La Rochelle is straight forward, but don't overfly the no fly areas, little hamlets to the North & East. Jeppessen VFR Charts show it.
Once landed, refuel if necessary first, the firemen refuel, take landing charges, baggage for commercials & occasionally do Firemen duties, as in most provincial airports.
Parking on the grass is cheaper than parking on the hardcore, however, I flew an Aztec there & parked it on the hard for 2 nights & paid only £4.50 - think they got it wrong.
Customs: 4 HRS PN is required, weekdays inbound & out, but I usually telephone them the day before, sometimes backing it up with a fax.
Return flight plans are telephoned to Bordeaux from a freephone at the base of the tower (airside) and weather is obtained from a computer terminal, a bit like MARS, also at the base of the tower.
Due to the glass frontage looking over the small apron, you can leave the passengers in the terminal until you are ready.
Exit & entry is through the baggage area, long plastic strips.
The firemen will not be around at lunchtime (2 hours+) to collect your landing fees, so you must leave a business card with all your contact details & REG if you want to go outside the manned times.
AA is right, pre book your accom. I have stayed in the 'Le Yachtman' hotel on the old harbour front, and the 'Oceanide' next to the new aquarium, near Jaques Cousteau's ship 'Calypso'. (Both are Mercure)
There are also at least 2 Ibis hotels & a Novotel. Go to the accor site:
www.accorhotels.com do the search for La Rochelle & you will see the availability.
Once arriving in La Rochelle airport & entered the terminal go & have a drink at the little bar in the departure area whilst one of you gets a taxi. The taxis are easily contacted through a free phone on the left wall (yellow if I remember correctly) between the two sets of doors going to the airport carpark area.
The restaurants are wonderful, a very high quality one (sorry can't remember the name) by the right tower (as you look at the harbour, out towards the sea). An extra fix is the Rhummerie to the right of this restaurant (good quality 60 year old Rhum). Last visual clue, this restaurant has high quality linen on the tables & clear crystal glasses for excellent wine.
A local apperitif is Pinneau des Charentes, wine/grape juice fortified by cognac, served chilled & in two colours, lovely jubbly.
The XO Cognac is also very cheap.
If you fancy a good boat ride, go to Fort Boyard, a Napoleonic fort now used for game shows.
Have a good trip, i'm bloody envious, lucky sod.
FB
