Flying in France (incl Permits, Private sites and Pictures)
 

Any body care to pass on any info. about flying a helo around France.(UK REG)
Is there a list of approved helisites/lz`s/, or can one land anywhere with owners permission,etc.
Done a search, and tried the Fr. CAA site ,but no Joy?Syc.:rolleyes:

I remember that Pilot magazine had an article about a group of helos flying round France, but it was several years ago and I can't even remember the date. However, you could try their site I suppose.

Sycamore,

My recollection is hazy but I believe that there are considerable restrictions in France about off-airfield landings. One of the French Government Departments issues (after considerable delay) a helisurface permit (or something like that). This authorises you to make off-airfield landings but I think you are supposed to contact the local mayor for each landing.

As you can see, my memory is not perfect, but some years ago I planned a trip similar to yours and was pointed down this route.

I hope someone else can firm up on these issues for you. Perhaps a French pilot/operator could assist?

Habilitation a Utiliser les Helisurfaces
 

Prefecture de police

Direction de la Circulation, des Transports et du Commerce.

Delivree conformement aux dispositions du Code de L'Aviation Civile (Art.D. 132-6 et de le l'arrete du Mai 6 1995 relatif aux Aerodromes et autres emplacements utilises par helicopteres.

In a nutshell:

Yes it takes a while to get.

Must be processed in Paris.

You may have to prove you have no criminal record.

Is valid for 10 years.

The basic concept is that you shall inform via fax prior to use of limited or unlicenced helisurfaces in addition to PPR from the owner and/or operator. Then when someone complains they already know who you are! Welcome to France. Do not operate without it unless you enjoy visits from the CRS. ( The questions come later types)

For assistance contact Nigel Watson Heli-Riviera - Brit located at LFMD. http://www.heliriviera.com/ He did offer a service to obtain one for you.

Otherwise France is as helicopter friendly or more so than anywhere else. They have a large helicopter manufacturing industry as well so..........

I've flown several trips through France and i do hold a Heli Surf Certificate. I have landed at several off airfield locations, Chateau's etc and have never been asked a single question. In my opinion the French are a lot more relaxed than they are made out to be, there are airfields everywhere all much better equiped than English fields. The flying is great just be careful of the military corridors they are difficult to see on the charts.

france
 

Thanks guys for the gen,but one last question ,or two. Is the certificate for a named person,and specific reg. a/c, or can it be a company blanket cover for pilots and a/c; and does it cover specific areas or general?
thanks again , Syc.

SYCAMORE,

My Heli Surf is simply in my name and lasts for ten years. They take about 3 - 6 months to arrive once applied for. I believe you need a miniumun of 250 hours to be granted one

Try www.aero-checkpoint-charlie.com for details about Burgundy.

I am a Brit based in France, where I've done all of my helicopter flying (including the training). Just to say most of the above is correct - although just to be precise, the permit or 'carte' is named and for a physical person (not a company) and you do not need to prove that you have no criminal record (I guess they look for themselves). As far as I am aware, there is no minimum time required to qualify for this permit (I had less than 100hrs). It is obtained from the Préfecture de Police in Paris, and is valid for all French territory.
Again, to be precise, you then fax warning of each landing at an off aerodrome location (before the landing, even 1 hour before) and must have written permission of land owner.
Apparently, this exists to help protect against criminal activity using helicopters (smuggling, prison escapes, etc.).

heli fly in France
 

Thanks all once again for the gen. on the paperwork trail; one last question, ; tel.nos, and addresses would complete the picture, or a copy of the form?
Syc

Does anyone know the official direct contact to obtain the heli surface permit? Is it through the French Embassy in London? I would appreciate the details as I am sure others who are contemplating a flight to France would benefit.

I must say I've flown around France many times over the last 15 years and landed at private sites (mainly hotels) on I guess 50 occasions over the years. In the past I have never had the landing permit and have never even been asked for one, let alone had a problem. Nevertheless I did think I ought to get one and sent off the forms about 9 months ago. Still haven't heard back!

I may well have just been lucky all the time. Perhaps those who have been asked to produce the permit could let us know!

Anyone any news for me? Re my previous enquiry.

france
 

OK guys, i have got a tel.no in Paris and have just spoken,in Franglais/phonetics,to request un dossier," habilitation de utiliser les helisurfaces". Tel .no 0033-153-71-45-23( or 35-73).I await the post.!;)

Just got back from Paris today- We took six ships out to Issy Helliport yesterday which is in the centre of town. two R22s,an R44, a 206, an Allouette and an EC120. spent the night in Paris and took a leisurely flight back this afternoon. The French controllers were all extremely helpful especially at Issy. Total cost for an R22 landing and 24hrs parking about thirty quid- Which, when you compare the service at Al Fayed Field is quite incredible.
Still he's got to pay for his flight to switzerland somehow i suppose....
Would recommend it to anyone.

Sycamore

Prefecture de Police
9 Boulevard du Palais
75195 Paris RP

Tel 01 53 71 53 71 0r 01 53 73 53 73

I think i phoned to get a fax number, then wrote requesting an application form. complete the form and return it. You should get a reply about the time your next ECG is due!!!

Hope this helps

transit down France
 

May have to go to the S of France shortly, and was looking at routing via Pontoise,Nevers,Valence,Aix, Nice/Cannes.
Anyone got any helpful hints, Customs, lunch-break,toilets to avoid,poss. stop in case of bad wx.
Iknow there are other direc routes, but this may be with pax. so1/1/2 hrs is probable bladder dep.
Also , are there any heli-routs around Nice/ Cannes ,/ areas to avoid etc. I did know a few of the fried-egg beaches, but it`s a bit more blue -rinse now !!
Any suggestions much appreciated.
Syc..:D

I always routed via Troyes - Grenoble and through the mountains. I must have done that 6 or 7 times and never had any weather snags. Very attractive route and not many people you have to talk to.

Troyes is a total sleepy hollow but has Jet A1, the old town is lovely if you need to nightstop.

Grenoble (St George) has a slick little restaurant on site.

Try to find someone with the French section of Bottlang. Every airfield has its routes, especially for helis, and it has quite a good chart for the South Coast and its routes.

I'd agree: Aix isn't really on the way to Nice and the area around Marseille is pretty crowded/busy. Depending on your range, I once did Gatwick to Dijon for refuel then Cannes via Grenoble overhead for another fuel stop. As said, quiet traffic region and spectacular scenary. If range is limiting then stopping at Troyes and Grenoble should make for a pleasant jaunt.

I don't know, here we are in the Isle of Man trying to hold things together, and you are swanning around in continental Europe now.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous

You should understand,Standto, that everything was fine when I left to help out the English, again!!

Try Troyes (LFQB) then Villefranche Tarare (LFHV) which is North West of Lyon. Aparantly a great chateau there with top lunch and bloke called Patrick (I think) who is a heli nut and will sort you out with all the stuff you need.

Other than that Macon, Grenoble or Valence are also considerations.

After there, pick your way through/over the Alps to DGN (loads of gliders at Sisteron) but mind the Natural Park and the bombing range between DGN and Cannes!

Enjoy, its a great trip once you get south of Troyes.

Woss goin on is right.

Villefranche a/p is small but very good. The Heli Club de Beaujolais is based there. Chateau Bagnols, where I stayed this weekend, is excellent - but seriously expensive!!

Good luck............

Thanks, guys, all very helpful gen.The reason to go round the S. via Aix was to keep nearer to the TGV in case of Wx,etc so the pax can continue.I`m sure you know the story- plan on "X" pax, and "X+2", and of course more baggage, will turn up to go -- so, legs get shorter , more refuels, days are shorter ,etc, etc.
27 yrs ago I ferried a couple of Gazelles to Marseille/rtn from a secret Wilts a/f in just under 5 hrs(flying)each way,with 3 stops for customs/ fuel/lunch at Vichy,which had /has? a superb little restaurant. No GPS, only a roll of maps and TANS.

I don't know what your leg times are but here are a few places to visit.
LeTouquet -very quick to refuel/landing fees. Good local hotels
Dijon - same here
Lyon Bron - can be a slow process if you arrive when there are others waiting.
Valance - very quick on fuel/fees. Havent tried hotels. It might not be open, so check.
Chalon sur Seine - can take some time if you are not famil with pumps/flight plan/met computers. Nearby hotel.
Gap - very pleasant, good service

France sitefinder
 

Is there a French equivalent of the UK sitefinder book? Preferably in English.

Landing outside official sites is not easy in France; for one thing, you need a French 'Heli-Surface' permit: which is relatively easy to obtain, but takes time to obtain. Once you have one it's valid for 10 years or so. Other than look in the Guide Delage (French equivalent of Pooleys etc) I too would be interested in the wisdom of others.......

Probably not answering your question but there are a number of helipads listed on the French SIA website at http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv....set_aip_fr.htm Drill down through France Metropolitaine and so on.

Ask at the HCGB, many have gone before .....

The Helicopter Club certainly provides its members with application forms for the Helisurface Landing Permit, together with an English translation, but I'm not sure about the sitefinder. I'll try to find out.

Flying in France
 

Some usefull info

(from the south of France at this very moment)


Heli-surface permit is valid for 6 years



General info (very useful and lots of references)

http://flyinfrance.free.fr/


Gouvernement

http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/


In particular official Heli-Paths

http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv....set_aip_fr.htm



High altitude

http://www.afpm.org/AFPMfiches-diffusion.htm


Delta3

As it is myself who organises most of the events for HCGB I have spent a considerable amount of time researching French hotel sites.and am always pleased to help other members.

There used to be a publication called "Helite". I think it only ran for about five years with the last one being published around 1999.

Several members of HCGB have copies, including myself. Another good reason to join!

The "Relais & Chateau" Guides show helicopter landing facilities as also does the "Johansens" Guide under facilities search criteria.
Otherwise it is word of mouth or trawl through various other hotel guides and call up the likely looking ones. They are not usually too difficult to spot. I look for country location and at least three hectares of clear land. Cross checking guides against hotel websites can also be useful as many contain aerial photographs.

A note of caution however, sometimes the GPS co-ordinates given are not correct. I have seen east/west transposed. I always plot the given positions back on to a map and also buy a copy of the French IGN Series Bleu 1/25,000 to work out the position if none is given. IGN maps are obtainable from [url]www.stanfords.co.uk

Also be careful about assurances from hotel owners who tell you their site is OK for helis, they may forget to tell you about wires, obstacles or the 20 degree slope. I have on occasion spoken to local French commercial operators to ask them about a particular site.

Occasionally I have been asked for a landing fee (£40 once) with some spurious justification. I always refuse and that is usually the end of the matter.

I am always looking for new venues if anyone comes up with any.

Incidentally "delta 3" is not quite correct in saying that the French Helisurface Permit lasts for six years. I think that the way it works is that your first permit is only valid for 2/3 years and if there is no problem reported then on subsequent applications the period of validity is extended. I am on my third permit which was issued in 1997 and is valid until 2007. I can't overstress the importance of having a Helisurface Landing Permit. Last year a friend was being given a hard time by local Gendarmes after making a precationary landing with an engine problem. All was smiles when he produced the permit.

Flying in France
 

to chalmondleigh


I do agree with your post. Especially the relais and chateaux which I also visit frequently, and I agree about the errors in GPS coordinates, which I do tend to notify to the hotels if found incorrect. You also can land at places that do not have registered heli-surfaces. The villages mair has an important say in that.

For the permit I only can state that my permit issued by the departement of Le Var, is valid for 6 years, which is according to my information (see the french AIP) the normal time span.

delta3

Flying in France (incl Landing at Private sites)
 

Have been asked by boss to ferry guests between private residence in French countryside and a small motor race happening mid-June......
Whilst I get my head into the books in the sun that is not Cheltenham, has anyone out there done this sort of thing before?
Anyone au-fait re permissions required/regs for running a private shuttle service within France - off airfield site to racetrack?
It's all private work, using private company chopper and company pilot, flying friends of boss, no fees being charged etc.
Does Le Mans run a heliport at the track during the week or do we have to use the airport like those plank-type things?

You as a pilot need a permit for off airport landings, to be applied for in Paris, I think with the police and the CAA.
So that´s that and on top of that the landings sites need to be approved.

It´s been quite a while...
I didn´t have that personal off-airport permit since we switched pilot on short notice and was fined about 3800 pounds (in court!):*

So, be prepared.

Cheers

EESDL

You will need to apply to the Prefecture de Police for a "Habilitation a utiliser les helisurfaces".

Their address is:
9, boulevard du Palais
75195 Paris, Cedex
Ph: +33 1 53715371
email: [email protected]

Remember, this only covers you as the pilot. It will be valid for 10 years. The landing site permits are a different matter.

Hope this helps. ;)

EESDL, PM for you ..

Expect anything between 6 - 12 months to get your Helisurface.

Ive had one for almost ten years, flown in france regular lots of off airport landings and never ever been asked for it,

But if you don't have one you know what will happen

many thanks,
sycamore - pm didn't get through!

I think I sent an e-mail, but it was same info as Oogle; there was a heli company at Le Mans(+33 (2) 4372 0770 who may help.. Syc