Crossing the Alps by Heli? Anyone done it?
 

Hi folks,

Could anyone help me with info and/or tips in regards crossing the Alps from germany via austria to Italy and v.v. by helicopter?
Thanks
Off road

Surely there's someone who can help?

Did it the other way last year collecting a new Agusta from Vergiate. Glad to help if I can, send me a private msg so we can email.
Regards.

Follow the yellow brick road.
 

I’ve done it both ways at least ten times but I was in an automobile. My suggestion is to fly on a clear day filing VFR. Fly east from Munich till you hit a major artery going to the South. Follow that road to Innsbruck. Still following that road fly over the Brenner Pass moving from Austria going into Italian airspace. If fuel is no problem keep flying until you hit a major Autostrada going east and west. Hanging a left will take you to Venice and a right will take you to Milan and if you keep going, to Torino.

Good luck and safe flying.


:ok:

Mr. Zuckerman has hit it right on the nose.

I've done it 4 times this year and that is by far the easiest route. You will lose contact with Wien info enroute just north of Innsbruck and you'll get them fairly late but crossing their airspace is not a problem. They like to keep you above 4000ft while crossing due to the departing/arriving IFR traffic. Then up to the brenner and bob's your uncle until you pick up the Italian FIS.
Lovely view on a nice day but keep your eye on the winds they can be a bit sharpish.
Have fun.
I stopped in Padova on the first trip over, dead friendly not to expensive and a GREAT pizza restaurant close to the hotle in the centre :ok:

I've never done it myself, but someone tried to do it in an R22 a few years back. The machine came home on a trailer and they were lucky not to come back in black plastic bags.

Seems to me you need a fair amount mountain experience and a understand the limitations of the machine.

You dont say what type you'll be using or if you've done flown in mountains before so I'm sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs.

If you can be more specific on your departure point and destination then I could clutter up the web space and offer more advice. In the meantime here is a good site for a weather check, if you are heading further towards Milan I can give you some direct phone numbers to an English speaking Italian Met man. Very useful in the Alps!!

http://sunba2.ba.infn.it/images/d2.jpg

Watch out for gliders and hang-gliders, especially at weekends! Sky was full of them last time I passed that way in a Super Puma.

:sad:

I have crossed the Alps several times at different times of the year. I go by the GAFOR routes in Switzerland, or if clear by direct route. The GAFOR routes are given in Jeppesen and will give you the flight planning routes and the weather on those routes can be got from www.meteoschweiz.ch, and follow the business and internal flights to get to the GAFOR wx.
The swiss met system is very good.
Have you flown in the mountains before? If you are new to mountains I suggest that you look for the lowest routes on the nicest day. Wind can be very tricky!
It's really beautiful and satisfying. St Gallen is a good place to stop for fuel. There is a mountain radio frequency 130.35, but check that it hasn't changed.