Routing suggestions?

[Flyingmac]

Bagby, EGNG to Hasselt/Kiewt, EBZH on Saturday. VFR. Looking at coasting out around Margate. No en-route fuel required.


Any advice as to routing, customs, flight plan etc appreciated. Not familiar with Belgian requirements.

[Jan Olieslagers]

Customs: either at LFAC Calais or EBKT Kortrijk. LFAT Le Touquet is possible too but is out of the way, and is often infested with UK PPL'ers on their first trip abroad... (duck) ;) If you choose Calais (or Le Touquet), you will have to file a flight plan from there to EBZH too, but the chap at the pilot's desk will do it with a smile. Remember that LFAC Calais turned non-controlled not so long ago. EBKT was never controlled, though some of their tower staff like to behave like that just the same. If you want a bigger, more "official" airport to pass customs, you can consider EBOS, EBAS, LFQQ but the landing fee will be considerably higher.

Route: it all depends on the type of craft & equipment. If transponder equipped, remain above 4500' so as to be in controlled airspace, and route through navaids (KOK? MAK? BUN? FLO?). This is by far the easiest and the most safe. If not, you'll have to remain lower, and find your way between various CTR's and TMA's. I'll be glad to give specific advice.

EBZH: kindly respect the given procedures, the field has its club of NIMBY's like most fields today and we must not annoy them needlessly. Some good info at http://fed-ulm.be/db/ulip/ulip_view.asp?editid1=37, click on one the ULIP links to get something like an aerodrome info sheet. Officially it is PPR but on a Saturday with good flying weather the requirement is not that stringent.

If you cannot bring cash euro's, make sure to have various kinds of plastic money. In France a credit card like Visa does best, EBZH will only accept debet cards like Maestro.

Last but not least: welcome to my home field! If you choose this particular destination you must have some local friends or relatives expecting you, but if you require an aviator's assistance do feel free to pm me!

What type/kind/category of plane will you be flying?

[dirkdj]

I can give advice from CLN to EBZH.

A flight plan is required since you enter controlled airspace of Ostend TMA at RAPIX.
I would route CLN-RAPIX-KOK at FL50 conditions permitting. You will need to clear immigration at EBKT (quick and easy, walk-in,3 minutes) or via EBOS (security check inbound and ride to main terminal and back, will take 30 min easily).
Avoid paradrop area at EBMO just north of EBKT, route KOK-W VRP-EBKT.

From EBKT at 1500 ft or below fly toward Waterloo VRP (south of Brussels CTR) then to HUL VOR (talk to Beauvechain APP military). keeping along the NW boundary of the Beauvechain TMA and then proceed south of EBDT (paradropping) and north of FLO VOR to EBZH.
Brussels INFO at 126.90 has radar and transponder readout and is very helpful. Mode S is compulsory (exceptions may be possible).

[Flyingmac]

Jan. C172. IFR kit. Mode S.

[Jan Olieslagers]

Dirk, are you sure EBBE APP will be active on a Saturday?

[Flyingmac]

Jan. You have a PM.

[dirkdj]

EBBE may be active, EBBR info will tell you, anyway you have to avoid 2NM circle around any Belgian mil airfield even when not active. If they are active they are quite accommodating if you call on the radio before entering their airspace.

There are some TV towers in that vicinity, look outside.