Flying in Scandinavia?

[Jude]

Having explored Ireland and France, the time has come to fly further afield, when the weather allows that is, has any one got any tips for taking a PA28 to Denmark, Norway and Sweden, any good places to visit, bad ones to avoid and any special paperwork required. Plan is to take the shorter crossing from Holland, of course wearing life jackets and carrying a liferaft etc.

[This message has been edited by Jude (edited 07 February 2001).]

[David Clarkson]

I dont have any specific info on Scandinavia,but i have been thinking of the same trip myself for a long while(400+hrs)so if you have a couple of spare seats or fancy flying in formation then i could be up for that!!!

[B9]

One of the most memorable trips we did was in a F172 to the Arctic Circle which was not quite as daunting as it sounds. We flew UK to Netherland and across the top of Germany into Kiel. Thereafter we filed to cross Denmark and flew direct to Malmo and proceeded up the east coast of Sweden visiting such places as Kalmar, Sunsvall, Skelleftea, Lulea and finally a dash to Roveniemi in Finland which is just inside the Arctic Circle. Total flight time Kiel to Roveniemi was about 10 hrs. We had planned to return via Helsinki but the weather beat us. Although the trip was nearly 10 years ago and much may have changed we found the people friendly, the air clear, fuel relatively cheap and the scenery magnificent; we purchased a season ticket for landing fees at Malmo which permitted us to land free of charge at a number of airfields en-route. We used Bottlang for planning, ONC charts for navigation and the Rough Guide to find accommodation. The best time to go is mid-summer to take advantage of the midnight sun so that you can, if you wish, fly day-VFR at 1130 pm. We have sinced toured throughout Europe but both agree that the trip to the Arctic Circle was one of the best; go for it.

[Yogi-Bear]

There was an article in the PFA mag a few months ago by John Mole (name right?)
Y-B

[Rob_L]

I'd say it's challenging, even by UK standards. You have to fly across a fair bit of water, but plenty of ships in the Skaggerak. For Norway except the coast you could do with more power than our C150, which couldn't get comfortably high over the mountains, so turbulent and we couldn't get high enough to fly up and see the glacier near Bergen. Also got thrown about horribly landing at Bergen after cold front - scariest landing I ever did. Not many emergency landing places, even the sea's full of rocks. However it's truly stunning, and awesome. Easy to get lost over the mountains if low (no VOR/VHF contact.) Fuel's dead cheap and the people are great. Not such good English speakers as the Swedes. Overall watch the weather.

Southern Sweden is easier flying - it's flat. Go to Hassleholm, they're very friendly and just got themselves a brand new airfield. Also the island of Gottland. You can stay in the flying club at Visby, and there's a museum. Also a medieval town (festival in July). Down the road is Stanga, no English spoken. Yo can stay at the hostel on the airfield, with bar in huge old loft. Usually deserted except for parachute competitions.

Enjoy!

[bookworm]

Denmark's a good place to fly.

Apart from Copenhagen Kastrup, the highest landing fee is about 8 quid. Fuel, particularly if exported, is much cheaper than either UK or Germany.

I recommend Billund, Esbjerg and Aalborg as medium-sized airports that provide good value. Copenhagen Roskilde has a good reputation, but I have no personal experience.

I haven't travelled further north than Aalborg.