Recent flight : 5 Fev 2007 to 11th Fev 2007
We refuelled at Tanger, Casa, Ouarzazate.
(commercial helicopter operation using Jet A)
We were in the 6 tonne category, and paid around €100-150 airport taxes at each stop with Jet A being between 48-61 € cents…I didn’t check on Avgas prices or availability, but saw many small FW around so it’s available…
If you pay in € as we did, no change will be available…Ever!… so take lots…..
and I mean LOTS…. of small denomination bills in both Dh and Euro…
We routed the same way both ways, with differences in price both times!
Handling in Casablanca was necessary as we were parked a long way from AIS..
Requests to park closer were denied…Cost €200.00 for a car ride to AIS for flight plan and meteo… (Handling)
If you want to save hassles. Pre-arrange handling via Royal Air Maroc services…The price will be different if you pre-book it via email....
Although we are commercial operators. It was a ferry flight down and back, so all our paperwork stated we were a private flight….I don’t know if we were handled any differently to a genuine private flight….But on one occasion, they asked to see the co-pilot and engineers licences as well, to confirm we were all crew and weren’t trying to avoid the pax tax…160DH in Tanger and 360DH in Ouarzazate…
It’s better to use French on the radio. My colleague didn’t feel confident in French and many requests were denied. When I repeated the request in French, we got more or less what we wanted. They speak fluent (ish) aviation English, but like many places, are confused by non standard phrases…
Any change of routing (wx etc) can be a challenge...
Helicopter people should be aware that any off airport landing is an additional authorization (which you won’t get anyway)…So it’s pretty much a waste of time going in a helo….
We were under pressure time wise, as we were delayed by a day on our departure from base. But if you’re going for pleasure. I’d still strongly advise you to give yourself plenty of time for delays…A fuel turn can easily take 4 hours….And you’ll clear customs/Immigration at each and every landing….
The area along the Algerian border is super sensitive at low level and authorizations for this area are really difficult to come by (our Area of Ops) Although there are many things to see in the region. It would be far simpler to plan for say 'Oarzazate ' and take a jeep with French/English speaking driver @200.00 a day plus tip for driver..
Pm me if you have a particular question I might be able to help with..I don't normally hang out in this forum....Enjoy you're trip....170
ps...I highly recommend the 'Riad Salam Ouarzazate' if you're in the region...Really nice guys...clean and cheap with huge rooms...beautiful place to stay...air of colonialism with no apparent ill feeling, and good food with no hygiene issues...