Flying French Airways VFR?

[Long Briefing]

I understand that it is possible to fly on the French airways VFR but have never done so. I know they use the semicircular rule + 500' for VFR levels and thats about all. So how does one go about this? What do you need to put on the flight plan?

I'm planning a French trip this Summer and any information would be most helpful.

[Leo45]

There's no special requirement below FL115 as the airways are Class E airspace.To state the obvious: you have to maintain VMC!.. .For the flight plan,you do not have to put anything special such as the airways numbers etc..just put the route you want to take (whether it follows a particular airway or not doesn't matter)e.g: DCT GWC DCT SITET DCT DVL DCT VMP DCT CDN.You don't even have to specify a level.

There is no need to talk to anybody below FL115 but you can try to get a FIS from the relevant FIR.Don't expect too much,especially from Paris Information,sometimes it's not even manned.They are in no way as good(but who are?!!) as London or Scottish Information.At least they can provide TAF or Metars.

Last tip,it is highly recommended to use the French 1/1 000 000 scale radio navigation charts together with the VFR supplement (it's in English).You can get them from Transair Pilot Shop.

The French 1/500 000 maps are good but don't provide frequencies to call for restricted zones crossing clearance (most of them are in fact military airspace)and don't show any restricted airspace with a base above 5000FT.These maps are just topographical charts.

Enjoy your trip.. . <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: Leo45 ]

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: Leo45 ]

[ 24 January 2002: Message edited by: Leo45 ]</p>

[Mister Gash]

Leo45 is spot on. I’ve flown VFR on airways there and in Spain without any problems using Jeppesen VFR GPS charts alongside the standard airways charts. Although their presentation takes a little getting used to, the VFR GPS charts are excellent and give full airspace information as well as crossing-service frequencies (but you shouldn’t need them if you’re on the airways!).

Gash

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: Mister Gash ]</p>

[Long Briefing]

Thanks Leo45 & Mister Gash. The whole thing sounds like an absolute doddle. I've got two further afterthoughts.

1. The French have Night VFR so can you do airways at night?

2. Do you get charged Eurocontrol charges for flying an airway VFR?

Once again thanks for any help.

[ 24 January 2002: Message edited by: Long Briefing ]</p>

[Mister Gash]

Dunno about the night stuff but no airways charges apply. Even for IFR flights, I think it only applies to A/C above a certain weight.

Gash

[twistedenginestarter]

VFR night flight is prohibited on airways in France.

[Gary Halliday]

Hi Long Briefing

For the night VFR stuff you should follow the Itineraire d` Nuit section of the AIP. Separate night routes avoiding built up areas - at least that`s how it was.

GH

[A and C]

When filling in the flight plan putting in the airway number will save you a lot of writing.

IE SITET A34 LGL insted of SITET DCT ETRAT DCT DVL DCT LISEU DCT LGL and that in just 71 miles !.

[twistedenginestarter]

The rules for night VFR are:. .<ul type="square"> you must have IR or Night Rating aircraft must be equipped for night flying Departure and Destination must be equipped with lights and be manned a flight plan must be submitted except for local flying no airways cloudbase 650m and vis 8 km[/list]

[Fuji Abound]

One other thought - if you are IFR in the airways, but below flight level 115 can you elicit any better service or does this only kick in above FL115.

[Vfrpilotpb]

On reading this thread, I admit to slight confusion, Twisted refers to cloudbase in metres, then Fuj refers to FL115 is that still in feet or do the continentals use metres for all reporting and min /max levels, so therfore do you need to have all your reports based on metric?

[Fuji Abound]

vfrpilotpb

I think there are two quite different concepts here. Twisted does indeed refer to cloud base in mts below which night VFR would be prohibited. FL - Flight level is unrelated to the met conditions, simply your altitude in the airway in this case in feet on standard pressure.

[twistedenginestarter]

650m looks suspiciously like 2000 feet doesn't it? 600m would be just under.

[skua]

I once got into a big argument with the LFRG twr at night, who tried to refuse me a landing - because it was raining! As far as I can remember, I fulfilled all the other criteria for night VFR, and could see the field at the time we were talking!

After the barney, I landed and was summoned to the headmistress's study - i.e. the twr!

[Rob_L]

I got the Night VFR info from the Service de l'Information Aeronautique, albeit in 1999. They faxed it through to me, and much of it's faded clean away, but I know they were at Merignac.

My info. states there should be no 'precipitation, storm or fog forecast' (I say again 'forecast') 'between the departure, arrival and diversion aerodromes'.

There were also night currency rules, which may have changed, but required 5 night landings in the last 6 months.

And aicraft to be night equipped, I think the same as here.

[Gary Halliday]

Hi TES

So the Itineraire is dead? any idea when ?.

Just curious.

For Fuji - lower airways in France IFR just the same as upper cept you have to be aware that VFR traffic might be closer than you`d like.

GH

[ 26 January 2002: Message edited by: Gary Halliday ]</p>

[2Donkeys]

Three comments on the thread that make a big difference when flying in France. Both this thread and the "Flying in France" thread run the risk of not clarifying them adequately:. .. .The French do not fly the quadrantal rule. VFR flights should obey the semicircular rule+500, whether following the track of an airway or otherwise. . .. .++. .. .(Fuji) To file IFR in France under any circumstances requires that the pilot holds an Instrument Rating. The French do not have the same concept that exists in the UK of a non-IMC, non-IR pilot being able to file IFR, providing he stays VMC. If you are IFR in France, it is because you have filed a flight plan, and are in the airways system under positive radar control. Under these circumstances, you will receive the complete service and being above or below FL115 will make no difference. .. .++. .. .It is often thought that because you follow the route of an airway under VFR, you are somehow immune from obtaining any crossing clearances for danger or restricted zones that the airway may encounter. IFR flights do benefit from this, because they are under positive control. VFR flights have to do this for themselves. Whilst it is not surprising that airways routings frequently skirt danger areas, this is not exclusively the case. A brief look at the area around Reims contains many traps for the unwary.. . . . <small>[ 28 March 2002, 09:58: Message edited by: 2Donkeys ]</small>