Flying Europe to Lybia / Tunisia / Algeria
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Flying Europe to Lybia / Tunisia / Algeria
Hi there, wondering if anyone has any experience of flying a light aircraft from Europe to those countries.
Apparently, all that is required (for Algeria at least) is filing in a flight plan 24hr in advance, and if it is not rejected, you're good to go (I did try, for the sake of it, and it was not rejected). I should imagine tourist visas are necessary (except for Tunisia) same like everyone else unless you intend to stay airside and not travel further inland. And what about fuel availability and costs, landing fees, and VFR flying in general?
FYI, we would probably be making the jump from either Majorca-Algiers, Sardegna or Sicily to Tunis, or Malta-Tripoli.
Thanks in advance.
Apparently, all that is required (for Algeria at least) is filing in a flight plan 24hr in advance, and if it is not rejected, you're good to go (I did try, for the sake of it, and it was not rejected). I should imagine tourist visas are necessary (except for Tunisia) same like everyone else unless you intend to stay airside and not travel further inland. And what about fuel availability and costs, landing fees, and VFR flying in general?
FYI, we would probably be making the jump from either Majorca-Algiers, Sardegna or Sicily to Tunis, or Malta-Tripoli.
Thanks in advance.
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GAW, thanks for your input. It has made some related threads appear at the bottom, all basically confirming that there is not a lot of info about these countries to be found in Pprune. I wonder where the guys who fly there hang out on?
Other than that, could you be a little bit more specific with your advice? What is it exactly that you recommend against about flying in those countries? When you say you fly there btw, I take it you mean as flight crew on a commercial capacity?
Please note, btw, that I was a resident in Libya for two years and further to that I spent about half my life outside Europe, so I'm not likely to be easily fazed by any perceived cultural or behavioural oddities, if that's all you mean. Put it this way, I've been leaving footprints on the toilet seat for a long time now.
/lh2
Other than that, could you be a little bit more specific with your advice? What is it exactly that you recommend against about flying in those countries? When you say you fly there btw, I take it you mean as flight crew on a commercial capacity?
Please note, btw, that I was a resident in Libya for two years and further to that I spent about half my life outside Europe, so I'm not likely to be easily fazed by any perceived cultural or behavioural oddities, if that's all you mean. Put it this way, I've been leaving footprints on the toilet seat for a long time now.
/lh2
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LH2,
sorry, no first hand info. I haven't managed to fly to these countries ... yet.
Tunis: based on my own pre-planning and on comments from others, quite straight forward with no particular issues. Avgas is not always available at other airports, except at the capital.
Lybia: tried organizing a 5 ship flight last year. Abandoned the attempt due to not obtaining the authorizations and no confirmation of fuel availability at all airports. I don't know if they require a local pilot on board if you intend heading inland.
Algeria: never received an answer to queries sent to the authorities.
Let us know how it goes.
sorry, no first hand info. I haven't managed to fly to these countries ... yet.
Tunis: based on my own pre-planning and on comments from others, quite straight forward with no particular issues. Avgas is not always available at other airports, except at the capital.
Lybia: tried organizing a 5 ship flight last year. Abandoned the attempt due to not obtaining the authorizations and no confirmation of fuel availability at all airports. I don't know if they require a local pilot on board if you intend heading inland.
Algeria: never received an answer to queries sent to the authorities.
Let us know how it goes.
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I am looking at visiting Libya this year. HLLB and HLLT is indicated as having Customs and avgas in Jeppesen airport directory, but I am faxing them anyway. Any feedback would be much appreciated.
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LH2 Contact Tunisavia in Tunis. Mr. Ayari Mabrouk, very friendly and helpful person with years of experience in the countries you are interested in. I am sure he will help you.
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there's a great book out, 2 English guy's flew a robinson r44 to Australia I think / im sure they went via Tunis, landed at a military airport, if memory serves me, I brought the book, I'll dig it out and let you know its title etc
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I am trying to send a fax to a few airports in Libya but none of the numbers from Jepp work. The code for Libya is 00218 and the airport numbers are all 5 or 6 digits; is there something missing?
Benghazi HLLB 97147, 95893
Sebha HLLS 20261, 22572
Tripoli Int HLLT 605034, 34070
None work.
Only HLLS lists avgas.
No fax numbers listed in Jeppview either.
Benghazi HLLB 97147, 95893
Sebha HLLS 20261, 22572
Tripoli Int HLLT 605034, 34070
None work.
Only HLLS lists avgas.
No fax numbers listed in Jeppview either.
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I have some working Tripoli numbers now, which are of the form
00218 912 XXXXXX
In general, once one can get hold of one major-airport number (with an English speaking person on it) from/near a given country, one can phone them, get the fax number, and then get other needed numbers that way. That's how I got numbers for Tirana ATC - from Corfu ATC. All the published numbers for that were duff too.
I wonder how Jepp manage to publish stuff which must be years out of date. Not a single number on the whole page is right. This is out of Jeppview which is a 4-digit price.
00218 912 XXXXXX
In general, once one can get hold of one major-airport number (with an English speaking person on it) from/near a given country, one can phone them, get the fax number, and then get other needed numbers that way. That's how I got numbers for Tirana ATC - from Corfu ATC. All the published numbers for that were duff too.
I wonder how Jepp manage to publish stuff which must be years out of date. Not a single number on the whole page is right. This is out of Jeppview which is a 4-digit price.
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A few contact details
Most of these links should have an english speaker to help you with your enquiry
http://www.libyaonline.com/index.php
http://www.faa.gov/ats/aat/ifim/ifimlyai.htm
http://www.lavex2006.com/contactus.html
http://www.buraqair.com/contactus.htm
http://www.afriqiyah.aero/infocontacthq.asp
http://www.aaco.org/airlines_libyan.asp
Malta based company but the have ops in Libya
http://www.medavia.com/contactus.html
Most of these links should have an english speaker to help you with your enquiry
http://www.libyaonline.com/index.php
http://www.faa.gov/ats/aat/ifim/ifimlyai.htm
http://www.lavex2006.com/contactus.html
http://www.buraqair.com/contactus.htm
http://www.afriqiyah.aero/infocontacthq.asp
http://www.aaco.org/airlines_libyan.asp
Malta based company but the have ops in Libya
http://www.medavia.com/contactus.html
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Flying to North Africa
Think you'll find the most important information for flying into these countries won't be on any charts... !!
Worked in Algeria as a geologist for several years until last Summer & flew with our company's air taxis from time to time.
What I can tell you:
- There's no 100LL unless you ship it in yourself.
- There's no private GA anywhere. No clubs nothing. There's plenty of GA about, but it's all air taxis servicing the oil industry.
- You'll need permission to enter their airspace & that will need serious connections... & it may be rescinded at any time.
- ....if you have the permission, don't expect it to mean anything when you arrive.
- Weather service is very unreliable (even the air taxis fly VFR) & usually is overly-pessimistic.
- If going down into the desert, especially near the oil fields will require a Desert Pass for when you arrive, plus the tourist visa of course.
- People HAVE done it though... Air Solidarite in France come through each Autumn with several A/C & all the right permissions etc, although that's a charity. Also read an article of an old "pied noir" from near Bordeaux who arranged the fuel & the papers & flew back to his old stomping grounds in a PA28.
- Shame because it's VFR & truly spectacular flying 300 days/year & the you'll find friendly people everywhere you go. It's just that everything is a lot more complicated....
If you're still interested in making the trip, let me know... would love to make the trip myself. Am based in Nice.
BFA
Worked in Algeria as a geologist for several years until last Summer & flew with our company's air taxis from time to time.
What I can tell you:
- There's no 100LL unless you ship it in yourself.
- There's no private GA anywhere. No clubs nothing. There's plenty of GA about, but it's all air taxis servicing the oil industry.
- You'll need permission to enter their airspace & that will need serious connections... & it may be rescinded at any time.
- ....if you have the permission, don't expect it to mean anything when you arrive.
- Weather service is very unreliable (even the air taxis fly VFR) & usually is overly-pessimistic.
- If going down into the desert, especially near the oil fields will require a Desert Pass for when you arrive, plus the tourist visa of course.
- People HAVE done it though... Air Solidarite in France come through each Autumn with several A/C & all the right permissions etc, although that's a charity. Also read an article of an old "pied noir" from near Bordeaux who arranged the fuel & the papers & flew back to his old stomping grounds in a PA28.
- Shame because it's VFR & truly spectacular flying 300 days/year & the you'll find friendly people everywhere you go. It's just that everything is a lot more complicated....
If you're still interested in making the trip, let me know... would love to make the trip myself. Am based in Nice.
BFA
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IO:
For permits etc. in Libya, Medavia should be able to help. Try [email protected] or +356 224 90000 -- Someone else who might be able to lend a hand is Mohammed Salah from AG Aviation in Suq Al-Khamis (near Tripoli). [email protected] or +218 91 374 5574. He runs a mainly spraying operation and I spoke to him in person about hiring one of his aircraft for touring. He had a nice looking C-206 and ISTR a pressurised Skymaster will also be available after April or so (if you're MEP rated)
Betterfrom:
I've done my time in Libya (amongst other places) myself and I'm all too familiar with what you say (good point about the Desert Pass, btw, forgot about that). However I'm more of an optimist and we're planning for making the trip in April--at least Tunisia seems to be accessible enough.
In principle we're three pilots already, but nothing would stop us from taking two aeroplanes between four/five/six people. Let me know if interested and I'll keep you in the loop.
I'm passing through Tripoli again in about a week, btw. If I'm extremely lucky (in a way) I might get a couple days in town. Anyone let me know if you want me to try phoning anyone/looking up anything at the airport--no guarantees I'll have time to do any of it, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
For permits etc. in Libya, Medavia should be able to help. Try [email protected] or +356 224 90000 -- Someone else who might be able to lend a hand is Mohammed Salah from AG Aviation in Suq Al-Khamis (near Tripoli). [email protected] or +218 91 374 5574. He runs a mainly spraying operation and I spoke to him in person about hiring one of his aircraft for touring. He had a nice looking C-206 and ISTR a pressurised Skymaster will also be available after April or so (if you're MEP rated)
Betterfrom:
I've done my time in Libya (amongst other places) myself and I'm all too familiar with what you say (good point about the Desert Pass, btw, forgot about that). However I'm more of an optimist and we're planning for making the trip in April--at least Tunisia seems to be accessible enough.
In principle we're three pilots already, but nothing would stop us from taking two aeroplanes between four/five/six people. Let me know if interested and I'll keep you in the loop.
I'm passing through Tripoli again in about a week, btw. If I'm extremely lucky (in a way) I might get a couple days in town. Anyone let me know if you want me to try phoning anyone/looking up anything at the airport--no guarantees I'll have time to do any of it, but it doesn't hurt to ask.