Flying in France

[WGW]

Off to France for a day trip next month, all being well, and looking for tips on French x-country flying.. .. .Found a few notes on the web about French RT, esp blind RT at small aerodromes, and visited a few websites listing aerodromes and phone numbers, GPS coords etc, but is there a website equivalent to the UK's ais.org.uk with aerodrome charts (and VRPs where applicable), or will I have to buy an en-route guide to French Airfields just for the one or two I'll actually be visiting?. .. .Worth getting hold of the 'Guide VFR France' or equivalent? Is it that different to the UK? Or is there a website that details French VFR rules and regulations? Some useful info at <a href="http://www.higher.flyer.co.uk," target="_blank">www.higher.flyer.co.uk,</a> but is there anything more comprehensive?. .. .The (sort of plan) is Cherbourg - St Lazaire, up the Loire to Orleans, back via Le Touquet. Anyone followed this sort of route?. .. .All comments gratefully received.. .. .WGW. .. .btw - There'll be two of us, both with a half decent knowledge of French, both with 160ish hours, both Night and IMC rated (I appreciate IMC doesn't count over there).

[FNG]

Flying cross country in France is usually a fairly relaxed affair. The airspace may look complex on first glancing at the chart, but reference to the details in manuals such as Jeppesen show that it is fairly easy to deal with. Some other thoughts:-. .. .Nav: France has a similar population to the UK, but twice the land area, so in many areas good nav features are few and far between. If not using a GPS, VOR cross cuts are a good idea to confirm track-keeping on long legs.. .. .FIS: none of the chatter you hear on London Info. You may be answered by an auto responder.. .. .Mirages: stay high, as Tanguy and his big-nosed mate from "Aeronauts" play actively at low level: great fun to watch from a vantage point higher up.. .. .Fuel stops: get to the pumps before noon, or the bloke will have gone to lunch.. .. .R/T: you speak French, which is useful at les aeroclubs. Howard Gold's higher.flyer site has circuit R/T terminology (oops, sorry, you know that already).. .. .There is a lttle book on French VFR which I picked up in the Victoria branch of Transair.. .. .Bons vols!. . . . <small>[ 24 March 2002, 15:29: Message edited by: FNG ]</small>

[skydriller]

WGW. .. .Flying in the UK is not a great deal different from flying over here, so Guide VFR France is probably not worth it – I have one but then Ive moved here... but must recommend you get Delage or at the very least the Atlas VAC for the North West –No1, which is the region you are flying in (Just as the French VFR 1:500000 charts are divided into the 4 corners of France, so too are the French airfield guides, and this is actually what I was recommended to get for my region by the locals here) - Try Transair for these or go direct to the SIA website <a href="http://www.sia.dgac.fr/default_uk.htm" target="_blank">www.sia.dgac.fr/default_uk.htm</a> or Tel.+33 (0)5 57 92 56 68. This website also has NOTAMS etc., so is really worth a check before you go.. .. .Just one more thing, A quick look at the 1:500000 VFR map of the region you are flying in will show you that there is quite a bit of restricted airspace about france for their military. You can easily avoid alot of the restricted airspace by going above or under it, though most areas are not active at weekends and the controllers will usually clear you through it if you ask them. You can ask the Flight Information Service for the region you are flying in for the activity status of all the restricted areas you wish to cross as you go, and if they dont give you the all clear, they will hand you over to the frequency of who you do need to call. Obviously if its easy to plan around/over/under them then do so, hieght limits are on the 1:500000 chart. Then there is just the big Class A Paris area to worry about, which I would avoid anyway..... .. . Oh, though you said your French is OK, also remember most of the ATC controllers speak English, so you’re laughing – mainly at their accent.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Finally, it sound like a good route with plenty to look at along the Loire, so have fun over here!!. .. .Regards, SD.

[WGW]

Thanks for the replies guys. Route not set, and have not yet sighted a NW area chart. Should arrive in the morning along with France VFR Flight Guide from Flightstore (includes airfield diagrams, local area charts and local procedures, plus no doubt more than enough introduction to explain what differences to look out for). Got itchy fingers and ordered it before anyone had replied to my post.... .. .FNG:. .. .We'll each have a GPS each it seems, but backup only wherever possible. Nice to log the route for Autoroute Europe later anyway. Think proposed route should be fairly easy to follow, but occasional VOR check will no doubt be needed. Presumably most VORs over there have paired DMEs like here?. .. .Will watch out for the Mirages.. .. .Hopefully just a couple of fuel stops - Cherbourg and Orleans. Will try not to catch either at lunchtime.. .. .Used to Autoresponders from flying in Australia. Blind calls in English and French I guess for safety if skirting round/over smaller fields?. .. .SD:. .. .Recommended website looks great - will check that before we go.. .. .Will sort out a route round airspace when I get the chart. Was planning to skirt up the western side of Paris, ideally over Vernon and locale on the Seine for which I have fond memories from a week's cycling trip to Paris and back from Dorset in my youth.. .. .Loire Valley came to mind cos it looks nice on the telly. In straightish lines, all can be done in a day. May well have to abbreviate if too much is in the way though. Any other suggestions would be welcome - just didn't want to end up just going to Le Touquet and back if we can help it.. .. .Understand we need to be back in UK airspace before dark as neither of us have an IR and there's no Special VFR over there for night flying.. .. .btw: Did a couple of weeks work experience at the Hotel Bristol, just off the Place Gambetta, Bordeaux back in 91 when I was at school. Was a fantastic looking girl worked there called Sandrine as I recall.... .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .WGW

[Long Briefing]

Flying in France is easy, great fun and the airfields are mostly friendly and welcoming. Earlier this year I started a thred about using the french airway system VFR and got some very good information. You can check it out:. .. . <a href="http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=53&t=001150&p=" target="_blank">here</a> . .. .Have fun and enjoy your visit!!!

[WGW]

Cheers LB, will peruse that over my sarnies this lunchtime.

[RotorHorn]

As always - keep your eyes open.. .. .French ATC sometimes hear an english accent and then leave you to your own devices... to such an extent that I know of one helicopter owner who has had TCAS fitted just in case.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

[Fujiflyer]

Similarly I was contemplating a trip down to Minorca, from Shoreham via Alderney and Marcillac. I am wondering what to expect, particularly the ATC side of things.