Sitia LGST in Crete now has AVGAS

[Kyprianos Biris]

Just to let you know that Sitia airport (LGST) in Eastern Crete, Greece has AVGAS 100LL available since few weeks ago.

It is important for Crete because the GA options for fuel are limited down there. Iraklion (LGIR) in central Crete has AVGAS but it is expensive and the airport has lot of commercial jet traffic. Chania Souda AFB (LGSA) is a restricted access AFB and there is red tape involved in order to land there and get AVGAS.

Sitia is situated in the Eastern end of Crete where things are much more calm and its an ideal fuel stop before leaving
Europe flying Southeast for the Middle East.

The airport website (still in Greek :hmm: )
http://www.sitia-airport.gr.kz

And the relevant NOTAM regarding op. hours and the avgas :

D0197/04 - A. FROM AUG 12 2004 TILL SEP 25 2004 MON: 0530 - 1200 TUE: 0400 - 0700 1000 - 1600 WED: CLOSED THU: 1000 - 1600 FRI: 0800 - 1430 SAT: 1000 - 1600 SUN: 0500 - 0700 NOTES 1. ON AUG 01 SUN 1300 -1500 2. 0N AUG 05 THU 1000 -1800 3. ON AUG 07 SAT 0530 -0630 1000 - 1600 4. ON AUG 08 SUN 0700 -0900 5. ON AUG 12 THU 1000 -1700 6. ON AUG 15 SUN 1200 - 1400 7. ON AUG 22 SUN 1100 - 1830 8. ON AUG 23 MON 0400 - 1200 9. ON AUG 29 SUN 0900 - 1200 10. ON AUG 30 MON 0400 - 1400 B. FROM SEP 25 2004 TILL OCT 30 2004 MON: CLOSED TUE: 0500 - 0730 1000-1600 WED: 0600 -1030 THU SAT: 1000 -1600 FRI SUN: 0500 - 0730 12 AUG 11:18 UNTIL 30 OCT 23:59 AS ITEM E

D0203/04 - SITIA/MUNICIPAL AERODROME REF AIP GREECE AGA 3-9 FUEL GRADES: JA1 AND 100LL BY BP COMPANY. 26 AUG 10:45 UNTIL PERM

[IO540]

Can one legally fly to Sitia direct from Italy?

[Kyprianos Biris]

Not yet , is my first answer.

I don't think they have customs yet.
They have a new airport (runway etc.) but international charter flights have not started coming in yet.

What I suggest you to do is stopover to Kerkyra LGKR for a fuel & passport stop and then go to Sitia via ARA - TRL - MIL (A14).

Although you are coming from EU for General Aviation they still want us to go through passport control.
Kerkyra has one of the best airport sceneries in Greece, its a must go for any visiting pilot !

A visit there will cut long flying legs half and make it more enjoyable.

[fernytickles]

Kyprianos Biris

Check your PMs,please :)

Kyprianos Biris

Check your PMs, please :)

[KCDW]

Kyprianos,

Is there a flying club at Sitia, with aircraft for hire? My Greek is not too hot.

[Kyprianos Biris]

Yes there is.
Its called "Cretan Eagle" based at Iraklion LGIR but they also operate from Sitia LGST.

They operate under the AOC of UK's Stapleford Flight Center ;)

I'll have you more information on it from next week as I am at the door right now leaving for a weekend trip to Mikonos LGMK.

In the meantime enjoy an aerial picture of new Sitia airport.

http://hellasga.com/gallery/Oi-Fwtografies-tou-Kyp/LGST_004

[knobbygb]

Kyprianos, just been having a look at your photos and videos - congratulations on living and flying in such a beautiful part of the world. I'd love to fly in Greece one day - either flying down from the UK or renting there - maybe one day when I have a little more money. I'd love to travel around the Cyclades by air (done it by ferry a few times). Have you ever flown to Naxos or Paros? My favourite places in the world.

As a local, do you have any more info on just how easy (or difficult) it is for a UK JAA PPL to rent in Greece and and recommendations on the best places to rent from? What are the appoximate costs? Is language a problem (my Greek is VERY limited - I can buy beer and food). Thanks for any information you can give.

[Dave Gittins]

I can vouch for the joy and pleasure of flying from Iraklion. I was in Crete for 2 weeks holiday last June and found George of Cretan Eagle and his 152 (ex. Stapleford).

It was a beautiful place to fly and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Can recommend it to anybody (only minor difficulty was trying to pursuade the ladies of the Greek CAA that a JAR PPL is perfectly legal to fly a Greek aeroplane and I don't need to be licensed by the Greek authorities.)

Getting over a 7,000 ft hill in a 152 at +33C was an interesting challenge but very rewarding with fabulous views.


DGG

[Kyprianos Biris]

As a local, do you have any more info on just how easy (or difficult) it is for a UK JAA PPL to rent in Greece and and recommendations on the best places to rent from? What are the appoximate costs?

(I change the subject due to the content of the reply)

I've been flying with my UK PPL for the last 14 years and never had a problem here. :ok:

OK Below some info on private flying in Greece:
(for emails remove spaces)

http://users.otenet.gr/~aeroclub-tsl/althengl.htm
The biggest aeroclub in Greece in the country's No.2 city.
Relativelly easy to rent a plane if you register as member (even if not a Greek citizen) Normally this is their address but don't know why its down right now.
http://www.aeroclub-tsl.gr/
Contact person : aeroclub-tsl @otenet.gr

http://www.cretaneagle.gr/
Bristish AOC, based in Iraklion LGIR but operates also from Sitia LGST.
Contact person : George Kelarakis (president) info @cretaneagle.gr

In Athens.
http://www.mesogeion-aeroclub.gr/
Contact person : Ilias Tsopelas itsop21 @yahoo.gr

Another one from Athens
http://www.aeroclub.gr/
Contact: [email protected]

Two aviation services companies (not aeroclubs) based in Athens.
http://www.aeroservices.gr/ (Socata dealer in Athens)
http://www.globalaviation.gr/ (Piper dealer in Athens)
They are a bit more into commercial services (training packages etc.) than aircraft rental for recreation, but woth a try since they operate light singles as well.

Rhodes Aeroclub
National Airport
851 00 Rhodes
Tel: (22410) 27.918
Contact person: Giannis Lerias <gl @otenet.gr>

Pilotshop in Athens
www.pilotshop.gr
Contact person : mmltd @ath.forthnet.gr

There are others as well arround Greece but you'll find they're an "one aircraft show" or a "one man show".
The only one of its kind (with a website) I can recommend due to the excellent condition of their C172 is http://www.mitiliniairclub.gr/
Contact person (member) Manolis Argiropoulos <mana @aias.gr>

Chart of Greek airports :
http://www.hcaa-eleng.gr/greekair.htm

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Rental prices vary from 120 Euro/hr for a Cessna 152 to 150 Euro/hr for a Warrior or a Socata TB9 or C172.
These include fuel.

Fuel varies from 1.7 to 1.9 Euro / Lt.

Also flying Greek registry aircraft (SX-) with FAA licenses under PPL priviledges is accepted by our CAA. This is the very reason I just did in August my FAA PPL ME IFR in Naples Florida instead of Europe (JAR).

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Suggestions for flight to Sitia LGST :

- Fly from Thessaloniki LGTS down to Sitia with one of their Cessna 172s. They also have a nice C182 excellent for touring. This will give you a good aeroclub - more flexible then others since it has the largest fleet - plus a nice trip through Greece to reach your final destination making private flying worthwhile.

- Fly from Athens (Ikaros or LGTT) with Mesogeion Aeroclub to Sitia.

- Fly with Cretan Eagle from Iraklion LGIR.
It is so close that you may not enjoy it !
Only the checkout flight will be to Sitia & back :uhoh:

- Fly from Rhodes LGRP to Sitia.


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A good fuel stop if you come from Thessaloniki LGTS is Ikaros; Greece's newest private airfield; some considerable miles NW of Athens but still the closest true GA field to the capital. No charging policy yet. :ok:
http://www.aopa.gr/Ikaros/Ikaros.htm

In Greece only : Thessaloniki LGTS, Rodos LGRP, Iraklion LGIR, Kerkira LGKR, Ikaros, Samos LGSM, Sitia LGST, Mikonos LGMK and Kos LGKO have AVGAS. Other places have some as well but its for local aeroclubs or private owners. :ugh:

Usually the fuel availability and airport operating hours are the limiting factors in planning for a set of touring flights. Most - smaller than mid size - airports have operating hours beyond which they can only be used for emergencies. They're all published by NOTAMs issued (changed) twice a year, available easily by all usual NOTAM sources. You'll find that more than half of the airports on the charts are military fields and most of them are not open to G.A. Some of them do but require at least a 5 day written (fax) notice to MoD for approval. :suspect:

Athens International Airport http://www.aia.gr/ is a no go. You face prohibitive expenses for the avefrage GA visitor (250~300 Euros per visit) :yuk:

Public GA airfields in Athens : None !
All of the airports arround it are Military and only accredited Aeroclubs operate from there as their operations base. :*

Good luck in the pursue of your flights.
At your disposal for any further help. ;)