Good GA airfield near NW Paris
Looking for recomendations for a GA field near Paris where I can park up for 3 days without getting charged like a wounded buffalo, preferably within easy access to a train line. Grass & short is fine and won't need avgas as I plan on checking in with customs in La Touquet and I can fuel up there.
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As you are clearing customs, you have an enormous amount of choice near Paris! Grass field like St Cyr L'ecole is quite nice, you also get to see Versailles on the way in which is an added bonus..! I think landing was less than €10 and I think parking is probably around €10 per day.
Something which I read on the Parisian Airport documents (last time was last year sometime) is that they do not charge if you park on the grass at most of the airfields managed by Parisian Airports. (Please double check if that is still the case but I know I definitely benefited from this in the past). I personally pick airfields with good links into town, or ones with instrument approaches if the weather is a bit iffy! I liked Lognes. Fantastic views of Paris when joining the circuit! |
I have flown into most of the Paris Ga fields.
As Alex says St Cyr is probably the nearest to public transport. on exiting the airfield walk up the hill (5 mins walk) and the main line train station is behind the buildings at main road intersection at the top of the hill. As for the airfield itself there was nobody on ATC so just joined as per the arrivals procedures. Note don't get to close to Versailles as thats a Strict no go area. When we came back a few days later somebody was in ATC and they gave us some forms to fill in for Landing and parking fees to which Airports De Paris would send us an invoice to pay, but no invoices ever received. I have heard that nowadays they have been sending invoices out.. Toussus probably the biggest of the Paris Ga fields. Weird opening hours due to local Nimbys. and a long arrivals procedure. Need taxi to nearest railway station. lognes Eastern side of Paris you need to swing out wide to come around CDG zone to arrive here. Again taxi required to nearest railway station. |
Another vote for St.Cyr!
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Yeap St. Cyr looks like it'll work and the nearby trains are a bonus. The plan is Forfar direct CLN @7500 with minor dodges for a few restricted & danger areas, drop down to 3500 prior to CLA to stay under the TMA, direct LFAT. Clear customs, refuel then LFAT,PON,St Cyr @ 2000. Then on the return, reverse the route but St. Cyr - Forfar nonstop.
Only issue I'm seeing is LFR324 (surface-2500) around St.Cyr looks like its active everyday but as long as I get a transition on the published frequency I'm good to go. The Paris boat show awaits !! |
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Originally Posted by trevs99uk
(Post 9954737)
lognes Eastern side of Paris you need to swing out wide to come around CDG zone to arrive here. Again taxi required to nearest railway station. |
Why use Le Touquet? Calais is far cheaper for fuel and landing fees. Just fill in the on-line form on their web page for customs.
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I was just going to ask the exact same question! Calais is really nice, and I think I paid €12 last time I went (about 2 months ago in an Arrow).
Still think it a big shame that we can't clear customs anywhere near Paris, I am starting to take a dislike to these unwanted stops on the coast. It was fun the first few times, as you land at different places that did customs, but now there are only a few, and I've been to all of the usual suspects.... I doubt that with Brexit it'll make it any easier either..... |
Stuck in Calais, wind 38mph, snow and slush on he deck, basis almost touching the top of the tower, out of fags, feet soaking from my frantic efforts to tie the Maule down which remains to be seen if it’ll be enough with gust forecast for 50mph + . Why oh why did I take up this friggin flying instead of joining the lawn bowling club?
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Hah! I had a choice of moving a plane yesterday or today - did it yesterday!
Calais? If you're really stuck, get on a train to Brussels and I'll look after you here! Go Maule Drivers! Cheers, Sam. |
Originally Posted by Sam Rutherford
(Post 9985224)
Hah! I had a choice of moving a plane yesterday or today - did it yesterday!
Calais? If you're really stuck, get on a train to Brussels and I'll look after you here! Go Maule Drivers! Cheers, Sam. |
Accessing local equipment uninvited might be frowned down upon, I'm afraid... but they're used to those weird Brits at LFAC, luckily. Like Sam, I am quite available to assist.
PS are you sure there's no hangar available locally? There are two aeroclubs, ISTR, did you talk to them? In local language? |
I know the guys who run Calais - a phonecall helpful?
Hm, the last 'weird Brits' in Calais are now "doing 5" in Lille prison! |
Originally Posted by Jan Olieslagers
(Post 9985243)
Accessing local equipment uninvited might be frowned down upon, I'm afraid... but they're used to those weird Brits at LFAC, luckily. Like Sam, I am quite available to assist.
PS are you sure there's no hangar available locally? There are two aeroclubs, ISTR, did you talk to them? In local language? |
Ok, you obviously did NOT call them. Good luck!
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Originally Posted by Jan Olieslagers
(Post 9985265)
Ok, you obviously did NOT call them. Good luck!
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Okay, good luck!
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If it does anything to make your bad luck more bearable: I just heard on the radio news that a ferryboat ran aground on departing Calais harbour. Not only pilots suffer!
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Oh no, that was PA84's plan B... :E
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This Calais storm must be bad, it’s knocked Johnny Halliday kicking the bucket off the top news spot!!
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I’m sure you’ll have seen this (plus relevant TAFs, etc) but just in case:
METEO CALAIS par Météo-France - Prévisions Météo gratuites à 15 jours sur toutes les villes de la métropole Bulletin vigilance Météo France We’re way “ down south” can’t be of direct help, but good luck.. P.S. as you say it must be quite something to displace JH’s funeral from the front page. |
Plessis Bellville
This airfield has a good rail link to Paris 26 miles from Gare de Nord if I remember as I landed there once and thought “ah, same distance as the marathon I had just run”.
Aéroclub Air France Nord // Ecole de pilotage |
hello Dunkan,
Next time you come with a snow storm : Send Me an email : alex62100(a)gmail.com :) |
Will do Alex and thanks again for the help👍
Day one over, waiting for day 2 to blow in. All is well that ends well. The white cliffs of Dover. |
That's a very swanky panel for a Maule!
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Originally Posted by Sam Rutherford
(Post 9993142)
That's a very swanky panel for a Maule!
Probably overkill, but it's something to faff about with on those long journeys @ 100kts. |
Sounds like the engine's running better - problem fixed?
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Originally Posted by ETOPS
(Post 9993257)
Sounds like the engine's running better - problem fixed?
Yes and no, running fine but I've noticed cylinder #2 has started with the same symptoms that I had on #1 right after the rebuild. I.E. it runs consistantly colder than the other 3 in cruise and tends to gunk up at idle requiring a high rev with severe lean to clear. Not a show stopper but I'm keeping my eye on it. I love the plane and it's capabilities. On the 3 hour flight down to Calais and 4 hour flight back it averaged out at 34lph fuel burn at appx. 105kts indicated cruise at 5000 ft, WOT/2200RPM. It ran smooth and performed well, can't ask more than that. |
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