Flying to Alderney

[Charlie Fox]

Avgas is available again & I heard on the grapevine that there will be a landing fee promotion during May, June and July. This is good news, especially with their fly-in coming up in June.

[Scoobster]

Is it true that there is no VAT on AVGas in Alderney?

I am trying to run the numbers and figure out what the best prices for AVGAS are for pottering around in a C-152 or PA-28 for local flying... and also make use of the fuel draw back if going out to Europe.

I was thinking of filling up at Alderney and flying back in for the local CPL nav's in the Kent area but it looks a bit of a trek on google maps and might not make the best economical sense ?

Scoobster

[Johnm]

If flying to Alderney then drawback is available, VAT doesn't exist there and duty is local and low.

[Scoobster]

If flying to Alderney then drawback is available, VAT doesn't exist there and duty is local and low.

How does the drawback system work?

I am trying to locate this on the HMRC Website..

Alderney reports £1.35 per litre for AVGAS...

Jersey reports £1.11 per litre for AVGAS.

The cheapest place for AVGAS near me is £1.58 per litre so in theory if I filled up 2 hours to get to Alderney and then full tanks.. to 'come back' in to Kent - could this be counted as 'drawback' and a saving effectively on UK AVGAS prices?

[Curlytips]

Drawback form

If you just search HO60 fuel drawback form, you'll find answers on gov.uk site and appropriate form. Basically, you would leave UK with full tanks purchased at say, £1.58 and on return claim back the duty (38.35p per litre from memory). So effectively you have paid £1.20 per litre. Then fill up in Channel Islands with duty free fuel - there is nothing to claim back on this of course, but the best price is at Guernsey or Jersey if you are an AOPA member and show your card, an extra 5% discount is available.

Recommendation(strong) is that whenever you set off across water you start with FULL tanks - you may just encounter a reason why you have to turn round or divert elsewhere.

If you are going to venture to Channel Islands, why not have a great weekend at the Guernsey Air Rally - there are 41 entrants already?

[Scoobster]

CurlyTips,

Thanks.

I managed to find the form.. bit of a prat question I suppose but I don't know how long the journey in a 90kt cruise would take to say Jersey.

So, although £1.58 is not breaking the bank per say.. £1.11 is better..

If I flew on 12 US Gallons to Jersey (and burned 1.5 US Gallons) - fuel uplifted 24 gallons and flew back for 'local navigation in kent/cpl route familiarisation/general nav etc etc' - would this be feasible?

Scoobster

[Piper.Classique]

Working this out for yourself could be considered useful training towards your CPL exams, which do require a certain degree of numeracy.

[thing]

Unless I've misunderstood your post I think you'll burn more than 1.5 US gallons getting to Jersey from anywhere in UK mainland. In a 152 you'll burn that in around 15 minutes.

As Curly says, any trip over water you would be slightly eccentric not to have tanks overflowing; I would worry less about pricing fuel and concentrate more on getting there in one piece.

[piperboy84]

Get yourself an used 2000 liter bowser, order 1000litre of avgas from CIMA delivered and top it up with 1000 liters of the highest octane non bio mix autogas.the whole lot will get a good shoogle around on the way hame from petrol station. That'll get your per liter price right down if you have a place to park up the bowser.

[maxred]

If I flew on 12 US Gallons to Jersey (and burned 1.5 US Gallons) - fuel uplifted 24 gallons and flew back for 'local navigation in kent

Scoobs, I actually find this quite disturbing.........

[Scoobster]

OK so I haven't done the planning, fuel calcs etc.. which is probably obvious.

Am just thinking out loud etc.. but all input is noted.

Will stick with the full tanks profile over water.. was just trying to 'save' I suppose.. which is a delicate balancing act I am learning..

Scoobster

[malcolmf]

Last time I was in Alderney the fueller was surprised how little he had got in (I had flown from Popham with full tanks). The lowest he had, it was dry one side, 5l in the other

[sunday driver]

Popham - Alderney = 97nm (Just took me about 90 seconds on SkyDemon Light)
PA28=roughly 1 hour = roughly 10 US gallons
Add a worst case 60kt headwind at altitude en route = say 20 gallons total planned.
Plus, surprise, surprise fog or V low cloud rolling in over the Channel Islands as I arrive and I would be very pleased I left with full tanks.

SD