Another question about clearing customs in France...

[Aussie Andy]

Hi,

In a sort of variation on the theme, I wonder if anyone can help with this (I am guessing Fly Stimulator will know!?):

We are again planning a little jaunt to the Channel Islands but it seems all the B&B's are full up on Saturday nights throughout the summer! So, not to be put off, we are thinking of still doing the flight, then getting a room in say Dinan or Caen or somewhere to avoid the crowds (and get a better feed!)...

I would prefer to clear customs in the morning, when passing by Cherbourg, then we would continue to CI's and then re-enter France to land, possibly, at a non-customs airfield. Is this OK, or would I have to plan to land at a customs airfield in France again for this "second entry" (steady!) of the day?

Cheers,


Andy

[bluskis]

You will certainly need to clear back into France. Cherbourg or perhaps dinard, amongst others but I understand there might be restricted times at Dinard.

[Aussie Andy]

Thanks - yes, it was my worry about restricted times at Dinard - plus the fact that is a bit of a sh1thole with an attitude problem! - that was making me think again...

Hey ho..!

Andy ;)

[Charlie Fox]

ATC are at Dinard all day everday of the week now.

[Aussie Andy]

ATC, great: does that mean customs are always there too?

I just have a bad feeling about Dinard - too unreliable and had an attitiude when I passed through some time ago - so I will give them a wide-berth whenever I can ;)

Andy

[Charlie Fox]

AGA : FROM 04/04/01 13:00 TO 04/06/30 23:59 B1503/04
E)CUSTOMS HOURS OF OPS : 0600-1800
OUTSIDE THESE HOURS O/R PN 12HRS TO DINARD
PHONE/FAX 33 2 99 46 18 20
RENNES CUSTOMS AUTHORITY :
PHONE PCT : 33 2 99 65 58 59
33 2 99 65 01 99
FAX : 33 2 99 67 24 82

PS To avoid any agrevation don't arrive or depart when Ryanair are about. The airport stops for them & you will find it almost impossible to pay landing fees or clear customs.

[Flying Boat]

Did you try the Jersey Tourism site?

Go to http://www.jersey.com/Booking/JerseyDirect.ASP

This is the Jersey Tourism direct booking site, tell them when & all accom available will appear, used it myself to find accom over the next bank holiday weekend, when all looked desparate I found some single accom. Loads of twin & double left 2 weeks ago.

Have fun.

FB

:ok:

[Irv]

I found Granville has "customs by demand" whilst I was there last Summer - I think it was 24 hours notice to their port office in town. I hadn't realised as I wanted to drop into Cherbourg to see Luc in the bar on the way out, but changed plans and used the Granville arrangement for the way back.

[Fly Stimulator]

Hi Andy,

There was a discussion about Dinard (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=85140) last year. Turned out to be fine in the end.

As everybody has said, there's no getting away from the Customs requirement.

I think that the one area where the combination of France and the Channel Islands does cut out a layer of bureaucracy is with Special Branch. If you go to or from the CI directly from the UK then Special Branch want to know about it, whereas if you go to France first you are at liberty to carry on Jersey or wherever without informing them, since by then it is none of their business.

I have never fully understood quite why Special Branch want to know about CI visits. Perhaps it is to catch people taking ill-gotten gains to and fro who are too stupid to go via France and avoid the scrutiny!

BTW, another pleasant little spot in the area is Avranches, close to Le Mont St Michel. As an Australian you will particularly appreciate the flock of sheep which live on the field. I had to do a low approach and go-around on my visit last month to clear the runway before landing!