Is it possible to fly to Holland from the UK without a transponder?
Fixing the problem
I would recommend a visit to Midden Zeeland EHMZ as the radio shop and Peter are very helpful.
A call to Vliegwerk Holland is well advised. They also do in house repairs on starters alternators and Mags (whilst you wait if arranged) The euro/£ is not fantastic I know but the quality and speed of work worth it.
PP
A call to Vliegwerk Holland is well advised. They also do in house repairs on starters alternators and Mags (whilst you wait if arranged) The euro/£ is not fantastic I know but the quality and speed of work worth it.
PP
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AFAIK there is no way to fly within Amsterdam FIR without Mode-S Transponder since last year. There was some change due to the North Sea heli traffic, I think starting April last year.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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ChickenHouse, you may be confusing the Amsterdam FIR with the North Sea Area Amsterdam (NSAA) - see AIP ENR 2.2 para 3. The NSAA starts a few miles offshore, and in certain places actually a few dozen miles offshore.
Indeed, the rules for the NSAA are stricter than for the rest of the uncontrolled FIR. One of the rules is that it is a TMZ - Transponder Mandatory Zone all the way down to sea level.
However, outside the NSAA, outside the other TMZs, outside controlled airspace and below 1200', it is still legal to fly a motorized aircraft without a serviceable mode S transponder. (See AIP GEN 1.5 para 4)
Indeed, the rules for the NSAA are stricter than for the rest of the uncontrolled FIR. One of the rules is that it is a TMZ - Transponder Mandatory Zone all the way down to sea level.
However, outside the NSAA, outside the other TMZs, outside controlled airspace and below 1200', it is still legal to fly a motorized aircraft without a serviceable mode S transponder. (See AIP GEN 1.5 para 4)
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I've just been looking at the map. If you assume an U/S transponder, and if you're not going to ask (beg) the BE ATC authorities to transit either the Koksijde CTR or the Oostende CTR, your options are going to be a bit limited.
1. You could go the Southern route, via France. Eg. DVR - Calais at FL60 or so, descend to < 1500' over land, cross into Belgium, avoid all the airspace associated with Koksijde, then proceed via Brugge to COA and enter Dutch airspace <1200'. The part of the Lille TMA around Calais is class E so there appears to be no transponder requirement there (ref Fra AIP ENR 1.6 para 3.1.3).
2. Route to KONAN and from there through the Koksijde CTR, but outside CTR opening hours (mo-fr 9-17, changeable by NOTAM). You'll have to fly < 1500' as the Oostende TMA is class C so requires a Mode S transponder (ref BeLux AIP ENR 1.6 para 1.1). From Koksijde stay low-level and east of the Oostende CTR to COA, to enter Dutch airspace < 1200'.
3. Fly to KONAN as intended, but from there fly to a point just North of the Ostende CTR but South of the Dutch FIR (which is where the NSAA starts at that point). Again, this needs to be done < 1500' due to the transponder requirements in the Oostende TMA. Then DCT COA, descend to 1200' or below, then enter Dutch airspace.
Because of the NSAA you cannot simply route direct from UK into Dutch airspace anywhere, not even at low level. You'll have to go via Belgium, where virtually the whole North Sea coast is controlled airspace down to sea level (except the bit just north of the Oostende CTR), or via France.
Best advice: Get that transponder fixed ASAP. It'll make flight such as this so much easier.
1. You could go the Southern route, via France. Eg. DVR - Calais at FL60 or so, descend to < 1500' over land, cross into Belgium, avoid all the airspace associated with Koksijde, then proceed via Brugge to COA and enter Dutch airspace <1200'. The part of the Lille TMA around Calais is class E so there appears to be no transponder requirement there (ref Fra AIP ENR 1.6 para 3.1.3).
2. Route to KONAN and from there through the Koksijde CTR, but outside CTR opening hours (mo-fr 9-17, changeable by NOTAM). You'll have to fly < 1500' as the Oostende TMA is class C so requires a Mode S transponder (ref BeLux AIP ENR 1.6 para 1.1). From Koksijde stay low-level and east of the Oostende CTR to COA, to enter Dutch airspace < 1200'.
3. Fly to KONAN as intended, but from there fly to a point just North of the Ostende CTR but South of the Dutch FIR (which is where the NSAA starts at that point). Again, this needs to be done < 1500' due to the transponder requirements in the Oostende TMA. Then DCT COA, descend to 1200' or below, then enter Dutch airspace.
Because of the NSAA you cannot simply route direct from UK into Dutch airspace anywhere, not even at low level. You'll have to go via Belgium, where virtually the whole North Sea coast is controlled airspace down to sea level (except the bit just north of the Oostende CTR), or via France.
Best advice: Get that transponder fixed ASAP. It'll make flight such as this so much easier.
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However, also in The Netherlands, minimum flight altitude is 500ft. And the Kinderdijk area is a Natural Reserve and Bird Sanctuary (not to mention Natura2000 area), so I would reconsider this low-pass here.
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By low pass, I meant fly at 500ft which is plenty low enough to enjoy the sights, not be stupid and fly at 30ft, disregarding the law! You'll find that the bird sanctuary is some distance to the south west of the location of the windmills at Kinderdijk and it is actually just south of the simulated forced landing area for Rotterdam (with clearance allowing you down to 100ft agl). Of course, be respectful and don't keep flying over for an hour!! (That's just inconsiderate for the locals!)
