Originally Posted by
VMC-on-top
I'm thinking of venturing over to Courcheval next year in a Bonanza. My questions are:
1. Do I need an Altiport rating as well as a Mountain rating or does the Mountain rating cover specific Altiports too? How many hours are each rating?
2. Is it feasible to get there in a SEP (non FIKI) from NE England in winter?
3. Is it feasible to do with an IMCr rather than an IR? (specific day of arrival not being a massive issue - within a day or two anyway).
thanks.
I think long distance winter flight in a non-FIKI aircraft to a schedule of a day or 2 is always problematic.
Certainly when skiing there I have always either been in clear blue (possibly with clouds in the valley) or blinding snow - so you are either in conditions where you don't need an IR in France or conditions where it will be impossible to land. However, without an IR it makes your planning of 'plan B' more important - you can't just divert to Chambery or Geneva and shoot an ILS.
I believe today, you need a site specific rating (valid for 6 months) or the full French Mountain rating (which IIRC has different requirements for ski and wheel ops)