VFR in Belgium
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VFR in Belgium
Have gone around Europe IFR but have to do a VFR flight across Belgium next week and would like a bit of advice. Would like to go at 4500ft but this is in the class B, would this be ok to do if filed before departure? Would be much easier than trying to avoid it all and don't fancy having to stay under it at 1000ft in areas or prating about flying round all the sfc airspace areas. Are they generally accommodating with VFR stuff going over Brussels (city not the airport to the south) and across to the French border or is that going to be more trouble than avoiding it? Any help is much appreciated.
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I have found that Belgium is very easy for VFR transits of Class C and maybe Class B. Pre-IR this is what I used to do; on one occassion it was a choice of a low level run below 1000ft for much of the way, hoping for better weather by the time I got to the Lux hills, or flying at ~ FL080 VMC on top all the way. I phoned up one of the controlling units and they said "Class C is perfect for VFR, of course you can do this!!" so off I went.
I suspect they prefer pilots who are navigating a clear IFR route i.e. VOR-VOR or airways intersections, not trying to find villages along the route
For a part of the time I was handled by Brussells Departures which was a busy radio. But it went perfectly; they left me alone most of the time, occassionally giving me vectors.
Nobody (in modern Europe) looks at what you write in a VFR flight plan.
I suspect they prefer pilots who are navigating a clear IFR route i.e. VOR-VOR or airways intersections, not trying to find villages along the route
For a part of the time I was handled by Brussells Departures which was a busy radio. But it went perfectly; they left me alone most of the time, occassionally giving me vectors.Nobody (in modern Europe) looks at what you write in a VFR flight plan.
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Used to do my private flying at Maastricht EHBK in NL and would regularly fly VFR through Belgium to Charleville Mezieres or Sedan in France or down to Luxembourg. Mostly stuck to Class C through would occasionally transit Liege and Charleroi Class Bs without any problem.
If you fancy practicing your X-wind landings, drop in at Spa (EBSP). Wind invariably strong over the Ardennes and was ALWAYS 90 deg across runway 05/23. Thought my instructor was a sadistic bastard making me do 20 T&G circuits there each week, but after that everything encountered worldwide was easy!
If you fancy practicing your X-wind landings, drop in at Spa (EBSP). Wind invariably strong over the Ardennes and was ALWAYS 90 deg across runway 05/23. Thought my instructor was a sadistic bastard making me do 20 T&G circuits there each week, but after that everything encountered worldwide was easy!
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From where to where are you flying? Crossing Brussels TMA they will insist on using IFR levels
From the UK to Germany KOK-CIV-LNO is normally a good route, expect to get a clearance at FL70 or so
From the UK to Germany KOK-CIV-LNO is normally a good route, expect to get a clearance at FL70 or so
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In my limited experience or Belgium VFR, its a piece of cake.
One sunday in February I routed Manston - KOK - Diekirch VOR (Luxembourg) and on to Germany.
If you go that way, make sure you get onto Ostend Appr nice and early as once you cross the FIR you are straight into the Ostend TMA. I told Ostend what I wanted to do, i.e. KOK - DIK at FL55 (VFR) and that was fine.
Once at the edge of their bit they handed me onto Brussels Departures, who put me at FL60. I guess they couldn't handle a VFR level. Then they handed me onto Brussels Control. With about 20 miles to run to the Luxembourg border, they handed me onto Luxembourg Approach, who was a very funny English guy. He assumed that because I was at an IFR level then I must be IFR, so I volunteered to go back to a VFR level, not that it seemed to make much difference as he wasn't exactly busy.
On the way back we routed Frankfurt Hahn, Chievres (CIV) to KOK. As we approached the Belgium border, Langen Info told us to call Brussels info. We told them what we wanted to do and they said that that was approved. When we got near Charleroi, Brussels Info handed us off to them to cross their zone, then back to Brussels before Ostend Appr...
They all speak perfect english, so it was simple, although we didn't go too near the main Brussels airport.
Let us know how you get on.
One sunday in February I routed Manston - KOK - Diekirch VOR (Luxembourg) and on to Germany.
If you go that way, make sure you get onto Ostend Appr nice and early as once you cross the FIR you are straight into the Ostend TMA. I told Ostend what I wanted to do, i.e. KOK - DIK at FL55 (VFR) and that was fine.
Once at the edge of their bit they handed me onto Brussels Departures, who put me at FL60. I guess they couldn't handle a VFR level. Then they handed me onto Brussels Control. With about 20 miles to run to the Luxembourg border, they handed me onto Luxembourg Approach, who was a very funny English guy. He assumed that because I was at an IFR level then I must be IFR, so I volunteered to go back to a VFR level, not that it seemed to make much difference as he wasn't exactly busy.
On the way back we routed Frankfurt Hahn, Chievres (CIV) to KOK. As we approached the Belgium border, Langen Info told us to call Brussels info. We told them what we wanted to do and they said that that was approved. When we got near Charleroi, Brussels Info handed us off to them to cross their zone, then back to Brussels before Ostend Appr...
They all speak perfect english, so it was simple, although we didn't go too near the main Brussels airport.
Let us know how you get on.
Flown quite a few times through Belgium VFR, we always choose a route which avoids controlled airspace although this can be difficult as there is so much of it (plus restricted areas in the east). It took us literally hours to pick a route through avoiding all airspace reservations, and in fact we realised only after the first few times that our route actually went through the Beauvechain TMA (luckily it is weekday only, and our first flights were at weekends!).
Brussels Information and Belga Radar very helpful, the latter giving transit clearance of Beauvechain TMA on a weekday. You can request Belgian NOTAMS by fax by calling +3222062530.
Do let us know how you get on.
Brussels Information and Belga Radar very helpful, the latter giving transit clearance of Beauvechain TMA on a weekday. You can request Belgian NOTAMS by fax by calling +3222062530.
Do let us know how you get on.
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scooby,
To echo what others have said, it's a piece of cake. Invariably, the Brussels guys will like you to get as high as possible and at an IFR level as this simplifies their job in and around the EBBR TMA. Don't know what you'll be flying, but I'm normally bumped up to FL90 routing KOK - MAK - LNO.
Where are you headed?
To echo what others have said, it's a piece of cake. Invariably, the Brussels guys will like you to get as high as possible and at an IFR level as this simplifies their job in and around the EBBR TMA. Don't know what you'll be flying, but I'm normally bumped up to FL90 routing KOK - MAK - LNO.
Where are you headed?
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Thanks for all your advice. I am going from an airfield on the eastern border of Belgium to EBKT, not sure of the departure airfields name and don't have a chart handy but a straight line to EBKT goes right over Brussels. Its a light twin turboprop non IFR, non pressurised, N22B.
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Your Nomad is in Zwartberg (EBZW), suggested routing is 1400ft BUN vor then between Antwerp and Brussels CTR, then direct MAK NDB dct EBKT,
you could route BUN-NIK-MAK through Antwerp CTR but if they have IFR traffic expect in their CTR routing via VFR waypoints LIERA-KONTI-RUPEL
On this routing you could ask Brussels info 126.9 to get FL40/60 through the Brussels TMA, you might get it
Going direct EBZW-EBKT over Brussels will not be possible as you will cross then both the arrival and departure traffic
you could route BUN-NIK-MAK through Antwerp CTR but if they have IFR traffic expect in their CTR routing via VFR waypoints LIERA-KONTI-RUPEL
On this routing you could ask Brussels info 126.9 to get FL40/60 through the Brussels TMA, you might get it
Going direct EBZW-EBKT over Brussels will not be possible as you will cross then both the arrival and departure traffic
