VFR flying in Italy

[Doghouse]

Planning to fly in France and Italy this summer. I have a decent amount of time in France but none in Italy. Also, some people have warned me that crossing into Italy from France can be tricky from a paperwork perspective. So, two questions:

1. Are there any unusual VFR regulations that any of you guys have come across? I've checked Aerads and VFR seems very similar to France.

2. Are there any paperwork difficulties crossing VFR along the riviera?

Thanks for your help. Obviously, any other advie would be gladly received.

[Keef]

It can certainly be done, and can be great fun. BUT there are also obstacles, the main one of which is that Avgas may not be available (even at airfields where it is supposed to be, according to the flight guides).

I'd suggest trying one of the specialised forums, or go onto the Flyer List and see if you can attract the attention of African Eagle, who is based in Italy and gets around quite a lot.

[Dunc]

Did a VFR flight through Italy recently - No real paperwork problems but they don't like (or want to help GA). The route we planned they changed and they like ETA's for IFR waypoints within 1/2 hour of you. Airports - Pisa was fab - Pescara was OK - Naples was horrid - all had Avgas.

[A and C]

I used LIRZ as a tech stop a few weeks back when doing LFMD-LGKR they could not have been more helpful , but I did file the flight plan for leg 2 with the flight plan for leg 1 at the start of the day.

Italian ATC love ETA,s so make sure that you have them ready and they seem to expect you to enter and exit the FIR,s via IFR waypoints for which you must have an ETA.

I did have Rome insisting that we descend from FL105 at one point and I had to refuse this request persistantly as the aircraft is rather reluctant to fly through mountains !!.

All in all no more paperwork that France as long as you dont use the big airports and so little VFR traffic that you are a bit of a novelty for ATC.

[Algy's Monocle]

An Italian gentleman has created this site



which may offer insight into the habits of the indigenous population in their natural environment.

http://www.luigiflyer.com/index3.html

[edited for corrected link format]

[bluskis]

Good link Algy, thanks. The passenger looks shxxxed out though.