PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Day trip to Le Touquet: Advice/recommendations requested
Old 20th Nov 2008, 00:50
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flyingman-of-kent
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Sea Fog at Le Touquet

Watch out for sea fog! It can occur very quickly and you can get stuck there.

We walked back from town in sunny clear weather (great walk 25 mins, recommend this instead of taxi!) walked into terminal, went to toilet, waved at immigration/customs and walked out and almost couldn't see the plane! Great big pea souper had rolled in in about 5 minutes!!!

We were the only single there, there was a twin who called IFR and had to wait for their flight plan bu eventually got a SVFR clearance. . We just waited around, knowing that it was clear as a bell at 200', and it got a bit better. Listened to the ATIS for a while, talked to the tower to see if we they would clear us for departure we waited, waited, and just as we thought the airport was going to close it improved enough for us to get a French SVFR clearance and took off into delightful sunshine (wondering exactly what a French SVFR clearance meant legally but were happy to get out of there!).

Apart from that, Le Touquet is a great place to fly, I can see why loads of Brits go there, and this is not a bad thing. Westminster Hotel is best hotel, but there are lots of very pleasant B&Bs. The beach is also great.

Other thoughts for nearby French airfields - Deaville, Calais, Cherbourg...

Deaville can be hard to spot first time as it is tucked away in a forest but worth a visit - careful in August unless you have already booked a hotel as it gets fully booked. Stay in Honfleur, it is very pretty bustling historic port, loads of places to eat and drink.

Calais, bit far out of town so cabs are a bit pricey, especially if you go via a hypermarket! Used to be a very good restaurant on airport, also has very cheap ILS if you fancy doing some IMC/IR work
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