Heli-Ops Belgium

[EESDL]

Along the lines of the 'German' thread.....
any additional requirements for landing off-airfield/heliport in Belgium. Previously have only had to go into Airfields or ICAO heliports.
(will get into books when next in work but any pointers from pilots who have done it recently would be appreciated)
Looking at hotels around the zolder area

[Ready2Fly]

Having researched the issue about one year ago you will need the prior (written) permission from the landlord and an info in advance to the local police does not hurt as well.

As long as you do not plan to do roundtrips (i.e. several approaches/take-off's during the day) you are fine without any further information/approval to/by the authorities.

[EESDL]

Thanks - have also received some good info from another Belgium operator - hsb.be
have a fortnight to sort things out - which is about 14-days more than usual!

[jellycopter]

D

I have a contact for a good eurocopter engineer over there who helped me out when I took a Squirrel over a couple of years ago. Very freindly guy who may be worth touching base with as he's got his finger on the local pulse - speaks excellent english.

JJ

[ThomasTheTankEngine]

I was based in Belgium for 5 years however be warned I left 3 years ago,

If your only talking about landing off airport and latter on departing then you only need land owners permision.

If you want to make regular movements (Belgium CAAs (BCAA) wording) to the same site, then you need to register the site as a heliport for the day, however as far as I understood the BCAA do not specify how many movements are regular.

In regard to customs, if its an international flight just file a flight plan to your private landing site.

As one of the other guys said Paramount is closest but also Croon helicopters at St Truiden isn't to far, you should also pass Antwerp airport if your coming from the UK and if you need fuel on the way back theres a heliport at Diksmuide. (East of Koksijde)

Helihaven Diksmuide, Bell Jetranger, Robinson R22 R44, luchtdoop of initiatievlucht, lucht fotografie van je huis, Heli Promotions (http://www.helipromotions.be/snelhelp.asp?language=nl)

Good luck.

[EESDL]

Current plan is to use private heliport in Hasselt EBHM which is close to our accomodation and is secure.
Still yet to find place closer to track but have contact with businessman who is trying to set up a heliport there.

[EESDL]

tick vg for Paramount.
friendly service and personal robbo escort to hls!
back in midday sunday for refuel if car lasts that long......

[EESDL]

Thought I'd add the following footnote to Belgium trip.......

Saturday 1600hrs Begium Time
Confirmed refuel with Paramount to top-up tanks for midday Sunday as Boss confirmed returned pax figures - allowing direct flight from Hasselt to W.Yorkshire Monday morning. All vfr/IFR/payload scenarios covered......or so we thought........

Saturday 1950hrs Belgium Time
Stood down by Boss as:
"no matter what happens in the race during the night - we will not be flying until morning...cars running fine....enjoy your beer"

Saturday 2000hrs Local
walking off to meet taxi at Circuit-Zolder's main entrance....co spots huge plume of smoke.....confirmed as our Ginetta on fire........shortly followed by txt from boss asking what time we could leave as car has dropped it's guts!!

I knew we should have gone for that quick beer...you never learn.

another txt asking how many more pax we could take?

Phone calls to Heathrow FBU confirmed IFR route from EBHM to Stanstead for refuel and immigration (and to drop one of the driver's off) before returning to base up't Garforth way. Had to laugh when they asked if I could get to a flt plan terminal!

Meanwhile we had eventual secured the services of the slowest taxi driver in Hasselt to help slow the whole process.
Fax flight plans and GAR from hotel whilst co packs stuff that had been strewn about room (as we had atleast another night to enjoy Hasselt!)

Taxi driver finally finds helipad after driving around most of Hasselt.
Have to climb over fence into EBHM as 24-hr security/access obviously didn't cover for security guard toilet breaks....Co de-socks whilst last-minute calls with Heathrow confirmed IFR clearance.

Stanstead call to confirm that full passport check required as first port of call - which will take atleast 30-minutes - by which time airport could be closed.......

Always amazes me that immigration think you would land at an airport for them to check you out if you were a smuggler!!!!!!!!!!!

etd EBHM 2000Z
eta EGSS 2120Z
etd EGSS 2150Z
airport closes 2200Z
plenty of time to spare.........

progress better than expected with fuel for EGGW so Essex radar feed us round for ils to Luton (ils quicker than sfvr as runway slot required at Luton) in haze/mist.

FBO had same handling frequency for both airports so got them to coordinate immigration etc.

Landed, refuelled, pax 'immigrated' and departed for 50-minute flight up north to scare the wife who was not expecting me.

Corporate aviation - love it!

[delta3]

EEDSL,

Just rereading this post, consider it an after-after-thought,

Planning EBHM to EGSS in 1:20, which is more than 200 NM, assumes 155kts in straight line no wind.

That looks quite ambitious ?


d3

[Qualityman]

:)
You've obviously never seen him fly!
:eek:

[206 jock]

Are there any heliports or places to land on the North side of Brussels? I used to land regularly at Brussels National as the landing fee was OK, but now they insist on handling through Abelag which is silly money.

One alternative is Antwerp, do they accept GA without mandatory handling? Does Mechelen-Walem still operate?

[delta3]

206 jock

sure they do accept GA without handling, it is in fact rather a business aviation airport.

I'll check Mechelen, but AirTechnology moved to EBKT, so I think the site no longer operates.

d3

[Jack S.]

206 jock, try Heli Service Belgium – helicopter flights for business, VIP, air taxi, sightseeing, events (http://www.heliservicebelgium.be/en/index.php) only 13km from Brussels.

[EESDL]

......you're right but as I recall there was a cracking tailwind to consider!

[delta3]

Nice to see mother nature gives us ones in a while a break ...

d3

[Helimikey]

Very nice heliport in Antwerp in the city next to the Schelde river: AntwerpHeliport (http://www.antwerpheliport.be)

grtz

[ChippyChop]

Hi All Great Knowledgeable Ones,

What is the procedure for landing at a private site in Belgium?

Cheers
Chippy

[Ready2Fly]

Well, it is basically all in here (at the start of the thread).

To confirm, i would check with somebody in the know from daily ops like Helikoptervluchten, Heli Promotions (http://www.helipromotions.be) - they are top notch

[Victorbiz]

Hi,
Things will change very soon (1st of October 2013). Today it is not as strict as mentioned below (e.g. the overnight is still accepted, or the maximum of 4 and 2 TOs and LDGs)

If you can read Dutch or French, here (http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2013/07/04_1.pdf#Page18) you can find the new Law (pdf link to the Official Journal).
It starts at page 42024 (which is page 18 of the document).

Art. 1

Permission of the landlord is required
FATO = circle with a diameter of 1.5 times the total length of the helicopter
FATO surface = flat, free of dust and obstacles
Around the FATO, there must be a safety area (obstacle free zone) not less than 3 m
No house within a distance of 50 meter (otherwise permission required)
Access to FATO via two routes, more than 90° separated
Obstacle free approach zone (see link - figure on page 42026)
No other helicopters on the FATO when approaching
The use of this terrain is restricted to 4 TOs and 4 LDGs per month, with a maximum of 2 TOs and 2 LDGs in one week


Art. 2
Unless approved by the Belgian CAA...

The location may not be used at night
No landing (e.g. in the evening) with the purpose of an overnight on this location
No landing if this location is situated in a built-up area, but landing on a FATO next to an open field (located in a built-up area) is allowed.


Have fun!