Solo Trip to France
The Original Whirly
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Solo Trip to France
I'm just back from a 10-day flying trip to France, about half of it alone, in G-ATKF, the ancient C150 (she's nearly as old as me!) in which I have a share. For those who don't know, I'm a helicopter instructor, but a very average PPL(A) - 270 approx f/w hours over 8 years, and not a lot recently. So...be kind to me when I tell you about all my mistakes, please! 
Anyway, by popular request, here's a diary type account of my trip...the beginning at least; it may take a while for me to have time and energy to write it all up....
MONDAY 6TH JUNE
I'm at Sleap, and ready to go. This trip has been planned for months and I ought to be looking forward to it - flying slowly around France, where the weather and mood take us, having a holiday, no definite plans. It was meant to be fun, not a challenge. But now P (she doesn't want to be identified) is ill. We can't go at any other time, and I have the time off and the aircraft booked, and a cat sitter. And the weather forecast is good, even. There's no reason not to go alone, except...I'm scared. I don't do a lot of f/w flying, and I've only flown once in France. This feels like a major challenge, and I don't want a challenge; I want a holiday. I've asked everyone I can think of to come with me - pilots, PPRuNers, old friends. I've even offered to pay for the flying, asking them just to cover their own expenses. But no-one can make it at such short notice. So I'm on my own.
So, I'm ready to go. The plan is Sywell for lunch, then Rochester tonight. When you live this far north, and fly a C150, getting to France in a day is difficult. Besides, I'd rather cross the channel in the morning when I'm fresh. And this way, I put off the dreaded moment of setting off over water, alone, with a basic PPL and a fairly basic aircraft without a lot of instrumentation. Tomorrow is another day; I'll think about that then.
The flight to Sywell is uneventful and fun; the wx is good, I know the way, I've been there before. I have lunch, and try not to wish that P was with me. It's not just the flying; I really don't want to go on holiday alone. Still, I'm off to Rochester, which is a new airfield for me, and like lots of us, I collect new airfields. I can go either side of the London zone, but I decide to head west, down the corridor between Luton and Stansted. I've been that way before, and with good vis, it's not a real problem.
The first difficulty of the trip comes when I get to Rochester. If anyone had told me, in my nervous preflight state, that I'd have to approach over woods, to a grass runway on a hill causing all sorts of depth perception difficulties, I think I'd have elected to go to Headcorn, which I know. But they didn't, and I don't really have time to worry about it, and land safely. The chap in the tower tells me it's quite a challenging place to land, and I don't argue. Perhaps I'm not as bad at flying these things with non-whirly wings as I think I am. Certainly I'm often accused of being under-confident. Maybe it's true. Anyway, I get fuel, park, and tie KF down for the night. The people in the tower are friendly; they give me a flight plan form, and offer to help me fill it in if I get stuck. I get the impression they do this often. They also find me a taxi and a B & B. It's a nice place to stay; there are three cats, which is great as I'm already missing my own feline family. I look round Rochester, and eat in a small Italian restaurant. I then plan next day's flying. I'm going to Le Touquet to clear customs, then on to Deauville. I don't want to go to any small airfields in France yet, as I hardly speak any French. I was going to learn some, but decided not to bother, as P speaks it fluently. Oh well. I fall asleep telling myself that if I don't like it I can always come back to the UK and do some flying here...if my pride will let me!
More later....
Anyway, by popular request, here's a diary type account of my trip...the beginning at least; it may take a while for me to have time and energy to write it all up....MONDAY 6TH JUNE
I'm at Sleap, and ready to go. This trip has been planned for months and I ought to be looking forward to it - flying slowly around France, where the weather and mood take us, having a holiday, no definite plans. It was meant to be fun, not a challenge. But now P (she doesn't want to be identified) is ill. We can't go at any other time, and I have the time off and the aircraft booked, and a cat sitter. And the weather forecast is good, even. There's no reason not to go alone, except...I'm scared. I don't do a lot of f/w flying, and I've only flown once in France. This feels like a major challenge, and I don't want a challenge; I want a holiday. I've asked everyone I can think of to come with me - pilots, PPRuNers, old friends. I've even offered to pay for the flying, asking them just to cover their own expenses. But no-one can make it at such short notice. So I'm on my own.
So, I'm ready to go. The plan is Sywell for lunch, then Rochester tonight. When you live this far north, and fly a C150, getting to France in a day is difficult. Besides, I'd rather cross the channel in the morning when I'm fresh. And this way, I put off the dreaded moment of setting off over water, alone, with a basic PPL and a fairly basic aircraft without a lot of instrumentation. Tomorrow is another day; I'll think about that then.
The flight to Sywell is uneventful and fun; the wx is good, I know the way, I've been there before. I have lunch, and try not to wish that P was with me. It's not just the flying; I really don't want to go on holiday alone. Still, I'm off to Rochester, which is a new airfield for me, and like lots of us, I collect new airfields. I can go either side of the London zone, but I decide to head west, down the corridor between Luton and Stansted. I've been that way before, and with good vis, it's not a real problem.
The first difficulty of the trip comes when I get to Rochester. If anyone had told me, in my nervous preflight state, that I'd have to approach over woods, to a grass runway on a hill causing all sorts of depth perception difficulties, I think I'd have elected to go to Headcorn, which I know. But they didn't, and I don't really have time to worry about it, and land safely. The chap in the tower tells me it's quite a challenging place to land, and I don't argue. Perhaps I'm not as bad at flying these things with non-whirly wings as I think I am. Certainly I'm often accused of being under-confident. Maybe it's true. Anyway, I get fuel, park, and tie KF down for the night. The people in the tower are friendly; they give me a flight plan form, and offer to help me fill it in if I get stuck. I get the impression they do this often. They also find me a taxi and a B & B. It's a nice place to stay; there are three cats, which is great as I'm already missing my own feline family. I look round Rochester, and eat in a small Italian restaurant. I then plan next day's flying. I'm going to Le Touquet to clear customs, then on to Deauville. I don't want to go to any small airfields in France yet, as I hardly speak any French. I was going to learn some, but decided not to bother, as P speaks it fluently. Oh well. I fall asleep telling myself that if I don't like it I can always come back to the UK and do some flying here...if my pride will let me!
More later....
The Original Whirly
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BRL, I have pics, but don't know how to post them on here. If you tell me how, I'd do it. 
TUESDAY 7TH JUNE
The forecast is great, but reality not quite so good. I arrive at Rochester to find good vis but overcast skies. I've filled in most of the flight plan form, and the people in the tower help me with the bits I can't remember. They also direct me back to the runway; I never was much good with finding grass runways in the middle of a big grass airfield.
Everyone is wonderfully helpful. I put on my life jacket and set off.
As I approach the coast it becomes gradually more hazy, and I become gradually more worried. I can't get much higher than about 2500 ft, and there's no horizon at all, with the overcast sky merging into the sea. I begin to wonder if I should be doing this. I decide to give it a try, but be ready to turn back at the slightest hint that I'm getting disorientated. But actually, it's OK. There are about three ships ahead as I leave Dover, and one seems to be heading for Cap Gris Nez...though I suspect it's really heading for Bologne. Anyway, it helps to follow it, and about five miles out I can already see the French coast; the vis isn't as bad as it first appeared. I leave the carb heat out for the whole 18 miles across water; I have enough to think about without worrying about that, and the C150 is very prone to carb icing anyway.
Soon I'm at Cap Gris Nez, and I call Le Touquet. It all seems pretty straightforward...or would be if it wasn't peak time for the aerial day trippers from the south coast airfields. The sky is positively crowded, and we're all heading for Le Touquet. And everyone can find it except me; I don't see the airfield till I'm nearly on top of it. I think the controller twigs that I'm a bit confused, as with three of us downwind, he immediately tells me I'm number one. I think he wants to get me on the ground, and that's OK with me! Anyway, it's a bit of a bumpy crosswind landing - my first of many, as it turned out - but it's a huge runway and not really difficult. I head for the restaurant; I'm not really hungry, but lunch seems like a good idea. I'm shaking all over for some reason, but at the same time quite elated... I've made it to France, alone.
I have a couple of hours rest as I'm pretty tired, probably more stressed than tired, but they're connected when it comes to flying. I've decided to fly to Deauville via the Rouen VOR; I don't fancy the coastal route as it has a couple of these nuclear power station restricted areas, and I don't want to risk getting too near them. I put the route in my GPS too...belt and braces approach, I think you'd call it. There aren't many military areas on that route, and my only worry is if Rouen won't let me through their zone. But it's easy. Rouen talk to me, I understand them, they give me a squawk and leave me alone. This, I soon discover, is typical of French controlled airspace. The weather is good, though a bit bumpy and thermic on a warm afternoon. I take photos of the Seine winding through Rouen, and begin to enjoy myself. Deauville appears when it should; with another massive long runway it's not hard to find. Another bumpy crosswind landing, and I'm there. I've decided to go to Honfleur, which Alistair Arthur recommended in his articles on French airfields in Today's Pilot; I've photocopied the articles and brought them with me. The people at Deauville get me a taxi, and the taxi driver finds me a hotel. He speaks about as much English as I do French, though my long forgotten schoolgirl French is coming back a little, out of necessity. Anyway, I spend a happy evening looking round Honfleur, which is a gorgeous fishing village, though a bit over-touristy. But I'm unbelievably tired. I've been doing about 3 hours flying a day for the last two days, which doesn't sound like that much, but I think feeling so nervous and stressed is taking it out of me. Actually I feel much better now about doing the trip, but still really exhausted. I wonder if I should take the next day off and rest. However, I really, really want to get to the Loire Valley and see all the chateaus from the air. Angers, which I've been recommended to go to, is less than two hours away. I decide to fly there the following morning, and then reconsider.
More later....
TUESDAY 7TH JUNE
The forecast is great, but reality not quite so good. I arrive at Rochester to find good vis but overcast skies. I've filled in most of the flight plan form, and the people in the tower help me with the bits I can't remember. They also direct me back to the runway; I never was much good with finding grass runways in the middle of a big grass airfield.
Everyone is wonderfully helpful. I put on my life jacket and set off.As I approach the coast it becomes gradually more hazy, and I become gradually more worried. I can't get much higher than about 2500 ft, and there's no horizon at all, with the overcast sky merging into the sea. I begin to wonder if I should be doing this. I decide to give it a try, but be ready to turn back at the slightest hint that I'm getting disorientated. But actually, it's OK. There are about three ships ahead as I leave Dover, and one seems to be heading for Cap Gris Nez...though I suspect it's really heading for Bologne. Anyway, it helps to follow it, and about five miles out I can already see the French coast; the vis isn't as bad as it first appeared. I leave the carb heat out for the whole 18 miles across water; I have enough to think about without worrying about that, and the C150 is very prone to carb icing anyway.
Soon I'm at Cap Gris Nez, and I call Le Touquet. It all seems pretty straightforward...or would be if it wasn't peak time for the aerial day trippers from the south coast airfields. The sky is positively crowded, and we're all heading for Le Touquet. And everyone can find it except me; I don't see the airfield till I'm nearly on top of it. I think the controller twigs that I'm a bit confused, as with three of us downwind, he immediately tells me I'm number one. I think he wants to get me on the ground, and that's OK with me! Anyway, it's a bit of a bumpy crosswind landing - my first of many, as it turned out - but it's a huge runway and not really difficult. I head for the restaurant; I'm not really hungry, but lunch seems like a good idea. I'm shaking all over for some reason, but at the same time quite elated... I've made it to France, alone.
I have a couple of hours rest as I'm pretty tired, probably more stressed than tired, but they're connected when it comes to flying. I've decided to fly to Deauville via the Rouen VOR; I don't fancy the coastal route as it has a couple of these nuclear power station restricted areas, and I don't want to risk getting too near them. I put the route in my GPS too...belt and braces approach, I think you'd call it. There aren't many military areas on that route, and my only worry is if Rouen won't let me through their zone. But it's easy. Rouen talk to me, I understand them, they give me a squawk and leave me alone. This, I soon discover, is typical of French controlled airspace. The weather is good, though a bit bumpy and thermic on a warm afternoon. I take photos of the Seine winding through Rouen, and begin to enjoy myself. Deauville appears when it should; with another massive long runway it's not hard to find. Another bumpy crosswind landing, and I'm there. I've decided to go to Honfleur, which Alistair Arthur recommended in his articles on French airfields in Today's Pilot; I've photocopied the articles and brought them with me. The people at Deauville get me a taxi, and the taxi driver finds me a hotel. He speaks about as much English as I do French, though my long forgotten schoolgirl French is coming back a little, out of necessity. Anyway, I spend a happy evening looking round Honfleur, which is a gorgeous fishing village, though a bit over-touristy. But I'm unbelievably tired. I've been doing about 3 hours flying a day for the last two days, which doesn't sound like that much, but I think feeling so nervous and stressed is taking it out of me. Actually I feel much better now about doing the trip, but still really exhausted. I wonder if I should take the next day off and rest. However, I really, really want to get to the Loire Valley and see all the chateaus from the air. Angers, which I've been recommended to go to, is less than two hours away. I decide to fly there the following morning, and then reconsider.
More later....
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Good stuff Whirly... more!
I took my single seater down to Caen one long w/e, this time last year whilst recce-ing the trip for 7 of us later last summer.
Doing all alone does increase the workload - but just as you appear to, I had a good time.
Stik
I took my single seater down to Caen one long w/e, this time last year whilst recce-ing the trip for 7 of us later last summer.
Doing all alone does increase the workload - but just as you appear to, I had a good time.
Stik
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Enjoying the read whirly - well done you for the solo effort! It can be amazing how much more daunting it is alone - I hate flying on my own these days!
Andy
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I wish I'd seen your invite on pprune I can usually take time off at a moments notice. So if you ever have that problem again let me know. Meanwhile I can't wait for the next installment.
The Original Whirly
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Aussie Andy,
I don't like flying on my own either. But I didn't have a lot of choice. Staying at home, with time off, an aircraft booked, and good weather, just wasn't an option.
Laundryman,
I didn't put an invite on PPRuNe; just asked PPRuNers that I knew personally. Maybe I should have done that though. But with hindsight, no, I shouldn't...read on...
My photos can be viewed at www.photobox.co.uk/album/1506035. No labels, unfortunately.
WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE
I am totally knackered. My shoulders ache, my back aches, and most of all, my brain aches. I half consider returning to Le Touquet and the UK, but no, not yet. I really, really want to get to the Loire Valley. I'll fly to Angers, then I'll see. It's one straight line, with a VOR closeby, almost due south, with a tailwind. All I have to do is sit there and fly, isn't it?
I chat to some British pilots at Deauville, in a group, lucky sods. They're staying in the North, and I'm aware that once I head south, there may be less Brits around anyway. I'm on my own. But once I get airborne, all my fatigue and doubts vanish. I've noticed this a lot, especially when I'm flying regularly. The weather is good, though quite bumpy due to thermals and a reasonable wind. I try to talk to Paris North, but they don't answer. I know that neither Lille nor Paris talk to Brits if they don't feel like it, so I decide not to bother. I maintain a listening watch, but just fly south and look at the scenery. I use the VOR and my GPS, since flying by map and compass in France is quite hard - there just aren't a lot of ground features in some areas. It's under two hours with a tailwind, and soon I'm talking to Angers, who thankfully speak quite good English. The thermic weather makes the crosswind landing quite interesting; I think I'm getting quite good at these. I'm in the Loire Valley, and it's only midday. I pass on the restaurant, as my stomach feels a bit queasy; not sure if it's a mild stomach upset or nerves. I go to the terminal, buy a sandwich, which I nibble to keep my strength up, and drink lots of water. What now? I could stay here, but the airfield is a long way from the town. And it's early, and despite my queasy stomach I feel OK; a bit tired, but pretty confident and positive. I want to go on, though not too far. So...where? It's really either Tours or Blois. Blois sounds nice, but if I stay there, it will be an expensive taxi ride into town, and Honfleur already cost me a fortune for the same reason. The airport at Tours is near the town. It's military and civil, and I must be half brain dead, as I don't consider what that means. I decide to go to Tours, and stay there overnight.
It's only about 40 miles, even following the river and looking for chateaux, as I intend to do. So I'm looking forward to a nice gentle sightseeing flight for the afternoon, and an early start. Little do I know....
For a start, the wind has increased and shifted to Easterly. So I have a strong headwind. It's afternoon and hotter, so the thermal activity has increased. This makes for a very slow, bumpy flight. There are a lot of forests in the valley, making it even bumpier. If I climb too high I hardly make any headway - 56kts at one point, according to my GPS. Lower down, and I'm flung around like a sack of potatoes, which doesn't do my sensitive stomach any good at all. I'm beginning to want to be on the ground at Tours. I'll call them now.
An almost unintelligible French accent asks me to report at point W at 1100 ft. I look at Tours' approaches, and sort of find point W, but when I get there, it's not an obvious VRP like we have, and I'm not sure I'm in the right place. On top of that, I'm over woods again, and at 1100 ft I'm being thrown out of my seat and need two hands to hold the yoke! ATC asks if I can see the airfield, but I'm too low. I zoom up to 2000 ft, work out where the airfield is, then get down again...there are loads of fancy fast military jet things around, and I see why he wants me so low. He tells me to hold, then leaves me. I fly a kind of racetrack pattern parallel to the main runway so I don't lose it, trying to keep to something resembling 1100ft as the wind and thermals fling me around the sky. It's horrible! Why didn't I stay at Angers? I ask the ATC man if it'll be much longer. He asks for my endurance, and I say: "Well, it's about 2 hours, but I'm really tired", then realise how stupid that must sound to a military controller! He says he should be able to get me in in about ten minutes. I wonder whether to divert to Blois, but in those conditions I don't think I can find the page, frequency, plan the route, etc. I could return to Angers, and with a tailwind I'd be back there very quickly. I decide to give it five minutes, then go. I feel horrible. I want to be on the ground.
A few minutes later ATC tell me to join right downwind. Since I'm on the left, and he wants me still at 1100 ft, I can't think how, and say so. I'm suffering from brain fade anyway by now. With lots of repeats due to the fact I can't understand the accent, he finally gets me to cross the centre of the runway, and when I eventually report downwind, I can almost hear him cheering. I'm almost cheering too. I'll apologise to him when I get on the ground. I turn final for the bumpiest crosswindiest landing ever but I don't care; I just point at the runway and land, no idea how or what I did. I vacate the runway, but can't apologise, as I get passed straight to Ground. A woman with an even more atrocious accent directs me to the GA part of the airfield, which seems to be in the middle of nowhere, telling me in no uncertain terms that they don't deal with civilians for fuel!
I get to the GA part, taxi to the fuel bay, and shut down. Then I just sit there. I feel utterly weary. I want to go home! I haven't even seen a chateau, how could I, in those conditions?
Suddenly, a young man comes out to ask if I want fuel. He speaks about as much English as I do French, but he's friendly and helpful, and insists on doing the refuelling for me. And he's the first of perhaps the friendliest bunch of people I've ever met. They help me, carry my luggage, find me a hotel, even drive me out there. I'm staying in a cheap hotel near the airport; I'm too knackered for any sightseeing. But it's a nice place, friendly, and the simple meal they provide is delicious. My stomach is better and I really enjoy the good French food, eaten in friendly though almost silent cameraderie round two large tables. How do the French manage to make even simple meals so delicious? I feel better. I'll sleep in tomorrow, then carry on, maybe to Limoges where I vaguely know an English lady who does B & B, maybe first to La Rochelle, maybe seeing a bit of the Loire Valley once I get out of Tours' zone.
I call P, and suddenly our plans get changed! She is better, and kicking herself at not coming. OK, I say, why doesn't she get a Ryanair flight to Limoges, and I'll meet her at Sue's place. So we decide she'll do that on Friday if she can get a flight, then join me for the trip north. Hurray! Suddenly all is well. No route planning tonight. I'll decide on my exact plans in the morning. But one thing is clear, I only have another 1-2 days of solo flying in France, then there'll be two of us - half the work, half the cost, twice the fun.
I don't like flying on my own either. But I didn't have a lot of choice. Staying at home, with time off, an aircraft booked, and good weather, just wasn't an option.
Laundryman,
I didn't put an invite on PPRuNe; just asked PPRuNers that I knew personally. Maybe I should have done that though. But with hindsight, no, I shouldn't...read on...
My photos can be viewed at www.photobox.co.uk/album/1506035. No labels, unfortunately.
WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE
I am totally knackered. My shoulders ache, my back aches, and most of all, my brain aches. I half consider returning to Le Touquet and the UK, but no, not yet. I really, really want to get to the Loire Valley. I'll fly to Angers, then I'll see. It's one straight line, with a VOR closeby, almost due south, with a tailwind. All I have to do is sit there and fly, isn't it?
I chat to some British pilots at Deauville, in a group, lucky sods. They're staying in the North, and I'm aware that once I head south, there may be less Brits around anyway. I'm on my own. But once I get airborne, all my fatigue and doubts vanish. I've noticed this a lot, especially when I'm flying regularly. The weather is good, though quite bumpy due to thermals and a reasonable wind. I try to talk to Paris North, but they don't answer. I know that neither Lille nor Paris talk to Brits if they don't feel like it, so I decide not to bother. I maintain a listening watch, but just fly south and look at the scenery. I use the VOR and my GPS, since flying by map and compass in France is quite hard - there just aren't a lot of ground features in some areas. It's under two hours with a tailwind, and soon I'm talking to Angers, who thankfully speak quite good English. The thermic weather makes the crosswind landing quite interesting; I think I'm getting quite good at these. I'm in the Loire Valley, and it's only midday. I pass on the restaurant, as my stomach feels a bit queasy; not sure if it's a mild stomach upset or nerves. I go to the terminal, buy a sandwich, which I nibble to keep my strength up, and drink lots of water. What now? I could stay here, but the airfield is a long way from the town. And it's early, and despite my queasy stomach I feel OK; a bit tired, but pretty confident and positive. I want to go on, though not too far. So...where? It's really either Tours or Blois. Blois sounds nice, but if I stay there, it will be an expensive taxi ride into town, and Honfleur already cost me a fortune for the same reason. The airport at Tours is near the town. It's military and civil, and I must be half brain dead, as I don't consider what that means. I decide to go to Tours, and stay there overnight.
It's only about 40 miles, even following the river and looking for chateaux, as I intend to do. So I'm looking forward to a nice gentle sightseeing flight for the afternoon, and an early start. Little do I know....
For a start, the wind has increased and shifted to Easterly. So I have a strong headwind. It's afternoon and hotter, so the thermal activity has increased. This makes for a very slow, bumpy flight. There are a lot of forests in the valley, making it even bumpier. If I climb too high I hardly make any headway - 56kts at one point, according to my GPS. Lower down, and I'm flung around like a sack of potatoes, which doesn't do my sensitive stomach any good at all. I'm beginning to want to be on the ground at Tours. I'll call them now.
An almost unintelligible French accent asks me to report at point W at 1100 ft. I look at Tours' approaches, and sort of find point W, but when I get there, it's not an obvious VRP like we have, and I'm not sure I'm in the right place. On top of that, I'm over woods again, and at 1100 ft I'm being thrown out of my seat and need two hands to hold the yoke! ATC asks if I can see the airfield, but I'm too low. I zoom up to 2000 ft, work out where the airfield is, then get down again...there are loads of fancy fast military jet things around, and I see why he wants me so low. He tells me to hold, then leaves me. I fly a kind of racetrack pattern parallel to the main runway so I don't lose it, trying to keep to something resembling 1100ft as the wind and thermals fling me around the sky. It's horrible! Why didn't I stay at Angers? I ask the ATC man if it'll be much longer. He asks for my endurance, and I say: "Well, it's about 2 hours, but I'm really tired", then realise how stupid that must sound to a military controller! He says he should be able to get me in in about ten minutes. I wonder whether to divert to Blois, but in those conditions I don't think I can find the page, frequency, plan the route, etc. I could return to Angers, and with a tailwind I'd be back there very quickly. I decide to give it five minutes, then go. I feel horrible. I want to be on the ground.
A few minutes later ATC tell me to join right downwind. Since I'm on the left, and he wants me still at 1100 ft, I can't think how, and say so. I'm suffering from brain fade anyway by now. With lots of repeats due to the fact I can't understand the accent, he finally gets me to cross the centre of the runway, and when I eventually report downwind, I can almost hear him cheering. I'm almost cheering too. I'll apologise to him when I get on the ground. I turn final for the bumpiest crosswindiest landing ever but I don't care; I just point at the runway and land, no idea how or what I did. I vacate the runway, but can't apologise, as I get passed straight to Ground. A woman with an even more atrocious accent directs me to the GA part of the airfield, which seems to be in the middle of nowhere, telling me in no uncertain terms that they don't deal with civilians for fuel!
I get to the GA part, taxi to the fuel bay, and shut down. Then I just sit there. I feel utterly weary. I want to go home! I haven't even seen a chateau, how could I, in those conditions?
Suddenly, a young man comes out to ask if I want fuel. He speaks about as much English as I do French, but he's friendly and helpful, and insists on doing the refuelling for me. And he's the first of perhaps the friendliest bunch of people I've ever met. They help me, carry my luggage, find me a hotel, even drive me out there. I'm staying in a cheap hotel near the airport; I'm too knackered for any sightseeing. But it's a nice place, friendly, and the simple meal they provide is delicious. My stomach is better and I really enjoy the good French food, eaten in friendly though almost silent cameraderie round two large tables. How do the French manage to make even simple meals so delicious? I feel better. I'll sleep in tomorrow, then carry on, maybe to Limoges where I vaguely know an English lady who does B & B, maybe first to La Rochelle, maybe seeing a bit of the Loire Valley once I get out of Tours' zone.
I call P, and suddenly our plans get changed! She is better, and kicking herself at not coming. OK, I say, why doesn't she get a Ryanair flight to Limoges, and I'll meet her at Sue's place. So we decide she'll do that on Friday if she can get a flight, then join me for the trip north. Hurray! Suddenly all is well. No route planning tonight. I'll decide on my exact plans in the morning. But one thing is clear, I only have another 1-2 days of solo flying in France, then there'll be two of us - half the work, half the cost, twice the fun.
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Hhhhm I think what's coming out of this is that flying solo in a foriegn country is do-able but can result in work overload because of the number of unfamiliar things happening at the same time. I agree duel has got to be more fun and shared load.
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Justiciar,
Sorry, I left out anything about the military restricted areas. You're right, they do appear to crisscross the whole of France. In some areas this is complicated; when we tried to fly to Salzburg last year it was horrendously complicated. But most of the west of the country only has low level ones, usually 800-1500 ft, or occasionally up to 2000 ft. Then there are others above 3000 ft. So you keep an eye on things, but fly between 2000 and 3000 ft, and you're OK. But yes, it's just one more thing to consider.
THURSDAY 9TH JUNE
I've had enough. I think about flying to La Rochelle, but I'm just not interested. I want a break. So I decide to go straight to Limoges, which is less than two hours flying. That way I can have this afternoon and tomorrow off from flying, and then P is arriving - she called back; it's all arranged. I've phoned Sue, and told her I'll be arriving. She is a part time instructor at Limoges Airport, and has a place in the country half an hour away. She tells me to call when I arrive.
I get a taxi back to Tours Airport. I ask the friendly people there about departure procedures, and what I'm likely to have to do. They describe it all to me, and tell me I'll probably be routed to point E, then left alone. I work out where point E is, and decide to meander around the Loire Valley after that, looking for chateaux, then fly straight to Limoges. I'm quite looking forward to it since I know it'll be my last solo flight, and my last flight for a bit anyway.
It doesn't quite work out that way. Tours route me to point E at 1100 ft, then tell me to report at point S!!!!! This is too much! Where the hell is point S, and why can't they leave me alone. Well, I see point S now, at least it's near the river and between two towns, so hopefully I can find it. And it's morning, so there's less thermal activity. I report "approaching point S" - clever that, since I don't know exactly where it is. They ask me to report leaving the frequency. You bet I will! I leave as soon as I can, and then fly around looking at the river. I find and photograph a couple of chateaux, and enjoy the lovely scenery of the Loire Valley; it really is beautiful. Then I set heading for Limoges.
It's another lovely day; I've been really lucky with the weather. All goes well till I try to call Limoges. No reply. OK, I think, I'm too far away; I'll try in a few minutes. Still no reply. I'm now nearly in their airspace, and it's Class D. I carry on for a bit, still no reply. I try the other radio, no luck. I begin to think about this. It's France, and they're unpredictable, but I can't really land at an airport in Class D airspace without contacting anyone, can I? I try again. Still no reply. I think maybe I've had radio failure. I get out my handheld, strategically placed where I can reach it. I start orbiting, and look at it. I've never used it in earnest, and now, with a lot to do, I can't think how to use it. Take it slow, I think...and I fiddle about and manage it. But still no reply. I can hear everyone else, and it dawns on me that failure of three radios is most unlikely! I decided to carry on, get close to the airport, then decided whether to land and sort it out on the ground, land at a small airfield, or call someone on my mobile from the air. But of course, eventually Limoges talk to me. This is France; don't expect it to be like England. It's quiet there; they give me a squawk and tell me to report field in site, then clear me to land. Limoges is only big and crowded when Ryanair arrive.
So I land, and it's lunchtime. I can't get any fuel. I can't pay the landing fee as the computer is out of order and no-one wants to know. I hang about, eventually get fuel, ask to tie down KF. No blocks available, and parking on the grass not allowed. Eventually I locate some blocks, and I'm allowed to have them if I fill in forms in triplicate and give them back on Saturday. This is insane. I call Sue, who I know is picking someone up from the Ryanair flight at 6 pm. I say I'll wait, but she insists on coming out to get me: "I can give you lunch, and you can be lying by the pool all afternoon". I don't argue!
Sue's place is gorgeous. It's an old farmhouse about half an hour from Limoges, in the depths of the country. She has dogs and horses, and there's a swimming pool. She does B & B, and there are several people staying. A British couple are househunting, and one English chap is arriving this evening to do some flying with Sue to get his required 12 hours for the year - at around £75/duel, why not? It's a fantastic place to go and have a holiday or fly or both. You can email her at [email protected] for details; I promised her I'd let everyone know. I'm thinking of getting a Ryanair flight there later in the year to do some touring of the south with Sue. Anyway, I lie by the pool all afternoon, Sue feeds me, and I collapse gratefully into bed feeling that life is good.
Sorry, I left out anything about the military restricted areas. You're right, they do appear to crisscross the whole of France. In some areas this is complicated; when we tried to fly to Salzburg last year it was horrendously complicated. But most of the west of the country only has low level ones, usually 800-1500 ft, or occasionally up to 2000 ft. Then there are others above 3000 ft. So you keep an eye on things, but fly between 2000 and 3000 ft, and you're OK. But yes, it's just one more thing to consider.
THURSDAY 9TH JUNE
I've had enough. I think about flying to La Rochelle, but I'm just not interested. I want a break. So I decide to go straight to Limoges, which is less than two hours flying. That way I can have this afternoon and tomorrow off from flying, and then P is arriving - she called back; it's all arranged. I've phoned Sue, and told her I'll be arriving. She is a part time instructor at Limoges Airport, and has a place in the country half an hour away. She tells me to call when I arrive.
I get a taxi back to Tours Airport. I ask the friendly people there about departure procedures, and what I'm likely to have to do. They describe it all to me, and tell me I'll probably be routed to point E, then left alone. I work out where point E is, and decide to meander around the Loire Valley after that, looking for chateaux, then fly straight to Limoges. I'm quite looking forward to it since I know it'll be my last solo flight, and my last flight for a bit anyway.
It doesn't quite work out that way. Tours route me to point E at 1100 ft, then tell me to report at point S!!!!! This is too much! Where the hell is point S, and why can't they leave me alone. Well, I see point S now, at least it's near the river and between two towns, so hopefully I can find it. And it's morning, so there's less thermal activity. I report "approaching point S" - clever that, since I don't know exactly where it is. They ask me to report leaving the frequency. You bet I will! I leave as soon as I can, and then fly around looking at the river. I find and photograph a couple of chateaux, and enjoy the lovely scenery of the Loire Valley; it really is beautiful. Then I set heading for Limoges.
It's another lovely day; I've been really lucky with the weather. All goes well till I try to call Limoges. No reply. OK, I think, I'm too far away; I'll try in a few minutes. Still no reply. I'm now nearly in their airspace, and it's Class D. I carry on for a bit, still no reply. I try the other radio, no luck. I begin to think about this. It's France, and they're unpredictable, but I can't really land at an airport in Class D airspace without contacting anyone, can I? I try again. Still no reply. I think maybe I've had radio failure. I get out my handheld, strategically placed where I can reach it. I start orbiting, and look at it. I've never used it in earnest, and now, with a lot to do, I can't think how to use it. Take it slow, I think...and I fiddle about and manage it. But still no reply. I can hear everyone else, and it dawns on me that failure of three radios is most unlikely! I decided to carry on, get close to the airport, then decided whether to land and sort it out on the ground, land at a small airfield, or call someone on my mobile from the air. But of course, eventually Limoges talk to me. This is France; don't expect it to be like England. It's quiet there; they give me a squawk and tell me to report field in site, then clear me to land. Limoges is only big and crowded when Ryanair arrive.
So I land, and it's lunchtime. I can't get any fuel. I can't pay the landing fee as the computer is out of order and no-one wants to know. I hang about, eventually get fuel, ask to tie down KF. No blocks available, and parking on the grass not allowed. Eventually I locate some blocks, and I'm allowed to have them if I fill in forms in triplicate and give them back on Saturday. This is insane. I call Sue, who I know is picking someone up from the Ryanair flight at 6 pm. I say I'll wait, but she insists on coming out to get me: "I can give you lunch, and you can be lying by the pool all afternoon". I don't argue!
Sue's place is gorgeous. It's an old farmhouse about half an hour from Limoges, in the depths of the country. She has dogs and horses, and there's a swimming pool. She does B & B, and there are several people staying. A British couple are househunting, and one English chap is arriving this evening to do some flying with Sue to get his required 12 hours for the year - at around £75/duel, why not? It's a fantastic place to go and have a holiday or fly or both. You can email her at [email protected] for details; I promised her I'd let everyone know. I'm thinking of getting a Ryanair flight there later in the year to do some touring of the south with Sue. Anyway, I lie by the pool all afternoon, Sue feeds me, and I collapse gratefully into bed feeling that life is good.
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Great diary. Thanks for posting!
I'm curious about the "Report point E" termonology.
I haven't heard this before. Is this common in France?
Are these specific reporting points or simply East of the airfield? If they are specific places, how do you know where/what they are?
dp
I'm curious about the "Report point E" termonology.
I haven't heard this before. Is this common in France?
Are these specific reporting points or simply East of the airfield? If they are specific places, how do you know where/what they are?
dp
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What is worrying me Whirly is this constant "duel" (sic) that you seem to be having with the controllers!
tell 'em what you want - in either English or French! If you are unfamiliar with position "S" - tell them, you need to remember who is charge! It is you, the PIC.
Flying in France is generally very, very easy!
Stik
tell 'em what you want - in either English or French! If you are unfamiliar with position "S" - tell them, you need to remember who is charge! It is you, the PIC.
Flying in France is generally very, very easy!
Stik
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A great read Whirly.
Pity I didn't know about it - I really fancy a trip down the Loire - I could have met you on this side of the Manche, and it would have been great to fly in KF again, too, and I could have helped with the French as its become second nature now.
Don't think I could have swung it with the missus, though (except for the horsey bit).
Keep it coming, its a good story
Pity I didn't know about it - I really fancy a trip down the Loire - I could have met you on this side of the Manche, and it would have been great to fly in KF again, too, and I could have helped with the French as its become second nature now.
Don't think I could have swung it with the missus, though
(except for the horsey bit).Keep it coming, its a good story
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Your story of the approach to Tours rings some bells from a trip we did to Barcelona a few years ago, where Tours was our first fuel-stop.
dublinpilot says:
This is common at a lot of French (and some other European) airfields, particularly the larger ones. "E" would be said as "Echo" and would typically indicate a point to the East, W Whiskey West, November-Whiskey northwest etc. At Tours they seemed to have dozens of the things... from memory e.g. NA being like NE but further out for example (I don't have the plate to hand). The idea is that it enables controller to clearly/easily direct VFR traffic to approach via known locations.
At Tours they have a lot of MIL training (I believe it is in fact a civil field but that certain early jet training is done there under contract). Loads of "Alpha Jet" activity. On the day that we arrived, we approached via (say) NE, expectyeing to simply be given a right base join or something - but we were directed first to N then NW then NC (or whatever - guessing now!) then W, S, etc etc. Much shuffling of paper in the front seats looking for these points which, as Whirly says, don't always seem to correspond with geographically notable spots (at least not at first glance when at low level). At the same time we were being told to remain at 1100', which confused us as this was low versus the terrain... controllers accents were also confusing us... eventually we realised it was 1100' on the "Fox Echo" (QFE)... All of a sudden, after being again asked to confirm we were definitely at 1100', we were told "standby for Alpha Jet formation to pass overhead 1500'" i.e. just a few hundred feet above! IT was a great view, and suddenyl we understood why we were being vectored all around the houses!
Since then I've always paid more attention to the VFR reporting points near large French airfields and anticipate that I may be asked to track to/from any of these. The system works well, and is easy once you know about it - it's just a bit different to what happens around here so something of a surprise the first time
Andy
dublinpilot says:
I'm curious about the "Report point E" termonology.
At Tours they have a lot of MIL training (I believe it is in fact a civil field but that certain early jet training is done there under contract). Loads of "Alpha Jet" activity. On the day that we arrived, we approached via (say) NE, expectyeing to simply be given a right base join or something - but we were directed first to N then NW then NC (or whatever - guessing now!) then W, S, etc etc. Much shuffling of paper in the front seats looking for these points which, as Whirly says, don't always seem to correspond with geographically notable spots (at least not at first glance when at low level). At the same time we were being told to remain at 1100', which confused us as this was low versus the terrain... controllers accents were also confusing us... eventually we realised it was 1100' on the "Fox Echo" (QFE)... All of a sudden, after being again asked to confirm we were definitely at 1100', we were told "standby for Alpha Jet formation to pass overhead 1500'" i.e. just a few hundred feet above! IT was a great view, and suddenyl we understood why we were being vectored all around the houses!
Since then I've always paid more attention to the VFR reporting points near large French airfields and anticipate that I may be asked to track to/from any of these. The system works well, and is easy once you know about it - it's just a bit different to what happens around here so something of a surprise the first time
Andy
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Thanks Andy.
I take it, these would be marked in a VFR guide or such?
Which one did you use, and same question to Whirly?
And more importantly, would you recommond that one?
dp
I take it, these would be marked in a VFR guide or such?
Which one did you use, and same question to Whirly?
And more importantly, would you recommond that one?
dp
The Original Whirly
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stik,
Flying in France easy? Errr....yes. Except when it isn't. And the easy bits pass in this thread as one sentence of looking at the view for an hour or so with nothing happening. The bits that aren't cover a lot of space. That's life...and flying, and writing.
Anyway, my conversation to the controller on approaching Tours in the first place went something like this:
ATC: Report Whiskey point (deciphered after several say agains, as his accent really was atrocious)
Me: Errr...Tours, I'm not familiar with the area. Where is point Whiskey?
Tours: "What? You don't KNOW Whiskey point!"
Me; Hold On. (Grabbing plate). Tours, I think I can find it, but is it a specific point on the ground?
No reply, ATC is busy directing someone else. By the time he comes back, I'm orbiting in roughly the right area and despite my pleas, he wants me to hold for ever.
So you see, by the time I came to leave, I just wanted to obey instructions and have as little conversation with him as possible. I could approximately find point Sierra, so what the hell?
Aussie Andy tells it like it is. I was prepared after this. When we went to La Rochelle, I had the approach points transferred to the chart. We didn't need them...something totally different happened! Read on to find out...but not yet; I'm taking my cat sitter flying this morning.
dublin pilot,
I used the Jeppesen Bottlang France Trip Kit. It's fine, the points are marked, it's just that they don't correspond to anything specific and aren't easy to find. Especially if you haven't prepared in advance. You see, flying in France is generally very informal, so when it isn't, it can catch you out.
Flying in France easy? Errr....yes. Except when it isn't. And the easy bits pass in this thread as one sentence of looking at the view for an hour or so with nothing happening. The bits that aren't cover a lot of space. That's life...and flying, and writing.
Anyway, my conversation to the controller on approaching Tours in the first place went something like this:
ATC: Report Whiskey point (deciphered after several say agains, as his accent really was atrocious)
Me: Errr...Tours, I'm not familiar with the area. Where is point Whiskey?
Tours: "What? You don't KNOW Whiskey point!"
Me; Hold On. (Grabbing plate). Tours, I think I can find it, but is it a specific point on the ground?
No reply, ATC is busy directing someone else. By the time he comes back, I'm orbiting in roughly the right area and despite my pleas, he wants me to hold for ever.
So you see, by the time I came to leave, I just wanted to obey instructions and have as little conversation with him as possible. I could approximately find point Sierra, so what the hell?
Aussie Andy tells it like it is. I was prepared after this. When we went to La Rochelle, I had the approach points transferred to the chart. We didn't need them...something totally different happened! Read on to find out...but not yet; I'm taking my cat sitter flying this morning.
dublin pilot,
I used the Jeppesen Bottlang France Trip Kit. It's fine, the points are marked, it's just that they don't correspond to anything specific and aren't easy to find. Especially if you haven't prepared in advance. You see, flying in France is generally very informal, so when it isn't, it can catch you out.