German airfields near Dutch border
stiletto psychopath mk4
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German airfields near Dutch border
Having finally got (two sets of) Jeppesen charts/plates, I'm planning to fly from Biggin to Lubeck and maybe on to some of the Hanseatic ports at the end of next week.
I'd like to stop to clear customs and refuel in Germany rather than Belgium or the Netherlands to avoid having to file another flight plan. I was thinking of Niederrhein, but looking at some of the comments on eddh.de I get the impression it's not as friendly (or cheap) for GA as it used to be.
Has anyone been there recently or can recommend anywhere else?
I'd like to stop to clear customs and refuel in Germany rather than Belgium or the Netherlands to avoid having to file another flight plan. I was thinking of Niederrhein, but looking at some of the comments on eddh.de I get the impression it's not as friendly (or cheap) for GA as it used to be.
Has anyone been there recently or can recommend anywhere else?
I think I can imagine Niederrhein being less than ideal, they have one big customer who seems to dislike G/A making life hard on their B737's. That's what I understand about Eindhoven EHHV, at least. EBCI Charleroi on the other hand still has a fair volume of G/A training.
One field I heard good comments about is EDWC Damme - but that is only hearsay, I never went there for myself, nor do I know if you can get customs clearance there.
If I may give my personal opinion, from very limited experience, I think you should not be bothered about the effort of filing a second flight plan. Crossing a vast expense of water might well bring more stress than a wee bit of paperwork - my own option would be to stop as soon as possible across the water, perhaps at Calais-Dunkirk LFAC. The longer flight afterwards should be less stressed, allowing it to be longer.
BTW the Hanseatic cities are lovely, especially the smaller ones. I have very fond memories of Greifswald, for one example. No notion of airfields around, though.
BTW do be prepared for language issues. Belgian and Dutch controllers will certainly have useable English. In Germany you should be able to work out in English, too. But not all French a/d's have English. The main stations should be OK, though, like Calais TWR and Lille APP.
BTW if you are flying in the upcoming weekend you might be interested to cock up an eye at the Old-Timer's fly-in at EBDT Schaffen-Diest.
One field I heard good comments about is EDWC Damme - but that is only hearsay, I never went there for myself, nor do I know if you can get customs clearance there.
If I may give my personal opinion, from very limited experience, I think you should not be bothered about the effort of filing a second flight plan. Crossing a vast expense of water might well bring more stress than a wee bit of paperwork - my own option would be to stop as soon as possible across the water, perhaps at Calais-Dunkirk LFAC. The longer flight afterwards should be less stressed, allowing it to be longer.
BTW the Hanseatic cities are lovely, especially the smaller ones. I have very fond memories of Greifswald, for one example. No notion of airfields around, though.
BTW do be prepared for language issues. Belgian and Dutch controllers will certainly have useable English. In Germany you should be able to work out in English, too. But not all French a/d's have English. The main stations should be OK, though, like Calais TWR and Lille APP.
BTW if you are flying in the upcoming weekend you might be interested to cock up an eye at the Old-Timer's fly-in at EBDT Schaffen-Diest.
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Aachen Merzbrück might be an option.
Its been years since I have been in there and I can't remember if they do customs or not.
It is a very friendly place. No problems with speaking English to tower.
Its been years since I have been in there and I can't remember if they do customs or not.
It is a very friendly place. No problems with speaking English to tower.
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I've been to Damme (EDWC). It isn't exactly near the Dutch border, but it is a friendly place.
Have a look at Stadtlohn (EDLS), which is close to the Dutch border. It also has an agreement with Teuge (EHTE) I believe.
JO -- are you going to Schaffen Diest by any chance? Might there be some kind of PPRuNe gatherette by any chance? Count me in!
Have a look at Stadtlohn (EDLS), which is close to the Dutch border. It also has an agreement with Teuge (EHTE) I believe.
JO -- are you going to Schaffen Diest by any chance? Might there be some kind of PPRuNe gatherette by any chance? Count me in!
Merzbrück is a cheerful place certainly - but the runway is not over long, I'll never forget the Mooney taking off just inches over my van's roof - and for this once I had not strayed off the public road.
On a general note, lots of info is available at
AIRPORT Flughafen Flugplatz Pilot
but the lang=en bit adds but little value.
Do feel free to invite me as an interpreter!
On a general note, lots of info is available at
AIRPORT Flughafen Flugplatz Pilot
but the lang=en bit adds but little value.
Do feel free to invite me as an interpreter!
JO -- are you going to Schaffen Diest by any chance? Might there be some kind of PPRuNe gatherette by any chance? Count me in!
Shall we all bear eagle's feathers, as a token, or what else?
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www.fluglehrerteam.de - Aachen-Merzbrück Flugplatz EDKA
This might make a bit more sense.
It looks like you can get customs by PPR 24h.
And Aachen is a cracking wee town to visit if you want to make a night of it.
I can personally recommend the beer in the Guiness House.
And they have hidden ski matting, in the under shoot and over shoot under/in the grass. The locals all use it.
This might make a bit more sense.
It looks like you can get customs by PPR 24h.
And Aachen is a cracking wee town to visit if you want to make a night of it.
I can personally recommend the beer in the Guiness House.
And they have hidden ski matting, in the under shoot and over shoot under/in the grass. The locals all use it.
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Perhaps Bremerhaven (north of Bremen). A quiet place on the coast, and a great airport for GA. Town is nearby with great accomodation, and several excellent museums. Nordholtz air museum is not too far, though you'd have to get there by surface means. A good "jumping off" point to go to Helgoland.
I have cleared customs there as a passenger on a private flight, though it is possible that special arrangements were made for that. I cannot speak to airport fees, but I have noticed that it is a popular stop for aircraft enroute.
I have cleared customs there as a passenger on a private flight, though it is possible that special arrangements were made for that. I cannot speak to airport fees, but I have noticed that it is a popular stop for aircraft enroute.
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I suppose you like a field were they do English R/T.
-Goch, PPR grass, restaurant only open on Sundays.
-Stadlohn
-Dahlemer Binz
-Monchen Gladbach
-Essen Mulheim
-Dinslaken
or maybe a more Northern route
-Borkum
-Leer
-Ganderkasee
I'm not sure about customs on those fields.
Mind that in Germany restaurants are often closed on Mondays.
-Goch, PPR grass, restaurant only open on Sundays.
-Stadlohn
-Dahlemer Binz
-Monchen Gladbach
-Essen Mulheim
-Dinslaken
or maybe a more Northern route
-Borkum
-Leer
-Ganderkasee
I'm not sure about customs on those fields.
Mind that in Germany restaurants are often closed on Mondays.
EDDG Münster and EDDW Bremen are both doable and no-notice customs.
Last weekend I was at EDDG and they stuck a EUR 30 handling fee on top of the EUR 27 reasonable landing fee. They didn't charge that in June.
Last year, Bremen was EUR 44. Both the above for 1700 kg.
Last weekend I was at EDDG and they stuck a EUR 30 handling fee on top of the EUR 27 reasonable landing fee. They didn't charge that in June.
Last year, Bremen was EUR 44. Both the above for 1700 kg.
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I would second Damme EDWC. Nice little friendly airfield with a good cafe. Ask for fuel as you taxi in and they turn the pumps on for you. Fill up then go and pay in the tower where they take a copy of your passport fulfilling the immigration requirements. Landing is €8, fuel was €2.14/L last week. See www.edwc.de for more info.
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Thanks guys. I'll check those out, though some, like Dinslaken and Stadtlohn, don't seem to have customs. And the fees at Bremen and Münster make Biggin look quite reasonable. 
Jan - Thanks very much for the link to Airports.de. The other reason I prefer to make my first stop in Germany is because it evens up the trip legs. Calais is a relatively short hop from Biggin Hill - which means that the next leg to Lubeck would be considerably longer, and closer to the limits of the aircraft than I'd prefer. I'd rather have two roughly even legs of about 2-2/12 hours each. Last time I flew to Germany I did land at Oostende to clear customs. They were very nice, but I lost an hour with the time difference and also had to hang around for about another hour waiting for the flight plan to be activated.
The few airfields I've been to in Germany seem to speak impeccable English, even the FISOs - certainly better than my German. But I know what you mean about France, having landed at Blois during the lunch hour!
Sadly, I can't get away this weekend, but I hope the Old Timers' fly-in goes well.
DAR - Have you been to Helgoland? It sounds fascinating - ex-British colony - though it could be more challenging to get out of than Aachen-Merzbrück!
Jan - Thanks very much for the link to Airports.de. The other reason I prefer to make my first stop in Germany is because it evens up the trip legs. Calais is a relatively short hop from Biggin Hill - which means that the next leg to Lubeck would be considerably longer, and closer to the limits of the aircraft than I'd prefer. I'd rather have two roughly even legs of about 2-2/12 hours each. Last time I flew to Germany I did land at Oostende to clear customs. They were very nice, but I lost an hour with the time difference and also had to hang around for about another hour waiting for the flight plan to be activated.
The few airfields I've been to in Germany seem to speak impeccable English, even the FISOs - certainly better than my German. But I know what you mean about France, having landed at Blois during the lunch hour!
Sadly, I can't get away this weekend, but I hope the Old Timers' fly-in goes well.
DAR - Have you been to Helgoland? It sounds fascinating - ex-British colony - though it could be more challenging to get out of than Aachen-Merzbrück!
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If you decide to go the more northerly route, then I can confirm that both Borkum and Leer are very friendly.
I didn't need customs at either field, but I do remember a notice on the wall at Borkum suggesting that ATC could handle such issues for you.
The flight along the East Frisian islands on the north of German is very scenic.
If you decide to go any futher than Lubeck, then the cliffs at Mons Klint (about 50 minutes or so away) are quite pretty.
Good luck with your trip!
dp
I didn't need customs at either field, but I do remember a notice on the wall at Borkum suggesting that ATC could handle such issues for you.
The flight along the East Frisian islands on the north of German is very scenic.
If you decide to go any futher than Lubeck, then the cliffs at Mons Klint (about 50 minutes or so away) are quite pretty.
Good luck with your trip!
dp
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Thanks dp - Mons Klint looks lovely.
I ws thinking about the Frisian islands - most of them seem to have airfields - but finding accommodation in August might be a problem. But if the weather is kind, I could ring around and find out. If not, a flight along the coast is still an option - keeping clear of the bird sanctuaries, of course.
I ws thinking about the Frisian islands - most of them seem to have airfields - but finding accommodation in August might be a problem. But if the weather is kind, I could ring around and find out. If not, a flight along the coast is still an option - keeping clear of the bird sanctuaries, of course.
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singaporgirl, we flew low over Helgoland while I was training crew in July, but landing was not in the plan. It looks like a delightful place though! There is commercial serivice there from Bremerhaven if you would like to go, but avoid the long over water flight.
I didn't need customs at either field, but I do remember a notice on the wall at Borkum suggesting that ATC could handle such issues for you.
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I would personally clear immigration at the first opportunity (Calais, Ostend, etc) so you can land at every little field afterwards if you need/want to. Gives you a lot more flexibility.
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A friend recently (1 month ago) flew from Helgoland direct to the UK, so Customs must have been available for that, in theory.
What I always say is: don't fly to any airport unless you have made contact and checked
- opening hours
- avgas
- customs
- PPR/PNR
Compliance with the above reduces one's blood pressure by a guaranteed 10 points
Think about it the other way: would you really (really) fly to an airport (other than a big H24 one like say Prague) if nobody answered the phone and no other contact returned anything? In Germany and France one probably can, but it's not a good idea generally.
Very true but the extra landing is potentially a huge hassle.
What I always say is: don't fly to any airport unless you have made contact and checked
- opening hours
- avgas
- customs
- PPR/PNR
Compliance with the above reduces one's blood pressure by a guaranteed 10 points
Think about it the other way: would you really (really) fly to an airport (other than a big H24 one like say Prague) if nobody answered the phone and no other contact returned anything? In Germany and France one probably can, but it's not a good idea generally.
I would personally clear immigration at the first opportunity