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Solo Trip to France
I'm just back from a 10-day flying trip to France, about half of it alone, in G-ATKF, the ancient C150 (she's nearly as old as me!) in which I have a share. For those who don't know, I'm a helicopter instructor, but a very average PPL(A) - 270 approx f/w hours over 8 years, and not a lot recently. So...be kind to me when I tell you about all my mistakes, please! :) Anyway, by popular request, here's a diary type account of my trip...the beginning at least; it may take a while for me to have time and energy to write it all up....
MONDAY 6TH JUNE I'm at Sleap, and ready to go. This trip has been planned for months and I ought to be looking forward to it - flying slowly around France, where the weather and mood take us, having a holiday, no definite plans. It was meant to be fun, not a challenge. But now P (she doesn't want to be identified) is ill. We can't go at any other time, and I have the time off and the aircraft booked, and a cat sitter. And the weather forecast is good, even. There's no reason not to go alone, except...I'm scared. I don't do a lot of f/w flying, and I've only flown once in France. This feels like a major challenge, and I don't want a challenge; I want a holiday. I've asked everyone I can think of to come with me - pilots, PPRuNers, old friends. I've even offered to pay for the flying, asking them just to cover their own expenses. But no-one can make it at such short notice. So I'm on my own. So, I'm ready to go. The plan is Sywell for lunch, then Rochester tonight. When you live this far north, and fly a C150, getting to France in a day is difficult. Besides, I'd rather cross the channel in the morning when I'm fresh. And this way, I put off the dreaded moment of setting off over water, alone, with a basic PPL and a fairly basic aircraft without a lot of instrumentation. Tomorrow is another day; I'll think about that then. The flight to Sywell is uneventful and fun; the wx is good, I know the way, I've been there before. I have lunch, and try not to wish that P was with me. It's not just the flying; I really don't want to go on holiday alone. Still, I'm off to Rochester, which is a new airfield for me, and like lots of us, I collect new airfields. I can go either side of the London zone, but I decide to head west, down the corridor between Luton and Stansted. I've been that way before, and with good vis, it's not a real problem. The first difficulty of the trip comes when I get to Rochester. If anyone had told me, in my nervous preflight state, that I'd have to approach over woods, to a grass runway on a hill causing all sorts of depth perception difficulties, I think I'd have elected to go to Headcorn, which I know. But they didn't, and I don't really have time to worry about it, and land safely. The chap in the tower tells me it's quite a challenging place to land, and I don't argue. Perhaps I'm not as bad at flying these things with non-whirly wings as I think I am. Certainly I'm often accused of being under-confident. Maybe it's true. Anyway, I get fuel, park, and tie KF down for the night. The people in the tower are friendly; they give me a flight plan form, and offer to help me fill it in if I get stuck. I get the impression they do this often. They also find me a taxi and a B & B. It's a nice place to stay; there are three cats, which is great as I'm already missing my own feline family. I look round Rochester, and eat in a small Italian restaurant. I then plan next day's flying. I'm going to Le Touquet to clear customs, then on to Deauville. I don't want to go to any small airfields in France yet, as I hardly speak any French. I was going to learn some, but decided not to bother, as P speaks it fluently. Oh well. I fall asleep telling myself that if I don't like it I can always come back to the UK and do some flying here...if my pride will let me! More later.... |
Pictures too please Whirly :)
Look forward to reading the rest. |
BRL, I have pics, but don't know how to post them on here. If you tell me how, I'd do it. :ok:
TUESDAY 7TH JUNE The forecast is great, but reality not quite so good. I arrive at Rochester to find good vis but overcast skies. I've filled in most of the flight plan form, and the people in the tower help me with the bits I can't remember. They also direct me back to the runway; I never was much good with finding grass runways in the middle of a big grass airfield. :confused: Everyone is wonderfully helpful. I put on my life jacket and set off. As I approach the coast it becomes gradually more hazy, and I become gradually more worried. I can't get much higher than about 2500 ft, and there's no horizon at all, with the overcast sky merging into the sea. I begin to wonder if I should be doing this. I decide to give it a try, but be ready to turn back at the slightest hint that I'm getting disorientated. But actually, it's OK. There are about three ships ahead as I leave Dover, and one seems to be heading for Cap Gris Nez...though I suspect it's really heading for Bologne. Anyway, it helps to follow it, and about five miles out I can already see the French coast; the vis isn't as bad as it first appeared. I leave the carb heat out for the whole 18 miles across water; I have enough to think about without worrying about that, and the C150 is very prone to carb icing anyway. Soon I'm at Cap Gris Nez, and I call Le Touquet. It all seems pretty straightforward...or would be if it wasn't peak time for the aerial day trippers from the south coast airfields. The sky is positively crowded, and we're all heading for Le Touquet. And everyone can find it except me; I don't see the airfield till I'm nearly on top of it. I think the controller twigs that I'm a bit confused, as with three of us downwind, he immediately tells me I'm number one. I think he wants to get me on the ground, and that's OK with me! Anyway, it's a bit of a bumpy crosswind landing - my first of many, as it turned out - but it's a huge runway and not really difficult. I head for the restaurant; I'm not really hungry, but lunch seems like a good idea. I'm shaking all over for some reason, but at the same time quite elated... I've made it to France, alone. I have a couple of hours rest as I'm pretty tired, probably more stressed than tired, but they're connected when it comes to flying. I've decided to fly to Deauville via the Rouen VOR; I don't fancy the coastal route as it has a couple of these nuclear power station restricted areas, and I don't want to risk getting too near them. I put the route in my GPS too...belt and braces approach, I think you'd call it. There aren't many military areas on that route, and my only worry is if Rouen won't let me through their zone. But it's easy. Rouen talk to me, I understand them, they give me a squawk and leave me alone. This, I soon discover, is typical of French controlled airspace. The weather is good, though a bit bumpy and thermic on a warm afternoon. I take photos of the Seine winding through Rouen, and begin to enjoy myself. Deauville appears when it should; with another massive long runway it's not hard to find. Another bumpy crosswind landing, and I'm there. I've decided to go to Honfleur, which Alistair Arthur recommended in his articles on French airfields in Today's Pilot; I've photocopied the articles and brought them with me. The people at Deauville get me a taxi, and the taxi driver finds me a hotel. He speaks about as much English as I do French, though my long forgotten schoolgirl French is coming back a little, out of necessity. Anyway, I spend a happy evening looking round Honfleur, which is a gorgeous fishing village, though a bit over-touristy. But I'm unbelievably tired. I've been doing about 3 hours flying a day for the last two days, which doesn't sound like that much, but I think feeling so nervous and stressed is taking it out of me. Actually I feel much better now about doing the trip, but still really exhausted. I wonder if I should take the next day off and rest. However, I really, really want to get to the Loire Valley and see all the chateaus from the air. Angers, which I've been recommended to go to, is less than two hours away. I decide to fly there the following morning, and then reconsider. More later.... |
Keep it coming Whirlybird, its a good read.
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Good stuff Whirly... more!
I took my single seater down to Caen one long w/e, this time last year whilst recce-ing the trip for 7 of us later last summer. Doing all alone does increase the workload - but just as you appear to, I had a good time. Stik |
Enjoying the read whirly - well done you for the solo effort! It can be amazing how much more daunting it is alone - I hate flying on my own these days!
Andy :ok: |
Whirly this is a fantastic read, type some more up, quick!
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I wish I'd seen your invite on pprune I can usually take time off at a moments notice. So if you ever have that problem again let me know. Meanwhile I can't wait for the next installment.
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Aussie Andy,
I don't like flying on my own either. But I didn't have a lot of choice. Staying at home, with time off, an aircraft booked, and good weather, just wasn't an option. Laundryman, I didn't put an invite on PPRuNe; just asked PPRuNers that I knew personally. Maybe I should have done that though. But with hindsight, no, I shouldn't...read on... My photos can be viewed at www.photobox.co.uk/album/1506035. No labels, unfortunately. :( WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE I am totally knackered. My shoulders ache, my back aches, and most of all, my brain aches. I half consider returning to Le Touquet and the UK, but no, not yet. I really, really want to get to the Loire Valley. I'll fly to Angers, then I'll see. It's one straight line, with a VOR closeby, almost due south, with a tailwind. All I have to do is sit there and fly, isn't it? I chat to some British pilots at Deauville, in a group, lucky sods. They're staying in the North, and I'm aware that once I head south, there may be less Brits around anyway. I'm on my own. But once I get airborne, all my fatigue and doubts vanish. I've noticed this a lot, especially when I'm flying regularly. The weather is good, though quite bumpy due to thermals and a reasonable wind. I try to talk to Paris North, but they don't answer. I know that neither Lille nor Paris talk to Brits if they don't feel like it, so I decide not to bother. I maintain a listening watch, but just fly south and look at the scenery. I use the VOR and my GPS, since flying by map and compass in France is quite hard - there just aren't a lot of ground features in some areas. It's under two hours with a tailwind, and soon I'm talking to Angers, who thankfully speak quite good English. The thermic weather makes the crosswind landing quite interesting; I think I'm getting quite good at these. I'm in the Loire Valley, and it's only midday. I pass on the restaurant, as my stomach feels a bit queasy; not sure if it's a mild stomach upset or nerves. I go to the terminal, buy a sandwich, which I nibble to keep my strength up, and drink lots of water. What now? I could stay here, but the airfield is a long way from the town. And it's early, and despite my queasy stomach I feel OK; a bit tired, but pretty confident and positive. I want to go on, though not too far. So...where? It's really either Tours or Blois. Blois sounds nice, but if I stay there, it will be an expensive taxi ride into town, and Honfleur already cost me a fortune for the same reason. The airport at Tours is near the town. It's military and civil, and I must be half brain dead, as I don't consider what that means. I decide to go to Tours, and stay there overnight. It's only about 40 miles, even following the river and looking for chateaux, as I intend to do. So I'm looking forward to a nice gentle sightseeing flight for the afternoon, and an early start. Little do I know.... For a start, the wind has increased and shifted to Easterly. So I have a strong headwind. It's afternoon and hotter, so the thermal activity has increased. This makes for a very slow, bumpy flight. There are a lot of forests in the valley, making it even bumpier. If I climb too high I hardly make any headway - 56kts at one point, according to my GPS. Lower down, and I'm flung around like a sack of potatoes, which doesn't do my sensitive stomach any good at all. I'm beginning to want to be on the ground at Tours. I'll call them now. An almost unintelligible French accent asks me to report at point W at 1100 ft. I look at Tours' approaches, and sort of find point W, but when I get there, it's not an obvious VRP like we have, and I'm not sure I'm in the right place. On top of that, I'm over woods again, and at 1100 ft I'm being thrown out of my seat and need two hands to hold the yoke! ATC asks if I can see the airfield, but I'm too low. I zoom up to 2000 ft, work out where the airfield is, then get down again...there are loads of fancy fast military jet things around, and I see why he wants me so low. He tells me to hold, then leaves me. I fly a kind of racetrack pattern parallel to the main runway so I don't lose it, trying to keep to something resembling 1100ft as the wind and thermals fling me around the sky. It's horrible! Why didn't I stay at Angers? I ask the ATC man if it'll be much longer. He asks for my endurance, and I say: "Well, it's about 2 hours, but I'm really tired", then realise how stupid that must sound to a military controller! He says he should be able to get me in in about ten minutes. I wonder whether to divert to Blois, but in those conditions I don't think I can find the page, frequency, plan the route, etc. I could return to Angers, and with a tailwind I'd be back there very quickly. I decide to give it five minutes, then go. I feel horrible. I want to be on the ground. A few minutes later ATC tell me to join right downwind. Since I'm on the left, and he wants me still at 1100 ft, I can't think how, and say so. I'm suffering from brain fade anyway by now. With lots of repeats due to the fact I can't understand the accent, he finally gets me to cross the centre of the runway, and when I eventually report downwind, I can almost hear him cheering. I'm almost cheering too. I'll apologise to him when I get on the ground. I turn final for the bumpiest crosswindiest landing ever but I don't care; I just point at the runway and land, no idea how or what I did. I vacate the runway, but can't apologise, as I get passed straight to Ground. A woman with an even more atrocious accent directs me to the GA part of the airfield, which seems to be in the middle of nowhere, telling me in no uncertain terms that they don't deal with civilians for fuel! I get to the GA part, taxi to the fuel bay, and shut down. Then I just sit there. I feel utterly weary. I want to go home! I haven't even seen a chateau, how could I, in those conditions? Suddenly, a young man comes out to ask if I want fuel. He speaks about as much English as I do French, but he's friendly and helpful, and insists on doing the refuelling for me. And he's the first of perhaps the friendliest bunch of people I've ever met. They help me, carry my luggage, find me a hotel, even drive me out there. I'm staying in a cheap hotel near the airport; I'm too knackered for any sightseeing. But it's a nice place, friendly, and the simple meal they provide is delicious. My stomach is better and I really enjoy the good French food, eaten in friendly though almost silent cameraderie round two large tables. How do the French manage to make even simple meals so delicious? I feel better. I'll sleep in tomorrow, then carry on, maybe to Limoges where I vaguely know an English lady who does B & B, maybe first to La Rochelle, maybe seeing a bit of the Loire Valley once I get out of Tours' zone. I call P, and suddenly our plans get changed! She is better, and kicking herself at not coming. OK, I say, why doesn't she get a Ryanair flight to Limoges, and I'll meet her at Sue's place. So we decide she'll do that on Friday if she can get a flight, then join me for the trip north. Hurray! Suddenly all is well. No route planning tonight. I'll decide on my exact plans in the morning. But one thing is clear, I only have another 1-2 days of solo flying in France, then there'll be two of us - half the work, half the cost, twice the fun. |
Hhhhm I think what's coming out of this is that flying solo in a foriegn country is do-able but can result in work overload because of the number of unfamiliar things happening at the same time. I agree duel has got to be more fun and shared load.
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Brilliant writing...look forward to the next episode :ok:
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You are doing well Whirly - a tale well told
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Great story ... keep it coming.
I'd be interested to know how you get on with those red low level corridors which seem to cross all over France. |
Justiciar,
Sorry, I left out anything about the military restricted areas. You're right, they do appear to crisscross the whole of France. In some areas this is complicated; when we tried to fly to Salzburg last year it was horrendously complicated. But most of the west of the country only has low level ones, usually 800-1500 ft, or occasionally up to 2000 ft. Then there are others above 3000 ft. So you keep an eye on things, but fly between 2000 and 3000 ft, and you're OK. But yes, it's just one more thing to consider. THURSDAY 9TH JUNE I've had enough. I think about flying to La Rochelle, but I'm just not interested. I want a break. So I decide to go straight to Limoges, which is less than two hours flying. That way I can have this afternoon and tomorrow off from flying, and then P is arriving - she called back; it's all arranged. I've phoned Sue, and told her I'll be arriving. She is a part time instructor at Limoges Airport, and has a place in the country half an hour away. She tells me to call when I arrive. I get a taxi back to Tours Airport. I ask the friendly people there about departure procedures, and what I'm likely to have to do. They describe it all to me, and tell me I'll probably be routed to point E, then left alone. I work out where point E is, and decide to meander around the Loire Valley after that, looking for chateaux, then fly straight to Limoges. I'm quite looking forward to it since I know it'll be my last solo flight, and my last flight for a bit anyway. It doesn't quite work out that way. Tours route me to point E at 1100 ft, then tell me to report at point S!!!!! This is too much! Where the hell is point S, and why can't they leave me alone. Well, I see point S now, at least it's near the river and between two towns, so hopefully I can find it. And it's morning, so there's less thermal activity. I report "approaching point S" - clever that, since I don't know exactly where it is. They ask me to report leaving the frequency. You bet I will! I leave as soon as I can, and then fly around looking at the river. I find and photograph a couple of chateaux, and enjoy the lovely scenery of the Loire Valley; it really is beautiful. Then I set heading for Limoges. It's another lovely day; I've been really lucky with the weather. All goes well till I try to call Limoges. No reply. OK, I think, I'm too far away; I'll try in a few minutes. Still no reply. I'm now nearly in their airspace, and it's Class D. I carry on for a bit, still no reply. I try the other radio, no luck. I begin to think about this. It's France, and they're unpredictable, but I can't really land at an airport in Class D airspace without contacting anyone, can I? I try again. Still no reply. I think maybe I've had radio failure. I get out my handheld, strategically placed where I can reach it. I start orbiting, and look at it. I've never used it in earnest, and now, with a lot to do, I can't think how to use it. Take it slow, I think...and I fiddle about and manage it. But still no reply. I can hear everyone else, and it dawns on me that failure of three radios is most unlikely! I decided to carry on, get close to the airport, then decided whether to land and sort it out on the ground, land at a small airfield, or call someone on my mobile from the air. But of course, eventually Limoges talk to me. This is France; don't expect it to be like England. It's quiet there; they give me a squawk and tell me to report field in site, then clear me to land. Limoges is only big and crowded when Ryanair arrive. So I land, and it's lunchtime. I can't get any fuel. I can't pay the landing fee as the computer is out of order and no-one wants to know. I hang about, eventually get fuel, ask to tie down KF. No blocks available, and parking on the grass not allowed. Eventually I locate some blocks, and I'm allowed to have them if I fill in forms in triplicate and give them back on Saturday. This is insane. I call Sue, who I know is picking someone up from the Ryanair flight at 6 pm. I say I'll wait, but she insists on coming out to get me: "I can give you lunch, and you can be lying by the pool all afternoon". I don't argue! Sue's place is gorgeous. It's an old farmhouse about half an hour from Limoges, in the depths of the country. She has dogs and horses, and there's a swimming pool. She does B & B, and there are several people staying. A British couple are househunting, and one English chap is arriving this evening to do some flying with Sue to get his required 12 hours for the year - at around £75/duel, why not? It's a fantastic place to go and have a holiday or fly or both. You can email her at [email protected] for details; I promised her I'd let everyone know. I'm thinking of getting a Ryanair flight there later in the year to do some touring of the south with Sue. Anyway, I lie by the pool all afternoon, Sue feeds me, and I collapse gratefully into bed feeling that life is good. |
Great diary. Thanks for posting!
I'm curious about the "Report point E" termonology. I haven't heard this before. Is this common in France? Are these specific reporting points or simply East of the airfield? If they are specific places, how do you know where/what they are? dp |
What is worrying me Whirly is this constant "duel" (sic) that you seem to be having with the controllers!
tell 'em what you want - in either English or French! If you are unfamiliar with position "S" - tell them, you need to remember who is charge! It is you, the PIC. Flying in France is generally very, very easy! Stik |
A great read Whirly.
Pity I didn't know about it - I really fancy a trip down the Loire - I could have met you on this side of the Manche, and it would have been great to fly in KF again, too, and I could have helped with the French as its become second nature now. Don't think I could have swung it with the missus, though :( (except for the horsey bit). Keep it coming, its a good story :) |
Your story of the approach to Tours rings some bells from a trip we did to Barcelona a few years ago, where Tours was our first fuel-stop.
dublinpilot says: I'm curious about the "Report point E" termonology. At Tours they have a lot of MIL training (I believe it is in fact a civil field but that certain early jet training is done there under contract). Loads of "Alpha Jet" activity. On the day that we arrived, we approached via (say) NE, expectyeing to simply be given a right base join or something - but we were directed first to N then NW then NC (or whatever - guessing now!) then W, S, etc etc. Much shuffling of paper in the front seats looking for these points which, as Whirly says, don't always seem to correspond with geographically notable spots (at least not at first glance when at low level). At the same time we were being told to remain at 1100', which confused us as this was low versus the terrain... controllers accents were also confusing us... eventually we realised it was 1100' on the "Fox Echo" (QFE)... All of a sudden, after being again asked to confirm we were definitely at 1100', we were told "standby for Alpha Jet formation to pass overhead 1500'" i.e. just a few hundred feet above! IT was a great view, and suddenyl we understood why we were being vectored all around the houses! Since then I've always paid more attention to the VFR reporting points near large French airfields and anticipate that I may be asked to track to/from any of these. The system works well, and is easy once you know about it - it's just a bit different to what happens around here so something of a surprise the first time :) Andy :ok: |
Thanks Andy.
I take it, these would be marked in a VFR guide or such? Which one did you use, and same question to Whirly? And more importantly, would you recommond that one? dp |
stik,
Flying in France easy? Errr....yes. Except when it isn't. And the easy bits pass in this thread as one sentence of looking at the view for an hour or so with nothing happening. The bits that aren't cover a lot of space. That's life...and flying, and writing. Anyway, my conversation to the controller on approaching Tours in the first place went something like this: ATC: Report Whiskey point (deciphered after several say agains, as his accent really was atrocious) Me: Errr...Tours, I'm not familiar with the area. Where is point Whiskey? Tours: "What? You don't KNOW Whiskey point!" Me; Hold On. (Grabbing plate). Tours, I think I can find it, but is it a specific point on the ground? No reply, ATC is busy directing someone else. By the time he comes back, I'm orbiting in roughly the right area and despite my pleas, he wants me to hold for ever. So you see, by the time I came to leave, I just wanted to obey instructions and have as little conversation with him as possible. I could approximately find point Sierra, so what the hell? Aussie Andy tells it like it is. I was prepared after this. When we went to La Rochelle, I had the approach points transferred to the chart. We didn't need them...something totally different happened! Read on to find out...but not yet; I'm taking my cat sitter flying this morning. dublin pilot, I used the Jeppesen Bottlang France Trip Kit. It's fine, the points are marked, it's just that they don't correspond to anything specific and aren't easy to find. Especially if you haven't prepared in advance. You see, flying in France is generally very informal, so when it isn't, it can catch you out. |
Two weeks ago I had to divert to Tours due to some pretty awful weather which was moving in rather fast and was getting increasingly anoyed with the controller at Tours.
I was unable to understand him even after asking him to repeat again slowely twice, on almost every transmision he made. I was then asked to orbit at Echo for a while when the Alpha jets did their bit. In the mean time the cracks of lightning from embedded CB's were get closer and closer. I was eventually cleared to land but it was not the most enjoyable experience. Maarten |
dublinpilot:
I take it, these would be marked in a VFR guide or such? And these days you can also get the French plates from their online AIS system as follows:[list=1][*]Go to http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/default_uk.htm[*]Select AIP -> France Metropolitaine[*]Select "CARTES D'APPROCHE ET D'ATTERRISSAGE A VUE (VAC)"[*]Select T -> AD 2.LFOT TOURS VAL DE LOIRE [/list=1] This takes you to http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv....D%202.LFOT.pdf which is the visual plate for Tours LFOT, and you will see the points marked:
Writing them on your chart, or sticking them into your GPS via Navbox or similar before you go is easy solution - but as Whirly says, you don't always need to use them, and anyway if you just tip up at a field (whether for pleasure of diversion) you need to just figure it out from the plate. I think generally speaking the bigger the airfield, and the more MIL activity, the more likley it is you will need to use these points. Andy :ok: |
Thanks a million Andy. That is very helpful! Especially the link!
I'm just starting to plan my own trip to France, probably at going for the last two weeks in August. As I look at my gps now for this airfield, I see that it already has these points in it! I love PocketFMS more and more! dp |
Hi Whirls
Its been good reading your updates so far. Keep them coming... ;) France is great to fly in but the differences between UK and FR do tend to make us on edge a bit when we not used to it - I think this is especially poignant for VFR flying. I've done a few mad, hair raising trips through France and Spain over the last few years, I would say the following factors increase the stress above the norm for flying, for me: 1. Lack of familiarity with airspace and general procedures (example: clearances frequently not explicitly read out), 2. Not being allowed to fly IFR (I hold an IMCR but no IR), 3. Not being fluent in French (hence more difficult to query something ATC say which you're unsure of), 4. We tend to be flying to our endurance limits because of the large distances involved & limited time - this was obvious from what you said and I do exactly the same (such as struggling to visualise circuit patterns, making poor RT calls etc, the so called brain fade you mentioned), 5. Concern in respect of the Wx because we're not used to the area - hence its more difficult to judge in the air while we're flying, 6. General concerns such as; Will the airport have 100LL? Where will we stay tonight? Can I find the VRPs? Good luck with the rest of the trip. The satisfaction of completing a long European tour is unbelievably fantastic. Learn a bit of aviation French, know your VRPs (once you're used to the compass reporting points they're easier than the UK because you know roughly where on your map to look). Carry plenty of cash so you don't have to worry whether or not your CC will be accepted. Maybe see you at the next Gatbash, Rich |
FRIDAY 10TH JUNE
Much needed day off! I send some things home, because with two of us we'll be really tight on weight. After P realised she couldn't come I decided to take another book or two, and more than one change of clothes; now, I send them home. I also do some laundry, because I can. Apart from that I lie by the pool, talk to the dogs and horses, and go for country walks. By the evening I'm recovered, and itching to be back in the air! BTW, Sue's website is at www.nearlyheaven.com. SATURDAY 11TH JUNE Sue is flying to La Rochelle for lunch with the chap who's over here from the UK doing his 12 hours flying with her, and we decide we'll go along too. We all go the airport together, and leave around the same time. They're in a Robin and much faster than us, but we arrange to meet at la Rochelle airport, then get a taxi into the old part of town for a meal. P is flying, and I navigate and do the radio. It's just so much easier with two of us; I actually have time to look at the view! It's all slightly odd at first; P is feeling a bit strange to be suddenly flying in the middle of France, and I, instead of relying on her a lot, realise I'm the one with all the recent French flying experience. For instance, I've marked the possible La Rochelle reporting points on the half mil chart, so that I can find them if necessary. La Rochelle is Class D, and apparently sometimes very crowded. But not this time. When we make our first radio call, there is no reply, and Sue, about to shut down after landing, tells us over the radio that there's no-one there, and to just make blind calls in French. Now, can you imagine that happening at an airport in Class D airspace in the UK? Anyway, P asks if I want her to do it, and I say no, if I don't have to fly as well I can manage. I get out my crib sheet, and manage to say when we're ten minutes from the airport, and then make airfield in sight, downwind, and final calls. It's odd; I feel a bit like when I first learned to fly; I press the transmit button and then can't think what to say, and have to read it. Anyway, we turn over the sea with gorgeous scenery, and land in a deserted airport. We go for lunch in the picturesque old part of town, then wander around, then get a taxi back. La Rochelle airport has completely changed. A commercial flight is in, and we can't get back to the aircraft without showing our pilots' licences, which of course we've left in KF. They decide that passports will do, but make us go through security etc with all the passengers. It's all very crowded and different from when we arrived. We've decided to fly up to La Baule for the night, a small airfield by a beach resort. I fly, P does the nav and radio. It's almost all coastal flying, and very easy and pretty. We're not sure if there'll be anyone at La Baule, but it turns out they're doing parachuting. They give us incomprehensible instructions, and neither of us manage to understand how we're supposed to approach. We tell them we just don't understand, and they let us land anyway. Sometimes even P's fluent French doesn't help, especially when people think they're speaking English! Anyway, it's a lovely friendly little airfield, and they phone for a hotel for us. What we don't know is that some sort of sailing regatta is on, and we get about the last hotel room in town. But it's fine, a small local hotel on the outskirts of a modern beach resort. We drink beer, wander along the front, look at the shops, and enjoy the contrast with old and pretty La Rochelle. This is definitely beginning to feel more like a holiday. It's not that I don't like flying alone, but it's definitely more fun with two. But I'm beginning to realise how much I've learned in the four days alone, and I'm very, very glad I did it. But if I did it again, and I might, I'd learn the language better, and do less flying - either only one leg per day, or take off one day in every two. |
Good moaning
I (the chap from England) took a rather lazier approach to flying in the 'heart' of France. First step was a Ryanair flight from Stanstead direct to Limoges - Have done two trips this year which both cost about £70 booked a couple of weeks in advance. Car hire is very cheap (from about £17 per day) - Hertz and Europcar vehicles can be booked on-line and picked-up/returned directly outside of the terminal though Sue (www.nearlyheaven.com) is happy to ferry her customers to and from the airport. It really is very handy flying with an English pilot who knows the local area and procedures though we fitted-in some quite long trips including the one (mentioned by Whirlybird) to La Rochelle who were only responding to calls in French on that particular morning. Best of all is the cost of the flying with the Aeroclub Limoges - About half that of a UK club and I do like the Robin DR400 with it's excellent visibility and (oh joy) a stick. The club have 2 DR400-140's and a DR400-180 as well as a DA40 Diamond Star which I hope to fly on a future trip. All of my previous French flying was to the 'day trip' destinations where they are well used to handling British pilots with the minimum of formality. The landing fees up that end tend to be at English levels though they seem to range between nothing and 4 or 5 euros in the rest of France. A few tips on filing flight plans: At Le Touquet, this is now done by FAX but do be sure to press the right button or you will end up simply making a copy as I did - TWICE. At Deauville, the machine for submission of flight plans has never worked (for me) in several years - You go though the long-winded process of entering all of the data (which takes several minutes) and it then fails to transmit - Just pick up the phone next to the machine and read out the flight plan to a person which takes less than 2 minutes. At Rouen, I once wasted 45 minutes trying to file a flight plan - There was nobody about to take it, the machine was not working and several numbers provided by ATC did not answer. I decided to file while airborne with Deauville who insisted that this was only possible 'in person' though we then switched to Le Touquet (on our route) who were happy to take the plan by radio. Next time to Rouen, I will file the return flight plan at the same time as the outgoing. Regards Les |
Well, hi Les; I wondered if you'd get to read this. ;) Didn't mention your name, as not everyone wants 80,000+ people to know about them...I don't care, as you've probably gathered. Glad you made it back to Limoges from La Rochelle safely. I'm making fairly serious plans to get a Ryanair flight to Limoges in September and go flying with Sue...though I don't have your excuse of needing the hours.
More diary later... |
Hours well completed now and future visits will be purely for fun.
I was previously a member of a syndicate for about 18 years until we sold our well-knackered Fuji 200 last year (Rust In Peace). I had intended to join a UK club and may still do so but Limoges is a great base for travelling throughout France and other European destinations at a cost comparable to syndicate aircraft ownership but with no risk of any unforseen major bills. In practice, probably a good bit cheaper unless you are able to fly quite frequently. The presence of a locally-based UK flying instructor is a considerable bonus so I have now added two DR400 types (140 & 180) to my experience. I saw a mention of Pocket FMS in this discussion and will take this up in a new thread. Regards Les |
This is a fun story to read, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it concludes.
Whilst I can appreciate that you say your fixed-wing experience is quite meagre, you are a CPL(H) and instructor as I understand it. This implies a familiarity with certain basic aspects of pre-flight planning. Strangely, many of your workload inducing issues appear to be related to planning problems. For example - routing Echo followed by Sierra is the standard *documented* departure from Tours for points south. You'll find it in Bottlang and in the free online AIP. The routing exists to stop you busting the ZIT near Sorigny. EUR 150,000 fine for that offence. http://www.polestaraviation.com/content/tours.jpg - La Baule was NOTAMed with parachute activity on the day of your flight (I was also in the area) It is tough to tell from your write-up what kind of pre-flight planning you actually perform, but perhaps a little more would lessen your workload? 2D |
SUNDAY 12TH JUNE
We've been amazingly lucky so far; we've had good weather all the way, AND TAILWINDS!!! We think this can't last forever, and it seems like it won't. The weather in the UK is due to change at some point next week. P has to be back on Tuesday; I have a couple of days more if needed. We decide to go from La Baule to Granville for lunch. A British pilot at Deauville told me it was a nice place, but it's air to air in French only, and I didn't fancy trying it alone. After that we want to get close enough to Le Touquet that we can cross the channel on Monday if it seems necessary due to weather; if I have to, I can drop P off anywhere in the UK, and get back to Sleap whenever possible. I suggest Le Havre, but P wants to go somewhere small. On the strength of a nice picture in the Piloteplus guide, we decide on Bernay. We know nothing about it, but that's the fun of flying, sometimes. We explore the coast around La Baule from the air for a bit, then set heading for Granville. We go through Rennes airspace, talk to them, no problems at all. This is how flying in France is meant to be. Getting close to Granville, we take photos of St Michel (spelling?), an interesting building on a tiny little island. We're not sure what's there, but it's a restricted area, so we circle as close to it as we can. Someone reading this will probably know what's there and be amazed at my ignorance; do let me know! I make blind calls in French to Granville; I'm getting used to this now, and next time I could do it alone. It's only the first time in aviation that things can seem really difficult. We land, and the restaurant is closed...despite what it says in Piloteplus. Lovely friendly little airfield though, and right close to the beach. We get directed to walk along the beach to the next village if we want to eat, and we find a roadside cafe, with good food as usual...can you get bad food in France? We come back, refuel, and set off for Bernay. We're now inland, and almost retracing my original route to Deauville. We talk to Rouen, who are as professional and understandable as before, and I now recognise the town and the Seine. Bernay has a grass runway, and its extremely wide, a bit disorientating on final, but I land safely. We can't work out where their taxiways are, and it's air to air in French again. We manage somehow, then park, and there's hardly anyone around. We tie down KF, and for once are glad of the Piloteplus guide to find a number for a taxi and a hotel. This guide tells you about airfield restaurants, places to stay, taxis, sites of local interest etc. It's sort of bilingual, though mainly in French. It's not always correct, but it's worth buying for the taxi numbers alone, unless you like long walks from airports. Anyway, our hotel turns out to be confortable and good value, but boring and modern, and on the outskirts of town. I suggest to P that we get a taxi to the centre of town to explore and have a meal. We do, and it's lovely. It's full of interesting old buildings, with loads to see. However, most of the retaurants are closed as it's Sunday, and we eventually end up in a Chinese restaurant. Well, why not? 2Donkeys, I think my post crossed with yours. I had the plate for Tours, I knew about point Sierra, but was told by everyone at the GA part of Tours that I\'d be able to go to Echo then do my own thing. They turned out to be wrong, so I followed instructions. But I wasn\'t pleased, that\'s all...and that\'s all I said. We weren\'t able to get NOTAMS at La Rochelle; everything was closed when we arrived, and we had trouble talking to anyone when we left. Nantes told us about the parachute activity at La Baule, so we knew; our problem was understanding exactly what they wanted us to do. I do the usual preflight planning. I don\'t bother to go into detail about exactly what I do, since I take it as read. I don\'t mention that I shower and brush my teeth either. |
My posting predated your most recent, in which you talk about your trip to Granville.
Once again, it may interest you to know that the airfield at Granville is restricted use, being available only to based aircraft and those visiting the resident maintenance company. This dispute relates to the arrival of a parachute club and the insistance on the part of the DGAC that a FISO is now necessary to manage the traffic. The club doesn't want to pay, so the restriction is now in place. The club is suffering under the restriction and it is major bone of contention. You'll find that the restiction is NOTAMed, as well as being on the club's website: http://www.aeroclubgranville.com/aviation/index.php LFFA-D1146/05 Q)LFRR/QFALT/IV/NBO/ A/000/999/4853N00134W005 A) LFRF GRANVILLE B) 200503250000 C) 200509092300 E) AERODROME LIMITE : AD RESERVE AUX ACFT BASES ET CEUX A DEST DE L'UNITE D'ENTRETIEN AIR COTENTIN Aircraft such as yours landing there are uninsured, and in breach of the law. A G-reg was impounded there briefly two weeks ago by the Gendarmes checking compliance with the rules. You'll note that the problem has also been covered on Pprune: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ight=Granville I love reading about the adventure, but I still think that your flight planning needs some attention. 2D |
MONDAY 13TH JUNE
We decide to drop into Abbeville for lunch. I manage to ascertain whether the runway is 02 or 20 - always confusing - in French, without even using a crib sheet! I'll learn toi speak French yet. The restaurant is supposed to be open, but isn't. We can't get fuel either, and we didn't get any at Bernay. A quick calculation shows that we'll be OK for Le Touquet, so we set off. We arrive in Le Touquet mid-afternoon, and check the weather. It looks like our luck will hold, and we decide to have a last overnight in France. TUESDAY 14TH JUNE The weather is lovely. We take off, and can see the white cliffs of Dover from Cap Gris Nez. We head for Lydd; this is a nostalgia thing on my part, since as a child my family used to go on touring holidays in France, using the Lydd-Le Touquet car ferry. With the time difference, we get there mid-morning, then fly to Oxford, where I leave P. I fly to Wellesbourne to spend the night with a friend. The headwind is picking up horribly, and I really don't want to have to battle it all the way to Sleap, especially as I have a couple more days free anyway. According to all the forecasts I've seen, there's a front due on Thursday, but nothing untoward till then. But the FISO at Wellesbourne shows me the latest wx, and it's changed. The front is now due the next day! I consider leaving; I'm so close; I don't want to get stranded now. But the wind is picking up still more, and I'm too tired; it just wouldn't be sensible. I decide to stay overnight, and get home when I can. WEDNESDAY 15TH JUNE I wake up to rain, as expected. I mope around, wondering if I'll be able to leave in the afternoon, or whether I should just take the day off and go sightseeing in Stratford. Eventually I go to the airport, check the wxc, phone Wolverhampton and Sleap, and decide it seems OK. I set off mid-afternoon for Sleap. The vis is great, but the wind a bit strong. At Sleap it's about 25kts, down the runway, but gusting. I'm ready to do a go-around if necessary, but luck is on my side; the gusts stop while I'm on final, and I land safely. I put KF to bed and sadly say goodbye to her...because I wish it wasn't over and I'd like to do it all again! |
What a fantastic read. Thank you for sharing that with us.
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Whirly,
Well done for putting your story up here. Shame that whatever gets posted on this website, there is always some smartar$e waiting to pounce to prove he is more experienced / better / bigger / has more hours / holier than thou. 2D, you are that man. :rolleyes: |
So it's OK to land at an airfield that is NOTAMed as closed to visitors?:confused:
To answer a question raised above, Mont St Michel is an abbey built in the middle ages on a rock that dominates the Baie de Mont St Michel - which is famous for some of the fastest tides in the world. Well worth a visit, out of the tourist season. There's a restricted zone around it (I think to 3500ft - haven't got a chart handy) to stop people flying around it too low. |
Sorry you feel that way Shyte old chap!
I reckon that it's a bad mistake to land at an airfield that is NOTAMed as unavailable. I think I kept the tone of my posting very positive. I liked the story, but I think that the flight planning that it demonstrates could be better. No more no less. Brits turning up failing to follow the rules and apparently unaware of NOTAMs don't do anybody any favours. That isn't a personal attack on Whirlybird, it is a statement of fact. 2D |
well said ShyTorque... that was fantastic Whirly! That place sue has seems well worth the visit, even if only to ride the horses!
Thanks for the well structured diary, it gives me a real insight and things to learn before going over to France for my first flying visit with a friend. :cool: And too 2D, just give it a rest! People like you put me off flying that i am not used too. At the end of the day flying is meant to be FUN & SAFE! they had a good time... maybe you should try that for yourself one day :ok: Do you happen to know if sue offers any horse riding lessons? I have never been within 10' of a horse :sad: |
At the end of the day flying is meant to be FUN & SAFE! 2D |
I'm prone to jump to the defense of those that are by "hearsay" judged guilty by others on this forum.
Whirly, as 2D consistently points out politely, is guilty by her own admission. I agree with 2D that a bit more prep/planning would have saved her an enormous amount of stress. I recently led a 7 ship Balbo to Abbeville - having recce'd the whole thing first as a singleton, I realised that being able to make important radio calls in French was pretty imperative, I learned the correct phraseology - you'd not want some poor French chap inbound to his home field in his Jodel, who couldn't speak English, not to know that seven fast moving a/c were inbound to land in stream! I've met and like them both - this is not personal! It's all a learning thing. Luv Stik |
No-one's perfect and a "word in one's ear" can just as easily be passed on by a private message, rather than in the form of a public dressing down. If done that way, one can avoid any embarrassment or bad feeling.
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