Mode-S in Europe
 

Having read the "official" words that Mode-S is mandatory in Germany,Belgium and Denmark for VFR/iFR, and that I have a trip coming up to Germany, I was surprised that a Danish pilot that I met recently,and who flies regularly in these three countries, stated that he does not have Mode-S and has never experienced any problem with the authorities. Does anyone have any recent experience to confirm or deny his claims?

You can get around VFR without Mode S.

IFR (Eurocontrol flight plans) it is mandatory in most places in Europe.

Which is not to say one cannot "get around"; ATC are hardly going to pull your IFR clearance halfway through the flight, and anyway most ATC units are not Mode S equipped.

I think someone from Holland really should answer this one :}

I was about to, until I realised that the OP wasn't really asking about Holland...:ok:

But now you're asking: In Holland, above 1200', mode-S is mandatory for all powered flight, VFR and IFR. Even non-powered flight needs mode-S in a lot of cases, or be severely restricted in the area of operations. And yes, all ATC Dutch units are mode-S equipped (100% coverage) so they will notice.

The 'official' words are that it is not required. Even the CAA have links to the various authorities - where for instance Belgium says 'not until Jan 201?. The relevent AIPs do give the correct details.

VFR is still possible in Germany without Mode S.

However, note that Mode S is mandatory for the following VFR flights from 31 March 2008:
- all flights in Class C or D airspace (but not CTR) or in a TMZ
- all flights with motor-driven aircraft above 5000 ft AMSL
- all flights by night in controlled airspace.