Cherbourg
 

I was planning a trip to Le Touquet on Monday, but it looks like the weather might be better at the Cherbourg end of the channel. Someone has suggested we go into Cherbourg , but a quick read of the website suggests I will get stung for handling charges. Is that right, and if so, where in that area might be a better bet?

I've stopped in at Cherbourg several times in the last year, either for fuel and to check in for what I suppose is a customs stop although I never been asked for any papers. Every time the tower assigns you a numbered parking spot, a short walk to the terminal and pay a fee of about 16 euros if I remember correctly which I assume is the landing fee then you're good to go. They make it very easy. I normally pop out the front door for a smoke get a coffee at the bar, use the facilities then carry on my journey either north back to the uk after filing a GAR and flight plan or south with a flightplan only using the free wifi in the terminal. Easy peasy and cheap👍

Not sure your skill level and equipment but even on a good VFR forecast I've had haze and a bit sea mist and ended up going heads down on instruments.

Edit to add: the visits were before all the terror stuff so they may have changed things .

Thanks, sounds like it's not expensive then. I think I need to persevere with the French website as the English one is very out of date.

I have IR(R) so while not able to do IAP in France I can certainly cope with limited vis/horizon.

PS website says (Google translate):

And the guide says 1-5 tonnes (bearing in mind this is a PA28 with MAUW 2450 lbs) is €46 plus VAT.

So either that's changed, or they don't mean it!

But it does say in that guide 'Handling is mandatory for any aircraft using the airport for a stopover.' Did you leave the airport? (I was planning on going off site for lunch - is that a stopover?)

You will need a passport as the State of Emergency means douaniers are often on site. Landing was €12 a couple of weeks ago. It is no longer ATC but AFISO. Luc and Edith will welcome you at their excellent restaurant

Cherbourg is a popular airfield for UK pilots either as a transit point for customs clearance or as a destination for a day trip, If it really cost €46 for a SEP to land there you can be sure the Brits would not go. €12 is correct.

Like many British pilots I have travelled through France for years without seeing the douaniers even when requested as per the AIP. But last month they were at Saint Brieuc to meet our arrival. They asked to see not just our passports but all the aircraft documents. More like a ramp check than a purely customs inspection. They spread the documents on the wing and photographed each one. It was all very friendly but I was glad I had checked the documents prior to leaving UK.

Good news (and thanks for the warning re paperwork, I'll make sure it's all in the pack before I go!)

Any good restaurants nearby or is it a taxi into Cherbourg itself?

The www is a wonderful place to find certain commodities.

Restaurant-Bar-Presse - Aéroport de Cherbourg-Maupertus

The on site restaurant is super and the owners Luc and Edith are lovely. There really is no point in going further afield.

Le Coucou de Fourchette

Just beware of their opening hours / holidays - it's disappointing if you turn up there to find them closed. Ask me how I know...