy to be a safety pilot if you want to do any local flying. It's only a 15 min flight over to the d-day landing beaches.

All the best
Simon

p.s. cicz.co.uk will give you plenty of info about the CI airspace and example flight plan routings.

Simon,

Do you fly a based heli in Jersey?
Don't remember any being there last time I flew in, it was 4 years ago though.

H

Hi Simon and fantastic info much appreciated, have sent you a PM to get in touch .

Hedski, I fly a Guernsey based R44, however there is one based here

Flew from Manston to Jersey many years ago. In a 22 took the shortest water crossing (Dover- Calais) then followed the coast round (watching out for restricted airspace) stopping at Caen for lunch.
It was intresting at Jersey following a 737 on the taxiway then a 'follow me' truck.