Best airfields nw France for pilot and passengers

[echobeach]

This is asked with the weekend and weather in sight and as a follow on to the other threads discussing best UK airfields.
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Le touquet is without doubt one of favourite destinations for a short weekend flight. I have done this trip many times and I think they go out of their way to make everything as straightforward as possible at the other end – customs etc.
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It is also ideal when taking non flying passengers like Mrs EB as there are shops, sea and restaurants within pleasant and easy reach and the sort of non flying activites that keep her and other passengers happy.
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One asks this for interest and for when the winds at Le Touquet suggest that another alignment of runway may be a more prudent*choice.
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I have been to Caen (took quite a long time to get in and out and a bit far for the wife), Beauvais (stuck in security getting in and out), Lille (didn’t leave the airport) and I am keen not to make flight much further than calais to deauville distance down the coast for passenger benefit.
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What else on the NW coast of France fulfils these criteria ? Nice flight for me, not too far for passengers (from N London) and with somewhere to go at the other end for a few hours without incurring the hassle of larger airports, for example Budget 737s getting their passengers through security and no long prior notice for customs required.
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Any tips regarding this much needed combination of good flying, france, easy customs and a nearby beach / town much appreciated.
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EB

[Brooklands]

eb,

While it isn't in France how about Ostend - not much further than Le T. You can either spend the day there, or get a train to Bruges which is well worth the trip.

There's a regular bus service form the airport to the railway station, and frequent trains to Bruges.

Brooklands

[gasax]

If you're taking a female person then try Deauville now it has reopened. Nice town, good shops and decent food at a wide range of prices. Trouville and Deauvill are fine and for about 10 Euros more in a taxi there is Honfleur.

Otherwise I'd second Ostend - but that really means getting the train to Bruges.

[echobeach]

Deauville sounds like a good option. I have flown past Oostende but not landed. I thought fixed elt now needed for Belgium which is why I had left this off my list. Will need to check AIP again.
Thanks for the suggestions. You are right that easy access to shopping Etc part of the requirements here for the trip to have passenger appeal !

[Flying Boat]

Deauville again.

But the ports mentioned apart from Caen are NE France, Deauville is North.

If you want NW France, Cherbourg, Luc & Edith in the restaurant and then a taxi into town.

Or if you want France & 'French' that speak fluent English, try going to the Isles Normandes, exactly where you asked about, the French think they are a part of France, you don't need a passport and can pay in pounds, very useful with the value of Gordon's currency against the Euro.

Also cheapest AVGAS

Jersey Aero Club can arrange a taxi into St. Helier for you to go shopping and eat at one of the many excellent restaurants, fresh seafood.

Try the new VFR route to Cherbourg, then vere to the right, 25 minutes later it is touch down en Jerai.

[flyingman-of-kent]

Deauville and then cab to Honfleur, will make any non flying passengers very happy! On a nice day it is also a fab flight and you can see the bridge for miles! Airport itself can be a bit tricky to see, if you fly east of it you will eventually see it to the right tucked in the trees!

Ostend is great, absolutely no need to go to Bruges, take the bus from right outside the airport into the town and explore the beach, seafront, bars, shops and restauants etc. Even better, make it an overnight stop for a great evening out!

Calais airport is also nice, bit far by cab to not that nice hypermarkets. Town is not as nice now as it used to be due asylum seekers apparently

Jersey is also fantastic, but best stay at least 1 night, either St Brelade's Bay or St Helier (I got a Great deal at the Radison last time I was there!

Have fun!

[Piper.Classique]

Abbeville .

[bookworm]

Rouen is easy. It's a 20 min ride into town in a taxi, but the medieval centre of the town is nice.

[julian_storey]

Paris?

Either Pontoise or Toussus le Noble.

[Piper.Classique]

Paris?

Either Pontoise or Toussus le Noble.

In that case, St Cyr.....Grass, shortish for fast a/c but close to the RER and a walk to Chateau de Versailles

[echobeach]

Abbeville. I didn't think they had customs looking in my jeppesen vfr guide. Correct me if wrong.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I just cannot get over the fact that flying allows you in less than an hour to be in France for the day. I am afraid I simply cannot get enough of this. I need no encouragement to get airboure at every opportunity but the sight of the french coast on a summers day completes the experience.

[Piper.Classique]

Abbeville. I didn't think they had customs looking in my jeppesen vfr guide. Correct me if wrong.
PNR 4 hrs if I remember rightly. Nice restaurant on the field. Delage is a better guide for france, or download the VAC from https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/aip/enligne/fr/VACframeset.htm

[BossEyed]

Flying Boat, at least, can tell his West from his East. :}

In Brittany, St Brieuc is very pleasant, but watch out for the restaurant being closed. . Morlaix is sleepy, but typically French. Dinard is professional. Dinan is a fair way out of a very picuresque town (but a taxi not a problem), and characteristic of many French aeroclub fields.In Normandy, Cherbourg has already been mentioned. Granville has a decent restaurant on site. I've never been into Lessay, but it looks OK from overhead. ;)

[Agaricus bisporus]

As far as I can see the last post (but one) is the very first to mention any airfield in "NW" France...

Ostend???:ugh:

edit; Apologies, FB, missed yours and overlapped with thr similar post above

[Brooklands]

I thought fixed elt now needed for Belgium which is why I had left this off my list

I thought that it was only Holland which required a fixed ELT.

Honfleur is very nice, but ISTR that the taxi fare is quite expensive to/form Deauville airport as its quite a distance.

Brooklands

[gyrotyro]

Nearly all of the suggestions above are for coastal airfields. Not very adventurous !

There are dozens of friendly airfields within easy reach of the UK why stop at the tourists traps ? Spread your wings and explore a little.

[Flying Boat]

Yes if you want to land, clear customs then take off again there are many more good airfields.

In Normandy there is Bagnoles sur l'Orne, beautiful small spa town, PPR
The centre of the town is the Casino, a few nice small bars and restaurants.

Others in Normandy:
Falaise – June 1944, captured 1000s of German troops
Avranches – US battle with the Germans, interesting town
Flers
Laval

Caen – home of William of Normandy (Customs)

Britanny:
Dinan – beautiful small medieval city
Pontivy
Vannes
Qiuberon – past the mainland, south, interesting place SEA
Quimper
Lannion - SEA
Morlaix
Ile d’Ouessant – tricky but a good one to get in the logbook SEA
La Baule - SEA
Ile d’ Yeu – Bay of Biscay SEA
Les Sable d’Olonne – near to Nantes, west SEA

Customs airfields :
Rennes – Interesting Capital of Brittany, difficult airport though
Nantes – interesting city, excellent restaurant le Cigalle near the centre
La Rocelle – Beautiful town, lovely harbour & exquisite seafood SEA


However the original posting asked for sea, shopping & restaurants to satisfy non-flyers, if you can’t satisfy these criteria they do not suit echobeach’s needs.

Happy Landings

FB:ok: