frontenas - Lyon - anyone been
 

Friend is thinking of flying down. Any thoughts or tips?

Any thoughts or tips
 

Learn a little of the French phraseology, keep the frequencies handy, keep a good lookout and ENJOY

Been lots. What would you like to know?

For starters, it's French language only (although nobody really cares if you speak English. You rarely get an answer in French). If you land on runway 36 with a westerly crosswind, watch out for the turbulence and sink on final approach. There's a good restaurant on site, plenty of parking available, limited hangarage, and some friendly people. There's also a helicopter pilot who is a special friend of QDMQDMQDM..... :)

It's a few miles from the airfield to anywhere else.

Just got back from a week down there.

Patrice the airport director speaks great English and is a wonderful help. Yes, it is a bit of a distance from other places but both Europcar and Hertz have offices in nearby Villefranche sur Saone. Parking is no problem - all they ask for is a phone call beforehand to let them know you are coming. Payment by credit cards and no problems with fuel.

Calls in French aren't particularly onerous when you get there, and the airfield is easy to spot from the air. On departure a word of warning - watch the temperature. I left on Sunday at MTOW (well - it would be a shame to leave the gateway to the Beaujolais without stocking up ;)) and the temperature was 34C. Bear in mind the airfield is 1000ft high and the hills to the north where you're going can be up to 3000ft and it makes for some spectacular (read close) views!

Anything else you want to know - feel free to ask.