Belgium Airspace
 

I'm planning on flying a fixed wing microlight from the UK to Sweden/ Norway . The short 'puddle hop' to France seems sensible. Our route is effectively FOC except through Belgium who appear to want to make an 80 Euro charge for a 30 day 'permission'. Other countries also need to be approached for permission ...but don't charge.

Considering we've no intention of landing in Belgium and will only effectively be in their airspace for perhaps an hour each way this seems a rip off !

Assuming this fee is correct our only options are (1) Fly from UK direct to Netherlands....much longer crossing though or (2) Fly 'offshore' west of Belgium.

So my question - in the absence of Maps - which have yet to be ordered ,... how far offshore is their FIR boundary ?

The 80 Euro charge has been a bug-bear for a long time. In practice, most people seem to ignore it and I haven't heard of any come-back.

Going north into Dutch airspace doesn't help as you're then in Mandatory Mode S airspace and it's a long way from shore in a microlight.

I can see no problem with routing through Belgian airspace without landing, although that's still technically breaking the rules, nobody will ever know.

Thankfully I do have mode 's' - and appreciate your response -

The fee is 87 euros and is valid for 30 days in any 12 month period. The UK charges £61 for 28 days and when you take into account our landing fees, it works out more expensive for foreign microlights to come here than fly in Belgium.