Help and advice wanted for VFR flying abroad!
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Help and advice wanted for VFR flying abroad!
Hi, my homefield is Leeds Bradford (EGNM), and I am thinking about flying to Le Touquet (LFAT), im sure you all have heard of it.
It will be my first flight outside of the UK as the PIC. The A/C type will probably be a PA28 Warrior.
What I want to know is what I need to do, be aware off, advice on filing a flight plan, how to get clearance off ATC to activate the flight plan etc, how does it all work.
Also, who do I talk to at various stages of the flight like the channel crossing.
Some of my main concerns is using r/t in a foreign country, and how do I get clearance at Leeds Bradford once the flight plan has been filed, do I book out with ATC first, or go to the aircraft and request clearance to Le Touquet over radio to the tower because a flight plan has been filed.
Thank you for any advice anyone can provide.
Also, any good ways of getting weather briefings and charts etc, I have the A/D chart in my Pooleys guide.
It will be my first flight outside of the UK as the PIC. The A/C type will probably be a PA28 Warrior.
What I want to know is what I need to do, be aware off, advice on filing a flight plan, how to get clearance off ATC to activate the flight plan etc, how does it all work.
Also, who do I talk to at various stages of the flight like the channel crossing.
Some of my main concerns is using r/t in a foreign country, and how do I get clearance at Leeds Bradford once the flight plan has been filed, do I book out with ATC first, or go to the aircraft and request clearance to Le Touquet over radio to the tower because a flight plan has been filed.
Thank you for any advice anyone can provide.
Also, any good ways of getting weather briefings and charts etc, I have the A/D chart in my Pooleys guide.
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What I want to know is what I need to do, be aware off, advice on filing a flight plan, how to get clearance off ATC to activate the flight plan etc, how does it all work.
Filling in Flight Plan forms is a separate topic - there are threads with all the details: a search will find them. It looks daunting the first time, and very soon becomes second nature.
Once you've filed your flight plan, you have to wait for it to percolate through the system (30 minutes for a VFR one). When you call ATC for taxi clearance, just as if you were going on a local jolly, they will have your flight plan and usually will know what you want. You may have to say "X POB, Flight Planned to Le Touquet." They will activate your flight plan when you take off. If you flew out of a grass strip with no ATC, you'd call London Info and ask them to activate it, with takeoff time XXXX.
Also, who do I talk to at various stages of the flight like the channel crossing.
IMPORTANT - you have to call Le Touq now to request Customs. I either fax them the day before, or use the telephone. I think there's a website where you can do it by e-mail (I've not done that).
Some of my main concerns is using r/t in a foreign country, and how do I get clearance at Leeds Bradford once the flight plan has been filed, do I book out with ATC first, or go to the aircraft and request clearance to Le Touquet over radio to the tower because a flight plan has been filed.
Also, any good ways of getting weather briefings and charts etc, I have the A/D chart in my Pooleys guide.
Le Touq is on the Southern UK Half-mill. Technically, you should have a French chart (obtainable from all the usual pilot shops). Be sure you have the latest Le Touq plate: the "cross runway" into the woods has been closed by M le Maire.
Make sure the aircraft documents are all present and correct. The French do occasionally do "ramp checks" - I've been checked probably three times in a hundred or more visits to LFAT.
Enjoy - it's a different world!