EFLEVA fly-in EBLE 30 June-2nd July
 

I've just pre-registered to fly my Rans in from UK Friday & out back Saturday. 30 June 1st July 2017.

EFLEVA Fly-In at EBLE which is either at

Sanicole, or Hechtel-Eksel or EBLE: Leopoldsburg/Beverlo.
All rather puzzling unless the Belgians love a good joke at our expense ?

Seems an awful lot of restricted airspace to get there once leaving France Calais area. So far early planning says 1100 to 1500 ft is about the highest I can expect.

Is anyone else on this forum thinking of going & if so any tips please ?

mike hallam West Sussex.

Mike,
Belgian ATC will be aware of this event and ease transit through CAS were necessary. The expensive nuisance of obtaining permission to fly a PtF aircraft in Belgian airspace will be waived for those attending this event, so you have saved 94 euros already. :-)

I hope to attend.
Donald

No need to be confused, the AIP is there to bring clear facts:

The place has seen a slightly confusing history, though; it is in the middle of a vast military domain, I am unclear to what degree it is or was part of it. Certainly I never saw or knew of any military activity there, except at the yearly airshow. But it was shown as "military" in the AIP until recently. And it may have been used by artillery spotters at one time, the area always had artillery units based.

@Patowalker: may I inquire whence you have the nice bit of info about the waiver? [ edit : found the answer on the EFLEVA website, thanks. But as I read that, the fee is not waived, it is paid by a sponsor rather. ]

For clarity's sake, "Sanicole" is the name of the aeroclub.

I might well consider flying in myself, it is quite close to my homefield.

@mikehallam: do not be daunted by the airspace, even if it does look frightful on a map. The vast majority of it is rarely active. Allow me to recommend you take the habit of consulting the NOTAMs map at belgocontrol, that will give you a good idea of the kind of activity there could be, and the frequency. Also, as already pointed out, our very able FIS and ATC staff will be glad to help.
If your plane carries a transponder, you can count on getting cleared through EBAW Antwerp CTR, perhaps at 1500'. If not, you'll have a slightly tricky passage between the CTR's of EBAW and EBBR. There are however plenty of visual references.
On your return flight on Saturday you can route East to West on the South Side of Brussels, unhindered by the Beauvechain Air Base which is active on Friday.

Where do you intend to pass customs/immigration? I would recommend LFAC Calais, but you could also consider EBKT Kortrijk where you can say goodbye to Messrs. Lambert, event sponsors - and have a very fine lunch at the Lindbergh's though you might do well to book in advance.

Feel free to pm if you have any further questions. However @patowalker seems to know the area at least as well as I do as a native!

Thanks both of you for the encouraging & useful information.

Wx, as always, permitting - it's a new adventure.

'Customs' clearance was one of my questions in case they'd got it at EBLE for the meeting. (The French do that sometimes).

Calais I know fairly well ,but Kortrijk sounds O.K> and new to me so a more attractive proposition.

BTW Negative TXPdr.

mikeh.

I have never seen it in BE, not even at the very international Fly-In at Diest-Schaffen EBDT. Also, the organisers' website explicitly says no police/customs at the event, referring to EBOS Ostend rather. Which is a bit out of the way, though not much, and also rather expensive.

Regarding Kortrijk EBKT: note below excerpt from AIP. I understand however the limitations - those that apply to you - are not strictly enforced. Messrs. Lambert might be able to help, they are sponsoring the event.

<quote=AIP-BE>
5.3 ULM Flights
Only home based ULM and ULM visiting Lambert Aircraft Engineering are permitted.
All ULM flights require prior permission from the Airport Authority.
Take-off and landing are only allowed for ULM complying with the following:

• 3-axis ULM;
• 4-stroke motor;
• equipped with radio able to transmit and receive on the airband;
• able to maintain an airspeed of 70 KT MNM.

</quote>

I asked the organisers whether "we have partnered with Ostend EBOS for Customs" means there will be a reduced landing fee. Otherwise, Calais would be cheaper and more convenient for those coming from the UK.

The reply was encouraging, pointing out that their goal is to make Belgian airports a more obvious entry point to Schengen and that they are in negotiation with Ostend on landing fees.

That is a laudable idea and I wish them every success. They'll need that, too, I'm afraid, as the AIP shows some non-ULM-friendly points:
* 1.2 Use of SSRIn order to improve safety, the carriage and operation of a serviceable mode S transponder with Basic Functionality is mandatory for all aircraft operating within Oostende CTR and/or Oostende TMA. An exemption to this rule may be granted, provided that the request is made before the flight by telephone to the Oostende ATS authority.


* 5.3 ULM Flights
ULM flights will only be accepted within Oostende CTR if traffic situation permits. Take-off and landing is only allowed for ULM aircraft complying with the following:

• three-axis ULM;
• Equipped with transponder;
• Equipped with radio able to communicate on VHF;
• Able to maintain an airspeed of 80 KIAS MNM.

* also the usual nonsense of wearing high-visibility jackets

Jan,
Thanks. That is why I think Calais is a no brainer. The douaniers hardly ever turn up, so it will just be a pit stop. The pompier who attends to the fuel pumps will also take the landing fee and you can be on your way in no time.

Well, yes, my vote would be for Calais, too. I've only flown there once but found it quite convenient, relaxed, and inexpensive.
Slightly annoying is the instability of the restaurant - it has seen quite a procession of keepers over the last few years - I do not know what the status is right now. But the village is within easy walking distance and offers at least one decent eatery, too.

STOP in EBMO (MOORSELE) on the way
 

The great grassstrip of MOORSELE (EBMO) , next to KORTRIJK WEVELGEM is also having a fly-in the same weekend! Clear customs in EBKT and hop across for some great aviation fun on JUL 1 and 2.

More info at: http://flyinmoorsele.be