Transiting Belgium restricted areas

[piperarcher]

Hi

I am planning a VFR flight from the SouthEast UK via Clacton, JACKO, KONAN and DIPKA IFR reporting points, straight to Kortrijk airport.

My route crosses some restricted areas called EBR24A, EBR24B and EBR25 covering between them the airspace from 1100ft - FL105 . They are let down and climbout restricted areas for Koksijde airport (which I believe is military).

I can duck under them of course, but there are some obstacles also in that vicinity, and for safety reasons would prefer to be at least 2000ft.

Has anyone recent or past experince in crossing these restricted areas? Obviously its not scientific, but I wondered what the likelihood was of getting clearance to go through.

Piperarcher

[Jan Olieslagers]

No experience, just some facts from the AIP and the local VFR map:

-) R24A, though obviously Belgian by nature, is inside Paris FIR so must be found in the French AIP
-) R24B and R25 are no higher than 4500 AMSL, which I believe to be the transition altitude, too
-) R24B and R25 are active with EBFN, so normally on weekdays only. Check the NOTAM's, though, one never knows.

Belgocontrol - Operational (http://www.belgocontrol.be/belgoweb/publishing.nsf/Content/Operational) , section ENR 5.1

Then a personal feeling: Koksijde is military indeed, but sees little action even on weekdays. I think chances for getting cleared are quite good.

Also: the land is flat as a billiard table there, no worries about terrain. One rather tall radio mast though, on the FR/BE border, just south of EBFN CTR, 818". And above all, steer well clear of the French nuclear power plant northeast of Calais.

[JW411]

I flew from UK to Spa a few years ago. Between Kortrijk and Spa there were a couple of places where I could not get clearance above 1100 feet. When I got to Spa I asked one of my Belgian friends if they also get stuck at 1100 feet. "Frequently" was the answer. "So how do you deal with engine failures"? "We crash" said he!

[172driver]

It's been a few years now, but I've flown this route a number of times and IIRC never had an issue getting cleared through Koksijde. YMMV.

[A and C]

Call the controlling authority, the chances are the area will be cold but they are very helpfull and always find a way to get you across

[dirkdj]

I suggest you fly DVR-KONAN-KOK and before crossing KONAN you will have to contact Ostend Radar on 120.60.

They also control Koksijde CTR as well and know about the military activity.

After KOK you request a direct to EBKT, if the restricted areas are not active you will be told, if they are active, then a small detour to MAK and EBKT will do the trick.

Direct from KOK to EBKT will put you overhead EBMO, a very active paradrop zone that you have to avoid.
Outside of Ostend TMA, Brussels Info 126.90 will take good care of you, they see you on radar.

Don't worry about the extra overwater distance, Koksijde Airbase has SAR Seakings 24/7. I usually fly just below the airway at FL55 or so (from memory, so check).

[Radar]

AS Dirk says, piece of cake on the routing described. If Ostend can't approve a direct, they'll come up with a viable alternative.

[piperarcher]

Thanks all, those replies have been helpful. I will have a look at routing via DVR. I chose CLN simply because it was nearer, but had it not been for the Olympics I would have taken a route that coasted out over DVR.

Again, thanks

Piperarcher

[dirkdj]

I did not consider any impact of the Olympics on the route I proposed, nor did I consider point of departure in the UK. The stretch from CLN to RAPIX to KOK is considerably longer over water but doable.

[piperarcher]

Thanks dirkdj. What I had meant was if it was not due to the Olympics airapce, from my home airfield, I would have routed South through the UK and then coasted out from DVR. We moved our plane temporarily to an airfield just North of the Olmpic zone, so heading out to CLN looked easier. I dont have my charts with me at the moment, but I think there is temporary restricted airspace around Manston, and I know there is some near SouthEnd, hence trying to make the flight more enjoyable (and easier) and giving all that a wide berth :-)

[peterh337]

There is some temporary CAS near Manston. On a recent flight I asked Southend who controls it; apparently it is Thames Radar. Not sure what that means in practice; it may or may not be accessible to ad-hoc GA transits.