I flew back from Portimao in Portugal yesterday (3/4/12), routing out over the bay of biscay from Asturias to St. Nazaire and then up to Cherbourg, where I stopped for a pee and to clear out of Schengen-land. The radio was silent from Nantes all the way up to the Cherbourg peninsula, where I finally picked up Deauville info. Both Rennes and Dinard were as dead as a doornail. Very disconcerting, as the enroute notams didn't pick this up at all.
I admire the French for their back-bone and refusing just to lie down and get shafted, as we seem to be content to do, but there are some services which, if you're going to be unable to provide, it is essential that you let the recipients know...! Any how, no puppies were hurt and it was a terrific flight.
