flying to guernsey
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Surrey UK
flying to guernsey
can anyone out there give me a few quick tips about making a quick trip to Guernsey ? I've read up about the necessary paperwork..gendec/flight plan etc. but can find little about suggested routes, SVFR, joining procedures ? We'll be leaving from Blackbushe tomorrow hopefully.
thanks,
thanks,
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Jersey
Route SAM direct to GUR. Call Jersey Zone 125.2 10mins before the zone boundary (50N). They will give you a squawk & once identified, clear you in giving you an altitude to fly at and any routing instructions. As there is not much to navigate by it will be nine times out of ten a straight line. Have a good trip.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
And a nicer place you couldn't find! Controllers are amazingly helpfull as are the ground staff.
Can I suggest you go via Bournemouth rather than SAM as the Southampton controllers are notoriously miserable about giving transits and by going via Bournemouth you can fly down the side of the N866 Airway and get some decent alltitude rather than than staying under the base of the very restrictive N866. Also Bournemouth controllers tend to keep you on radar longer which if this is your first trip will give you a bit more comfort.
Don't forget to fill up with tax free fuel!
Enjoy the trip!
Can I suggest you go via Bournemouth rather than SAM as the Southampton controllers are notoriously miserable about giving transits and by going via Bournemouth you can fly down the side of the N866 Airway and get some decent alltitude rather than than staying under the base of the very restrictive N866. Also Bournemouth controllers tend to keep you on radar longer which if this is your first trip will give you a bit more comfort.
Don't forget to fill up with tax free fuel!
Enjoy the trip!
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Darkest Midlands
Call me a bluff old traditionalist, but I tend to put a ruler between where I am, and the place that I am going. Straight line. I then sort the bit in the middle out when I am on the way. What you have to remember is that just because there is a bit of water in the way, it shouldn't be any different from any other land away you have done. If you have a couple of hours, get a taxi into St Peter Port and get them to drop you at a restaurant called Christies. Absolutely fantastic food and atmosphere. Have fun.
Tm.
Tm.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
allways been a keen advocate of Christies and le nautique but recently the service has been very slow, 2 hours to get an order taken!
If you are looking for hotel La Collinette is nice and 2 minutes walk into town.
If you are looking for hotel La Collinette is nice and 2 minutes walk into town.
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Costa Del Solent
My route to Guernsey is NEDUL ORTAC EGJB. ORTAC is at 50'N so I just make sure I call Jersey Zone ten mins before I get there and give an eta for ORTAC. SVFR zone transit easy, nothing to worry about.
There's also a great place to eat down on the waterfront where you can sit outside. I forget the name but it's the only one by the marina opposite the Albion, etc.
Tri
There's also a great place to eat down on the waterfront where you can sit outside. I forget the name but it's the only one by the marina opposite the Albion, etc.
Tri
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Europe
If you don't have enough time to go 'down town' I would suggest to fly to Jersey as the Flying Club is rather nice to hang out in and does good food.
Guernsey as a destination is nicer if you can go off airport and the taxi is only 10 mins or so to the heart of St Peter Port. Plenty of different outlets to suit all tastes and budgets.
Used to go DCT to Cherbourg but after the hassle with the ZITs decided that there is little difference between that and DCT ORTAC as others have suggested.
They usually keep you low (ie below 1000ft) if you are VFR but do ask as when possible they allow you higher, which to a coward like me does feel a lot more comfy over all that water!
FD
Guernsey as a destination is nicer if you can go off airport and the taxi is only 10 mins or so to the heart of St Peter Port. Plenty of different outlets to suit all tastes and budgets.
Used to go DCT to Cherbourg but after the hassle with the ZITs decided that there is little difference between that and DCT ORTAC as others have suggested.
They usually keep you low (ie below 1000ft) if you are VFR but do ask as when possible they allow you higher, which to a coward like me does feel a lot more comfy over all that water!
FD
Jet Blast Rat
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Sarfend-on-Sea
Agree with Trislander. The problem I would have with troddenmasses's and bose-x's suggestions is navigation: first few trips you should be following a radio bearing, and the obvious one is the 206 radial from SAM (I think, would have to check the IFR chart) which defines ORTAC. You shouldn't use the BIA NDB beyond 20 nm, so that is out for the central channel. The only other convenient one might be the Guernsey VOR, not sure without a map.
Bose-x has a valid point that this restricts your altitude to about 3000' or so, to remain clear of N866 (flying directly under the centerline but navifation out of sight of land is teh biggest complication of the trip.
Note it is possible to DR across the channel very accurately (have done so twice, for different reasons), but it is not what I would suggest for the first trip. In fact as an instructor I would of course suggest you take someone who knows the route with you, as you would have to if flying a club aircraft (on a cross-cahnnel check), but if you must do it alone make it simple for yourself!
Bose-x has a valid point that this restricts your altitude to about 3000' or so, to remain clear of N866 (flying directly under the centerline but navifation out of sight of land is teh biggest complication of the trip.
Note it is possible to DR across the channel very accurately (have done so twice, for different reasons), but it is not what I would suggest for the first trip. In fact as an instructor I would of course suggest you take someone who knows the route with you, as you would have to if flying a club aircraft (on a cross-cahnnel check), but if you must do it alone make it simple for yourself!
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Southampton
Can I suggest you go via Bournemouth rather than SAM as the Southampton controllers are notoriously miserable about giving transits and by going via Bournemouth you can fly down the side of the N866 Airway and get some decent alltitude rather than than staying under the base of the very restrictive N866. Also Bournemouth controllers tend to keep you on radar longer which if this is your first trip will give you a bit more comfort.
It helps them if you're alert and accurate with your position reporting etc giving the relevant information but without wittering on too long, especially on first contact. This should go without saying but some people do themselves no favours by holding up a busy frequency, so controllers are less likely to be helpful to someone who isn't helping them. Shouldn't happen perhaps, but it does.
Also, it's worth noting that Solent Approach is not a LARS service therefore are not obliged to provide a radar service, especially when they are sequencing in a variety of Dash 8's, 146's, E145's and smaller stuff from all directions, directing traffic onto the ILS at BOH, accomodating IFR training, trying to provide FIS to traffic outside the zone, which can be a nightmare if there is gliding going on at Odiham, military traffic buzzing around near Salisbury, and any number of aircraft over the Solent, New Forest and Isle of Wight.
Bournemouth on the other hand, IS a LARS service and so is paid to provide this service.
Personally I've always found Solent to be very accomodating when possible but I think many people underestimate just how busy the unit can be. Not making excuses for them, but some people don't realise.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
I realise perfectly how busy they are but that does not give them the right to be rude or uncooperative or accuse people of airpspace busts when they are VERY clearly a long way from said airspace (not me but was in the RH seat when it happened and verified by 2xDME and GNS430/530 combo) just so they could send them around the zone.
I have had more than enough practice on the radio to make a snappy call and not waste time and even when flying IFR through the zone have found them less then helpfull.
This is the reason I reccomended anyone go through Bournemouth. Solent are not as busy the East Mids yet East Mids are far more cooperative. A little politeness and cooperation benefits us all.
People rant about the eveils of GPS yet this sort of thing forces people into "surfing" the edge of airspace using them as solents uncooperative approach makes it difficult to use the SAM VOR for transits.
In fact I will only travel through solent IFR, either in the airway to ORTAC or down the side.
Just my personal experiance as a a very regular traveller through the zone.
I have had more than enough practice on the radio to make a snappy call and not waste time and even when flying IFR through the zone have found them less then helpfull.
This is the reason I reccomended anyone go through Bournemouth. Solent are not as busy the East Mids yet East Mids are far more cooperative. A little politeness and cooperation benefits us all.
People rant about the eveils of GPS yet this sort of thing forces people into "surfing" the edge of airspace using them as solents uncooperative approach makes it difficult to use the SAM VOR for transits.
In fact I will only travel through solent IFR, either in the airway to ORTAC or down the side.
Just my personal experiance as a a very regular traveller through the zone.
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Europe
Bar once always had good experience with the Southampton controllers.
That once though was a pretty good example of the 'get 'orf my land' attitude which some people on here seem to complain about.
Have to say on the way back up again, with a different controller and a lot more traffic we got straight through (as per usual) so it is probably more depending on the person on the other side than something to do with the unit.
FD
That once though was a pretty good example of the 'get 'orf my land' attitude which some people on here seem to complain about.
Have to say on the way back up again, with a different controller and a lot more traffic we got straight through (as per usual) so it is probably more depending on the person on the other side than something to do with the unit.
FD
Peoples' Champion!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: UK
troddenmasses,
Forget Christies, mate. It's overpriced and for the tourists. Next time you're there try a little restaurant just outside St Peter Port called The Absolute End. Finer food and service I have yet to experience anywhere else in the world.
BH
Forget Christies, mate. It's overpriced and for the tourists. Next time you're there try a little restaurant just outside St Peter Port called The Absolute End. Finer food and service I have yet to experience anywhere else in the world.
BH
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Costa Del Solent
Hi again,
With all this talk about the lovely isle, I decided to go to GCI yesterday as well! I remember the name of that place now - it's called The Boathouse. It's actually a tad further down from the Albion Pub by Le Pollet and the Guernsey Information Office, you can't miss it.
They do a great Tuna Mayo baguette (my fave) with fries for about £6. You can sit outside too which was necessary with the excellent weather!
Tri
With all this talk about the lovely isle, I decided to go to GCI yesterday as well! I remember the name of that place now - it's called The Boathouse. It's actually a tad further down from the Albion Pub by Le Pollet and the Guernsey Information Office, you can't miss it.
They do a great Tuna Mayo baguette (my fave) with fries for about £6. You can sit outside too which was necessary with the excellent weather!
Tri
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8
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From: UK
I'm from Guernsey and I'll agree that Christies is a crap tourist trap....the best seafood ever is at The Absolute End.
But if you cant be bothered to go into St Peter Port, there's a great hotel with wonderful food 5 mins away from the airport called La Villette Hotel...
Have fun :-)
But if you cant be bothered to go into St Peter Port, there's a great hotel with wonderful food 5 mins away from the airport called La Villette Hotel...
Have fun :-)
