VFR flights Greece/Turkey/Ercan, N. Cyprus
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Hertfordshire
Age: 57
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VFR flights Greece/Turkey/Ercan, N. Cyprus
I am looking to fly VFR from UK to Ercan, Northern Cyprus via south of France, Corsica, Italy, Greece and Turkey. I have a JAA PPL and UK IMC Rating. Greece, Turkey and Cyprus don't appear to have VFR charts. Can anyone help with this trip in regards to charts, airfield plates, avgas availability and GA friendly airfields on route (and somewhere nice to stop off)? I am planning to do this in a PA28 Archer. I understand that Turkey recommend flying airway route using recommended entry and exit points. Can anyone please help?? 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Frankfurt/Main
Age: 81
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hallo Birdstrike 1
Apologies for only now getting back to you with a reply to your very first post. Obviously not a lot of private flying is done to and within Turkey, which is a pity, when one considers what treasures there are to see. And in spite of having one of the oldest and richest aeroclubs in the world (THK - Turkish Aeronautical Aviation), general aviation is fraught with bureaucracy, poor facilities (if any) for GA, much hanging about waiting for transport, fuel, plus exorbitant costs for handling.
It is absolutely necessary to do your homework well in advance, and, if landfall is unavoidable, do as few landings there as possible. I assume Ercan is not an airport of entry, in which case you'd need to choose, say, either Bodrum or Antalya (both have Avgas), but try to find out from the main handling agents (generally HAVAS) just what you may expect to have to fork out for their services. Be prepared to argue the toss, and make clear that you are not a private Airbus, but a small Piper. A flight plan is necessary, and when within Turkey don't fail to add in 'remarks' - 'VFR flight under ECAC agreement' or similar. Turkey has signed the ECAC agreement and it is mentioned in their AIP! All that as background, and to dispel any impression that VFR flying in Turkey is not on, but it can be daunting, though the actual flying is a cinch. We even got away with a dud transponder (until we got over the border from Bodrum, when Athens made us land in Kos to get it repaired!)
The AOPA Turkey rep is always of assistance and it is worth contacting him - his name is Erdogan Menekse, and you'll find his website here. I am listing those I recommend you to check out below, and hope they help:
DEVLET HAVA MEYDANLARI İŞLETMESİ GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ
Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü
www. menekse-aviation.com.tr
www. burakhavacilik.org.tr (that's AOPA, but it's also Mr. Menekse)
Havaş
and a visit to www.aopa.gr may be worthwhile too.
The Jeppesen VFR trip kit for Greece (and whatever else you need to get there) is recommended, plus the IFR charts for the individual Turkish airports and enroute chart ME(H/L)1/2 (unless you prefer the full IFR trip kit for Turkey).
Hope this helps, and good luck!
cheers,
atb
Apologies for only now getting back to you with a reply to your very first post. Obviously not a lot of private flying is done to and within Turkey, which is a pity, when one considers what treasures there are to see. And in spite of having one of the oldest and richest aeroclubs in the world (THK - Turkish Aeronautical Aviation), general aviation is fraught with bureaucracy, poor facilities (if any) for GA, much hanging about waiting for transport, fuel, plus exorbitant costs for handling.
It is absolutely necessary to do your homework well in advance, and, if landfall is unavoidable, do as few landings there as possible. I assume Ercan is not an airport of entry, in which case you'd need to choose, say, either Bodrum or Antalya (both have Avgas), but try to find out from the main handling agents (generally HAVAS) just what you may expect to have to fork out for their services. Be prepared to argue the toss, and make clear that you are not a private Airbus, but a small Piper. A flight plan is necessary, and when within Turkey don't fail to add in 'remarks' - 'VFR flight under ECAC agreement' or similar. Turkey has signed the ECAC agreement and it is mentioned in their AIP! All that as background, and to dispel any impression that VFR flying in Turkey is not on, but it can be daunting, though the actual flying is a cinch. We even got away with a dud transponder (until we got over the border from Bodrum, when Athens made us land in Kos to get it repaired!)
The AOPA Turkey rep is always of assistance and it is worth contacting him - his name is Erdogan Menekse, and you'll find his website here. I am listing those I recommend you to check out below, and hope they help:
DEVLET HAVA MEYDANLARI İŞLETMESİ GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ
Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü
www. menekse-aviation.com.tr
www. burakhavacilik.org.tr (that's AOPA, but it's also Mr. Menekse)
Havaş
and a visit to www.aopa.gr may be worthwhile too.
The Jeppesen VFR trip kit for Greece (and whatever else you need to get there) is recommended, plus the IFR charts for the individual Turkish airports and enroute chart ME(H/L)1/2 (unless you prefer the full IFR trip kit for Turkey).
Hope this helps, and good luck!
cheers,
atb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Hertfordshire
Age: 57
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VFR flight from UK to Ercan
Hi ATB!
Thank you for all the useful info, incl. links. The more homework I do- the more questions it raises! I am unable to buy (or even view!) the Turkish AIP from within the UK. I am looking to cross from Greek airspace into Turkish airspace, but am unable to confirm entry and exit points within that area.
I am planning to route through Turkey via Antalaya to fuel up and then follow the coast VFR crossing the shortest crossing to Ercan to avoid mountanous airway routes: high altitudes will require oxygen. However I cannot get confirmation from Turkish CAA that VFR in a G-Reg aircraft is permitted.
Landing and parking fees for Ercan are very reasonable in price and the use of a handling agent is not neccessary, but there seems to be no AvGas supplier in Northern Cyprus- either from Ercan airport or Gecitkale Airport.
Thank you for the time you spend replying to me, I found it all very usefull and if you or anyone else can supply any further help/guidance- then fantastic!!!
Birdstrike1
Thank you for all the useful info, incl. links.
The more homework I do- the more questions it raises! I am unable to buy (or even view!) the Turkish AIP from within the UK. I am looking to cross from Greek airspace into Turkish airspace, but am unable to confirm entry and exit points within that area. I am planning to route through Turkey via Antalaya to fuel up and then follow the coast VFR crossing the shortest crossing to Ercan to avoid mountanous airway routes: high altitudes will require oxygen. However I cannot get confirmation from Turkish CAA that VFR in a G-Reg aircraft is permitted.
Landing and parking fees for Ercan are very reasonable in price and the use of a handling agent is not neccessary, but there seems to be no AvGas supplier in Northern Cyprus- either from Ercan airport or Gecitkale Airport.
Thank you for the time you spend replying to me, I found it all very usefull and if you or anyone else can supply any further help/guidance- then fantastic!!!
Birdstrike1
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: EGTR
Age: 44
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a greek Cypriot and I did a similar trip this July from Bournemouth to Armenia flying through all the countries you mention, also in a single but Jeta1.
I can help with advice on airports etc but not routes as we flew IFR airways pretty much all the way.
We went from Brindisi in Italy to Thessaloniki, Albania wouldn't allow overfly at all so we tracked south to avoid, There was no issue crossing Thessaloniki to Izmir at all.
I guess that if you won't get permission to fly Vfr turkey to Cyprus but again it's just a guess, the trip is great. Enjoy
I can help with advice on airports etc but not routes as we flew IFR airways pretty much all the way.
We went from Brindisi in Italy to Thessaloniki, Albania wouldn't allow overfly at all so we tracked south to avoid, There was no issue crossing Thessaloniki to Izmir at all.
I guess that if you won't get permission to fly Vfr turkey to Cyprus but again it's just a guess, the trip is great. Enjoy
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hotels
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess that if you won't get permission to fly Vfr turkey to Cyprus but again it's just a guess, the trip is great. Enjoy
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Great Easton
Age: 58
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FLYING TO CYPRUS
Hello Yodi
Yes I too will be flying JET 1A, your list if airports would be very helpful.
All I was trying to ascertain was that if I flew via Rhodes to Turkey, would there be any problem, politically, by the Turks having first flying through the Greek Islands?
Ali
Yes I too will be flying JET 1A, your list if airports would be very helpful.
All I was trying to ascertain was that if I flew via Rhodes to Turkey, would there be any problem, politically, by the Turks having first flying through the Greek Islands?
Ali
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hotels
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All I was trying to ascertain was that if I flew via Rhodes to Turkey, would there be any problem, politically, by the Turks having first flying through the Greek Islands?
I believe (though because we followed the advice I don't know if it is correct or not) that if the Greeks identify subsequently that you have flown to/from Ercan it can cause problems. But no problems with the Turks.
We can help with AVGAS deeper into Turkey, but it is very expensive.
Happy flights, Sam.
We can help with AVGAS deeper into Turkey, but it is very expensive.
Happy flights, Sam.
Sam is correct in that anyone originating from the unrecognised by ICAO airport "LCEN" must stage through a mainland Turkish airport at present. Mainland Turkey to Greece is not a problem.
If anyone is heading to Pafos, contact me. We operate an FBO style hangar there and can help with permissions, advice etc. Avgas and Jet A1 available. There is always a warm welcome for fellow GA pilots.
Sam, it's about time you paid me a visit again...
If anyone is heading to Pafos, contact me. We operate an FBO style hangar there and can help with permissions, advice etc. Avgas and Jet A1 available. There is always a warm welcome for fellow GA pilots.
Sam, it's about time you paid me a visit again...
I know, I know!
Definitely in January '15 en-route Cape Town, possibly before on the way to the Lebanon in October if I can find a couple more planes!
Cheers, Sam.
Definitely in January '15 en-route Cape Town, possibly before on the way to the Lebanon in October if I can find a couple more planes!
Cheers, Sam.
Last edited by Sam Rutherford; 7th Apr 2014 at 14:55. Reason: clarification
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Harrogate
Age: 43
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flight from UK to Greece
Hi,
Since you guys seem to know what you're doing, I wonder if you could help with any info re our proposed flight plan and any issues we may have with it. We are going to fly VFR from Leeds to Zakinthos via Le-Man, Corsica, Rome and then on to Zakinthos. I'm ok with France, just wondered about Italy and Greece? We are in Diamond DA40D so Jet A1 all the way! Hope you can help......thanks
Since you guys seem to know what you're doing, I wonder if you could help with any info re our proposed flight plan and any issues we may have with it. We are going to fly VFR from Leeds to Zakinthos via Le-Man, Corsica, Rome and then on to Zakinthos. I'm ok with France, just wondered about Italy and Greece? We are in Diamond DA40D so Jet A1 all the way! Hope you can help......thanks
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: EGTR
Age: 44
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Myself and a friend did a similar journey also in a DA40 we went to Thessaloniki but then continued to Armenia.
As for Italy we stopped in Perugia and Brindisi.
The weather from Perugia was terrible for us so ended up off course almost the whole journey but it was very easy to deal with, from Brindisi we followed the coast south and tracked for Corfu as you can't overfly Albania.
I would consider a stop in Corfu, and maybe make the Zakynthos journey in one go.
As for Italy we stopped in Perugia and Brindisi.
The weather from Perugia was terrible for us so ended up off course almost the whole journey but it was very easy to deal with, from Brindisi we followed the coast south and tracked for Corfu as you can't overfly Albania.
I would consider a stop in Corfu, and maybe make the Zakynthos journey in one go.
Try [email protected]. They will coordinate handling anywhere in Greece. Let me know if you get to Cyprus.