OSTEND??

[pa28r driver]

hi guys and girls,
has anybody flown into ostend lately.are there any pitfalls i should be aware of and secondly are there any shops within the airport
regards pete

[jollyrog]

I flew there recently. This is what I wrote on the Flyer forums:

I found it to be a super friendly airport and no hassle whatsoever. I'd filed DVR-KONAN-KOK on the way in. On approach to the coast, I was told to descend to 2,000 feet and follow the coast for a straight in to 08. Shortly after, another descent to 1,000 and cleared to final, which is almost the same alignment as the coast. Only a slight right turn required. Cleared to land at 2 miles! BIG airport which you can see from far away. Very easy.

Upon arrival, I was given clear and helpful taxi instructions to the GA parking area. Did as told and on the way I met a follow-me vehicle who led me then marshalled me to the spot. He patiently waited while we unloaded (too many) bags and drove us straight to the Navigation Office. There, I was shown where I could get a briefing and use the computers for the return trip. I was given three self complete boarding cards. All you write is name, date and aircraft reg and save them for Security on your return.

The Nav office sorted my taxi for me. Previous comments about the bus noted, but we had bags and small child in tow so went for the easy option. About €18 to town - use the bus if you can.

We were then taken in the car a to the terminal, which was only another 200 metres. A quick passport check and then shown to our waiting taxi by the passport policeman. It was all very quick.

On the way back the next day, we presented ourselves to Security at their one and only gate. Easy to find, there's a Yellow "C" sign which is pretty obvious. Through the "crew" channel. Bags were security scanned and we had to walk the arch, but none of that shoes off nonsense or anything. Passports were checked again and we were shown to the apron and left to walk (unescorted) the 200 metres to the Navigation office.

After checking weather/NOTAM, it was time for the fee. €56 for a PA28. Me plus two passengers and one night's parking. It's €10 landing, €10 take off, €10 per passenger (not crew) and €12 for the parking. All plus Belgian VAT at 21% - except the €10/passenger bit, which is tax free. Steep I think, but not too frightening.

The follow me vehicle was then summoned and we were driven back to the aircraft with no delay.

Departure was as friendly as arrival. ATC made it as easy as possible. A pleasant weekend trip and pretty good for a day trip too I'd say. 90 minutes there against the wind from Biggin and 71 mins back with the tailwind in a Warrior.

[jollyrog]

There was a shop in the departure lounge.

Didn't see any pitfalls at all, it was breeze.

[Fuji Abound]

Exactly as I found it - friendly and efficient airport.

IMHO Ostend is a dump - well almost, it is jsut dull - there isnt much to see, although the area around the harbour is pleasant enough, the resteraunts were OK but nothing great, the shops mediocre - maybe there is more to it, but I didnt find it. There are better places to visit almost as close.

[jollyrog]

My partner (non pilot) says: If you only care about the airport, what jollyrog has written is accurate. However, Fuji Abound is right. There's nothing to see in Ostend, there's nothing special about it, it's a dump. If we'd been passing by in a car, we probably wouldn't have stopped.

My comments: We did find some nice bars at the West end of the beach, to the West of the concert hall. I thought it was fairly decent at that end of the town. We blew it with our choice of restaurant at the harbour, it was run by unhygenic old people and the food was very so-so. Can't remember the name. Very old fashioned. The town itself is pure concrete and not very pretty. I still think it's OK for a day trip though. We did an overnight and probably wouldn't bother again. We would go straight to the station and get the train to Brugge, which is only 15 mins away. Superb place.

Hope this helps.

[GK430]

The only shop in the airport as far as I recall, (I was last there at 04:30z) was a coffee shop and that might only be open during commercial movements.
There is a restaurant upstairs with a view over the main apron.

Go south along the beach towards KOK, it's where a lot of Belgians choose to have some very nice holiday homes and there are some new developments including some fairly exclusive ones around a marina.

[tdbristol]

I flew to Ostend in a DA40 at end of May; all very easy as previous posters said. Same routing as others. Cost ~50 Euros total covering landing, passenger and 3 days parking.
If you have time, get the bus to Ostend station (from right outside the airport terminal, turn left out the door; timetable on the signpost) then the train to Bruges - quaint small town for a day to two. [Trains ~ every 20 mins as I recall]

[pa28r driver]

Thanks guys
i remeber ostend from a while ago and it is as you all described it.thanks for the info on the airport very helpful and i'll be making the trip soon
happy landings to all
pete