Hi:
1. I assume your wife speaks Russian/Ukrainian - helps a lot
2. Try to call Odessa airport and agree fees etc, ask them how to get VFR overfly permit from Ukrainian CA - if you speak Russian I think they will be very helpful. My friends did not use intermediary for cost reasons - they told would be a good idea to have someone at the airport who will help you for small monies
3. Romania - for VFR you also need CA approval - I flew to Cluj Napoca and it was easy to get via e-mail in English:
[email protected] (you will get a permit number you need to put in 18 in flight plan)
4. Maps - i think they still do not have VFR maps for both Romania and Ukraine, you normally use IFR routes and reporting points for VFR flight (I use Jeppesen charts), I would advise to get an approach charts for Odessa and Romanian apt - just in case (probably not a must) - at the approach controller may give you instructions to proceed to IFR points so it helps to know where they are
anyway - good luck and please write me how it was after your return,
Greg
ps. there is no AVgass in Bari, there usually is in Foggia, in case of questions e-mail me at
[email protected]