Pleasure Flying in Cyprus

[StevenH510]

Hi all,

I'll introduce my self to this forum first, I'm currently a IT professional, within the last 3 weeks gained my PPL with 95 hours in a PA38 Tomahawk and 10 hours in a PA28 Archer (I did a lot of pleasure flying during my FT).

I'm due to go abroad to Cyprus in August for a couple of weeks and was just wondering what would I need to consider to fly out there around the Paphos region?

I hope I've started this thread in the correct forum, and look forward to hearing from you all,

Many Thanks

Steve H

[custardpsc]

I have flown with Griffon in Paphos and Tomahawk at Larnaca whilst on holiday there. Both were good in their own way. Tomahawk were smaller but friendly to a new ppl and sent me off solo at larnaca after an hour dual and sight of my uk license. Griffon were a professional flight training outfit but fitted me in for some good refresher training after my licence had lapsed, The instructor was an airbus captain for cyprus airways and strict but good. Useful to get experience somewhere new and if you haven't flown somewhere before where you have to mix with jet traffic its easy enough. There is little in the way of cross country to do because the island is relatively small but it is easy to find your way around VFR. You will be able to see the disused nicosia airport but not fly over it, and you will need to keep well on the right side of the 'green line' so you can't fly to the north half of the island. HTH.

[S-Works]

Its dull as dishwater. The viz usually sucks, there is little to see after you seen Nicosia at a distance and the Troodos mountains. You can only fly in certain areas and cross country is very limited. It is as hot as hell and in August it will be purgatory!

I found Tomahawk very friendly on the occasions have flown with them getting through security at Larnaca is soul destroying allow the best part of half a day to get all the stamps on a bit of paper you need. You have to do this every time you fly.

[StevenH510]

Thanks for the tips :-), I have contacted Griffon at paphos, mainly because they have a PA28, but taking into consideration the weather & temperature out there, I think you'll be struggling to take more than two people in a plane unless I'm told otherwise

I'll only be looking at flying locally around the Paphos area & Latchi if at all possible, as I have friends out there and understand it wouldn't be the best idea go fly around the north of the island.

The tomahawk at Larnaca is very tempting though, but I do wonder about the performance of it in those conditions.

Thank you both for your help :-) it's all food for thought.