Hour Building in Cyprus
 

I am thinking of doing some PPL VFR flying in Cyprus this summer.. .. .Has anybody been? Any strong opinions?. .. .Thanks,. .. .MD. . . . <small>[ 24 March 2002, 18:03: Message edited by: Standard Arrival ]</small>

The RAF have a flying club on their base there and I know they did have some civillian members when I used to fly with them but that was a few years ago. I am sure directories will bw able to give you a Number just ask for RAF Akrotiri. Good luck.

Civvy no 00357 4745217. . .. .The flying's great..and safe under the ever watchful eye of RAF Akrotiri. But I'd think twice if you're non-mil and looking at some of the civvy places in Cyprus. I used to fly their 152s,172s when they were on loan to RAF Akrotiri and the corrosion left a little bit to be desired sometimes...... .. .Drop me an email if you want to know more . .. [email protected] <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />

Standard. .. .As someone who flies at Akrotiri, I would not recommend coming to Cyprus to hour build, etc (but nb my rider at the end). The Cypriot authority only permits VFR flights on 3 set routes (Larnaca-Pathos, and 2 routes from Pathos-Polis) the aircraft that I have seen at Paphos and Larnaca leave a lot to be desired condition wise (though are probably well maintained?), you can't fly at night once you have your licence (don't ask!), since 11/9/01 foreigners (ie non-Cypriot nationals) on private flights (including corporate twins etc) have not been permitted to fly into or out of Cypriot airspace - which I think is a unique situation in the western world, flights to Cyprus cost about £250 then you ahve got the accomodation issues, hire cars, etc, etc. Also, I was speaking to one of the Operators last week about his Seneca - he wanted (wait for it) C£220 per hour!! The Cypriot pound is worth about 92p sterling so you need to add 10% onto the figures you read in the blurb to get the right price. . .To continue in a negative vein, the news about Akrotiri is equally poor unless you are currently serving in the military/MoD: altough we are lucky enough to operate well maintained aircraft very cheaply (just to rub it in, UK£43 per hour for a C172 180 hp) and have fantastic facilities, we are bound by Customs & Excise rules and cannot permit visitors to fly with us unless they are MoD/military. And needless to say, the local schools would rightly complain if we stole their trade. And all the above regs apply to us as well. . .The positive side is that it would be somewhere different in your logbook and you can practically guarantee a sun-tan as well as getting your wheels off the ground. If the Cypriots lift the above rulings (here's hoping!), Beirut and Rhodes make excellent trips. Finally, the Cyprus Dept Civil Aviation goes over to JAA Regs in September 2002(that's a Meditteranean September 2002) so after then any ratings etc should be valid in the UK, although there are some CAA auth'd instructors etc here as well. . .Hopefully, someone else can offer a counter-balance to what I accept seems a biased arguement so that you can make your own mind up - don't forget that I have no direct knowledge of the other clubs here other than from talking to them and looking around their aircraft. . .Strangely here I am looking forward to going back to the Uk to get some quality flying in!. .. .Good luck

A.mused - exactly as I remember it then. The 'special and quaint' Cypriot way can get on top of you after a while...but I still had a whale of a time when posted there.. .. .g

Hour build in the UK north west of London In a C152 for IRO £52......contact.. .. [email protected]. .. .For the full details.

a.mused, . .. .I am a member of the a reserve force and so am military personel. Would that qualify me to fly from Akritiri? If I do get to hour build I'm looking to do it in September, when hopefully Cyprus will be JAA, do you think that might be a good idea, in my situation? Also I don't drive, do you think this would pose a major problem, and also, whats the accomodation like?. .. .Many thanks, sorry to hi-jack thread.. .Rusty.

Standard Arrival. .. .I have done a few hours out of Paphos (or Pafos as sometimes spelt!). I have been out twice on holiday and I really enjoyed the change of airspace and above all the good weather. I did a couple of cross countries to Larnaca and made use of the free landing fees and did a few circuits at Paphos. The airspace was very regulated even pre 9/11 due to the continuing political problems with Turkey. . .. .The cost of hiring, when I was there was about 30%ish cheaper than in the UK on average. Can't remember exactly how much it was but it was not a bad rate, when you take into consideration that there is no landing fees at all.. .. .However it looks as if things might not be as positive now as when I last flew there back in 1999.. .. .I wanted to go to Beirut but alas I didn't have enough time left. It is a trip I would still love to do if given the chance!. .. .Cheers. .. .MG

Mister Geezer,. .. .If you get the chance do the Beirut trip next time - it's a good one and unusal for the logbook. Take off from Larnaca, turn out to sea, heading 120, and 1 1/2 hours later Beirut appears out of the haze. I did the trip in May and,therefore, it was v warm and effectively IFR above about 2000. Nicosia radar watch you all the way (to make sure you're not spying!!)before handing you over to Beirut. The city itself is pretty bombed out but it is easy to see how it once so thriving.. .. .Rusty Cessna - there is probably every chance that you could fly from RAF Akrotiri as a member of Reserve Forces..In fact definitely because I remember some TA guys doing such a thing when in Cyprus on exercise.. .. .G <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" /> Don't forget your shades !