Toussus Le Noble - VFR

[SimJock]

Can anyone recomend a suitable routing from UK via Dieppe to Toussus Le Noble - VFR ?

I was thinking of going via Deauville, Evreux, then RBT to this reporting point Sierra at Toussus then trusting to luck as I understand that the airport is difficult to spot.

Perhaps its better to avoid Deauville and follow railway lines under the class A

Ideas welcome especially from anyone who's done it !

[Keef]

Been there a few times. I followed the ABB - PON - RBT line and had no trouble. Spotting the airfield can be difficult unless you do your VOR NAV very carefully, and Villacoublay isn't far away (you'll see it). If you go to Sierra and then head North, you'll see the field OK!

If there isn't much around, you may (if you're lucky) get a direct join without the dogleg via RBT.

Watch out for them putting local traffic onto final on the other runway. I had a French PA28 cross in front of me on final approach, 200 feet below, to get to 28R while I was aiming for 28L. Scared the **** out of me.

Fabulous trip - and a short taxi ride to the Palais de Versailles, or to the railway station to get to central Paris.

[SimJock]

Thanks Keef, did you get any sort of FIS along your route and down that side of Paris or were they not interested in you ?

What altitude do you normally use for that route and for transiting PON, do Pontoise speak to you as you transit or again not bothered ?

Thanks

[Keef]

There's no "FIS" along that route - if you call Paris Information you'll just get a lecture on how they have no radar. However, you do need to be in radio contact most of the way, because much of that airspace is Class D. No problem - the folks along there have always been extremely friendly, in my experience.

At mid-channel, talk to Lille Approach (who will give you a squawk until you leave their area, but probably say nowt else).

If you track ABB direct PON, then talk to Beauvais on 119.9 - they will normally clear you through their TMA and possibly also CTR - it's all Class D so you MUST talk to them.

They will either hand you over to, or suggest you call Pontoise on 118.8, and again you MUST talk to them as it's Class D.

From Pontoise, you may be given someone else to talk to (I once got sent to Orly who are theoretically the "Approach Control" for Toussus but may not want to know). Otherwise, go to Toussus.

Heights - yes, it's critical! Look carefully at the half-mill, or get the special "Paris Region" chart. There's a good one in Bottlang. Airspace is "variable" depending on whether or not Creil and Bretigny are active, etc. Creil won't bother you, but Bretigny might, weekdays. I've never known them open at weekends, but anything's possible.

Basically, you need to be above 2000 feet AGL to cross R53D between ABB and PON, then below 3500 feet before the Paris TMA - which is before you get to abeam Beauvais.

After that, it's regular descents - above 1500, below 2500 for the Pontoise TMA transit, then below 1500 from there to RBT to TSU. Somewhere along there, Orly/Toussus will give you QFE and want you at 800 feet QFE.

You absolutely must have the VFR "plate" for Toussus, because of the "avoid" areas - but it's not a problem with the plate if you keep your eyes skinned. If I can do it, anyone can.

Leaving is easy - to 1500 feet QNH and to Dampierre, then to 2000 QNH and direct to Pontoise.

It's a great trip, and if vis is OK the pax get an excellent view of Paris. You won't see as much of the view, because you'll need to have your eyes very much out of the cockpit looking in front of you for traffic: that airspace can be extremely busy. If you can't see three aircraft in front of you going your way, and two coming the other way, you probably aren't looking hard enough. In theory, ATC will tell you they are there, but in my experience they often don't.

[SimJock]

Most useful.. thanks !

Looks like I'll have to wait for a very CAVOK day, any sort of U-turn or diversion due to low cloud could easily cause a few airspace infringements :-(

Pity that the IMC rating is not valid in France..

[Keef]

I've done it a fair few times, and never had any weather problems. If the cloud is above 2,500 feet, and especially if it's scattered Cu, it's an easy and delightful trip.

If the wx isn't so good, then stop off at Deauville or Beauvais - you can get to the fine coastal towns from one, and to Paris fairly easily from the other (Beauvais IS Paris, to Ryanair!).