LeTouquet
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Surrey
LeTouquet
Has anybody flown to France recently (specifically LeTouquet) now that it's off the 'all but essential international travel' list? Thinking about doing a trip there again soon but wondering if there are any issues with it and if it's even worth going? (Is there anything open that side) The airfield seems to be operating normally based off the assumption it says nothing about Covid on their website.
Thanks
Thanks
Joined: Apr 1999
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velo84
How's your French?
"à 5 minutes de la verticale"
Or get there early - bonne chance!
How's your French?
As of 1 July, the ATC service will be closed between 1130Z and 1300Z.
This is due to new European regulations governing the mandatory rest periods afforded to controllers.
In practice, this means that radio at Le Touquet will be blind calls in French only during that period.
This is due to new European regulations governing the mandatory rest periods afforded to controllers.
In practice, this means that radio at Le Touquet will be blind calls in French only during that period.
Or get there early - bonne chance!
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: La Rochelle.
All restaurants and supermarkets in France are open (subject to restrictions) as are most airports. Le Touquet appears to be open but this restriction mentioned above is a bit strange. The message they display says Air to Air in French only from 11:30 UTC to 13:00 UTC but goes on to state arrive/takeoff before 11:30 after 15:00 if you need English. Of course you can land or take off any time in operating hours by banging out your verticale or décollage if you know it. However, amongst all your other paperwork, you'll need to fill in an Attestation de Déplacement International which you can find here: Attestation
You probably have to do something similar to get back into the UK?
Might be a bit of fun but don't forget your masks either.
You probably have to do something similar to get back into the UK?
Might be a bit of fun but don't forget your masks either.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Surrey
Thanks for all the responses, I'll probably wait a while. I've landed there with no Tower before and it wasn't great fun (my French is somewhat lacking)
Looking forward to when life returns to normal.
Looking forward to when life returns to normal.
Last edited by velo84; 10th July 2020 at 09:22.
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Ansião (PT)
Looking forward to when life returns to normal.
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: West Sussex, England
Last year [AFIR] they had a whole non-radion day a week & it all worked well enough. Customs can still be available if correctly notified.
If what they're doing is to keep 'Tower' overheads down & continue operating the airfield viably, we Brits will benefit by continuing to have an early cross Channel haven.
Calais could be my preference as much less formal and so on, but usually entails a detoured route when aiming for a southern destination e.g. Chavigny.
Albert might do at a pinch, but the best place - until Douane stopped - was Abbeville, nicely on my favourite southerly route & avoids the strong seaside winds that I found more often than not at Le touquet.!
If what they're doing is to keep 'Tower' overheads down & continue operating the airfield viably, we Brits will benefit by continuing to have an early cross Channel haven.
Calais could be my preference as much less formal and so on, but usually entails a detoured route when aiming for a southern destination e.g. Chavigny.
Albert might do at a pinch, but the best place - until Douane stopped - was Abbeville, nicely on my favourite southerly route & avoids the strong seaside winds that I found more often than not at Le touquet.!
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 350
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From: Scotland
Last year [AFIR] they had a whole non-radion day a week & it all worked well enough. Customs can still be available if correctly notified.
If what they're doing is to keep 'Tower' overheads down & continue operating the airfield viably, we Brits will benefit by continuing to have an early cross Channel haven.
Calais could be my preference as much less formal and so on, but usually entails a detoured route when aiming for a southern destination e.g. Chavigny.
Albert might do at a pinch, but the best place - until Douane stopped - was Abbeville, nicely on my favourite southerly route & avoids the strong seaside winds that I found more often than not at Le touquet.!
If what they're doing is to keep 'Tower' overheads down & continue operating the airfield viably, we Brits will benefit by continuing to have an early cross Channel haven.
Calais could be my preference as much less formal and so on, but usually entails a detoured route when aiming for a southern destination e.g. Chavigny.
Albert might do at a pinch, but the best place - until Douane stopped - was Abbeville, nicely on my favourite southerly route & avoids the strong seaside winds that I found more often than not at Le touquet.!
Not been to Le Touquet since they shut the cross runway!
Will probably try Albert next time.
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Ansião (PT)
Be warned that - as far as I could discern from the www, without ever having been there - Albert looks like the end of civilisation - not a resto or hotel nearby. Looks like just good enough for clearing formalities and perhaps refuelling.
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From: Sheffield
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Bressuire
clareprops travel advice is well out of date, the current situation is;
Coronavirus (COVID-19): countries and territories exempt from advice against ‘all but essential’ international travel
The FCO updated its global advisory against ‘all but essential’ travel, exempting destinations that no longer pose an unacceptably high risk for British travellers.This list is long but includes most EU countries other than mainland Portugal (my words).
COVID-19 travel guidance
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Travel to some countries and territories is currently exempted.Travellers arriving in France from the UK, European Area, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay are no longer required to self-isolate, to demonstrate their travel is essential or to hold an international travel certificate.
Quarantine requirements
There is no quarantine requirement for arrivals from the UK, from the wider European Area (as defined
Last edited by Fl1ingfrog; 11th July 2020 at 07:34.
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Ansião (PT)
@BobD: thanks for information. I did mention that I had never been there! And yes of course, if once you take a taxi you will find accomodation, almost everywhere. Myself try to find fields with an eatery on site, most fields here in BE have them, as have many in Germany; in France this is much less common, alas.
And, out of sheer curiosity: who provided the nice welcome? The airport staff or the local aeroclub, or yet someone else?
And, out of sheer curiosity: who provided the nice welcome? The airport staff or the local aeroclub, or yet someone else?
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 114
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From: Sheffield
@BobD: thanks for information. I did mention that I had never been there! And yes of course, if once you take a taxi you will find accomodation, almost everywhere. Myself try to find fields with an eatery on site, most fields here in BE have them, as have many in Germany; in France this is much less common, alas.
And, out of sheer curiosity: who provided the nice welcome? The airport staff or the local aeroclub, or yet someone else?
And, out of sheer curiosity: who provided the nice welcome? The airport staff or the local aeroclub, or yet someone else?
