Advice - Manchester Barton to Friedrichschafen

[JTobias]

Hi All,

I'm Co-piloting an R44 next week from Manchester to Friedrichschafen in Germany and looking for any advice or tips please.

We're hoping to route as direct as possible stopping at Lydd before crossing the Channel and then somewhere in France half way down where we can stay overnight and continue the next morning (Nancy?).

Anyone know a place to stopover in France?

I'm also looking for any advice regarding the airspace on the French German border etc.

All tips and tricks welcome.

[SilsoeSid]

Seems like one heckuva first day and relatively short second, how about overnighting earlier, perhaps at Reims?
Aéroport de Reims (http://www.reims.aeroport.fr/home)

[stringfellow]

H joel,


Im a co owner of the magnificent blue machine that sits alongside your jet box, and my 44 licence has just lapsed after 10 years on my licence. Shame as I enjoyed the sheer simplicity of the 44 it was such a well balanced light machine to fly.... Anyway point is I cant offer any insights into the trip but fly safe and like the previous poster said that sounds like a hell of a first day!!


Chris.

[Brilliant Stuff]

The only thing I can offer from my two trips back to the Vaterland is, the french don't talk a lot and crossing the borders is a non event. Though I went in the 90's..

Oh and stay clear of Frankfurt airspace, they are a funny lot.:E:E

[RVDT]

Route to enter FR via LFAC Calais Dunkerque? Friendly bunch and they are used to it.

Travel down the western side of the French border and avoid Belgian airspace.
Belgian airspace Notams with MIL etc etc will take you half a day just to read!!

The French airspace is pretty easy and you will avoid transiting anywhere busy.

After the endless pointless banter on the radio in the UK, France will seem very peaceful.
Once you enter German airspace it gets even quieter but trust me they are looking out for you.

For a quick overview I use Skyvector - the dots change colour depending on the current weather
and if you mouse over you will get the current METAR/TAF. It also has a generalisation of the airspace.

For most of planning and paperwork I currently use RocketRoute - a godsend and worth every penny.

It will automatically email you a complete route package and you can file through them even with a smartphone.

Stop somewhere in the Metz area? LFJY Chambley?

Be prepared to put your hand in your pocket at EDNY for charges etc.

Done this trip a couple of times on that route to/from UK - EDPR and it is the simplest route if weather on your side.

Enjoy! And don't forget your FIR ETA's so they know when to get rid of you!!

[JTobias]

Hi Chris,

You should keep up the 44 rating. Always handy to have in your toolbox.

SS, Brilliant Stuff and RVDT - thanks for your replies. all noted and advice taken.

[stringfellow]

Yeah it felt strange departing the licence, I was offered an lpc but the examiner never turned up so not to worry. Fly safe and have fun.And keep us posted.

[roundwego]

Don't know if it's close to your route but Troyes (LFQB) is a nice little airport for private flights.

[JTobias]

Roundwego

Troyes !!!! Yes !!! I stopped at troyes a few years back when I flew down to the South of France in a Cirrus. Its a nice place. I might do that one !!

Joel :ok:

[GlobalExpressStd]

Easy flight, you'll have fun. Don't stress if the French are being belligerent, it's easier when they're on strike. Plan to avoid Basel - costs a fortune however service is good and if the weather takes a turn, they'll take you in no stress. Good low level route/night route Basel - EDNY - Voralberg. EDNY - they're very helpful - very used to helis and Austrian operators in there all the time. Bring sunscreen - it was 39C here the other day!

[SCT]

I've stayed in a great place called Chateau de Juvigny, just to the southwest of Reims. It's an easy landing site on the side of a lake. The details are in Helipaddy.
Have fun.

[SilsoeSid]

A lovely spot SCT, I cycled past there alongside the canal back in April, on the way from Calais to Nice.

Is this the place?
Château de Juvigny : Champagne Chambre d'hôte - bed & breakfast (http://www.chateaudejuvigny.com/index_en.php)

[RVDT]

PREFECTURE DE POLICE
DIRECTION DES TRANSPORTS
ET DE LA PROTECTION DU PUBLIC
SOUS-DIRECTION DES DEPLACEMENTS ET DE L'ESPACE PUBLIC
BUREAU DE LA REGLEMEMTATION DE L'ESPACE PUBLIC
ATTESTATION
HABILITATION A UTILISER
LES HELISURFACE

DELIVREE CONFORMEMENT AUX DISPOSITIONS DU CODE DE L'AVIATION CIVILE
(ART D. 132-6) ET DE L'ARRETE DU 6 MAI /995 MODIFIE, RELATIF AUX
AERODROMES ET AUTRES EMPLACEMENTS UTILISES PAR LES HELICOPTERES

Is a prerequisite for landing "off airfields" in France if you are not a French citizen.

[JTobias]

SCT,

Just found that hotel on helipaddy and there's every chance that's where I'll stay. Thanks.

RVDT - got the helisurfaces permit a few years back, but thanks for the reminder.

Thanks to everyone that's replied so far. I'm just working my way through all the airspace on the Eastern edge of France. Most of it looks like its restricted from 800ft but If I'm correct it's activated by NOTAM. I plan to refer to the AZBA charts on the French SIA website. Can anyone confirm that?

Joel