Mogas Availability in Europe

[olivere44]

Gday there all!

First post on this forum. I've tried searching the forum for info already on this topic (i've seen how people get grilled here) but havent found any.

I was hoping to take a DA-20 Katana from Sweden down through Netherlands and France. It has a Rotax engine and runs on 91/96 UL (or Mogas). But I can't seem to find any information about airports in France or Netherlands which carry Mogas.

If you have any good tips where I could find out (without having to call every single airport in France) then I would really appreciate it!
Cheers

[The Bartender]

If you don't find anyone, the Rotax 912 can run on AVGAS as well...
There's a lot of 912's here in Norway, and most seem to use MOGAS when available, and AVGAS if not...

Some only run on AVGAS...

[olivere44]

yeah that was my first thought too, but the club has a strict rule only Unleaded. They mentioned why, something to do with the carbon deposits on the cylinder walls and that they've had problems with that in the past.

[deing]

In the Netherlands Lelystad EHLE and Hilversum EHHV should have mogas
Just type those airports in google and you should get the airfields websites so you can contact them to crosscheck
For Belgium I haven't seen a mogaspump anywhere

[The Bartender]

yeah that was my first thought too, but the club has a strict rule only Unleaded. They mentioned why, something to do with the carbon deposits on the cylinder walls and that they've had problems with that in the past.

Sounds strange to me..
We've had 912's here that have logged over 1,000 hours on a combination of AVGAS and MOGAS without problems..
My former instructor does over 300 hours a year on his 912 with mostly AVGAS...

[effortless]

I asked a petroleum chemist about this once. Not an aviation expert but he said that modern unleaded may actually have a cleaning effect. This said he wouldn't do anything without ringing the manufacturer first. Don't know if this is useful.

[Jhieminga]

I can verify that Lelystad airport in The Netherlands has Mogas available, the Cessnas I rent there all run on it.

Website: click here

To check for Mogas availability you could have a look through the Dutch AIP on this page: http://www.ais-netherlands.nl/ (select 'AIS publications' on the left, agree to the terms and choose the 'Integrated Package', it is in English).

As for France, I cannot answer that part of your question. My suggestion would be to start with the French AIP. If you go to a local (largish) FIO they might have it available, alternatively it may be available online.

[olivere44]

Thanks everyone for all your help, I appreciate it!

[old,not bold]

take a couple of jerry cans and walk the 1/2 mile to the nearest gas station?

I'm all for basic self-help and sod the rules, but anyone doing that should at least understand that the spec and quality from a car petrol station may not be/will not be the same as fuel sold for aircraft use by an authorised seller who is subject (as far as I know, I've never sold MOGAS) to the same quality control checks as a seller of AVGAS. AVTUR etc. There's a CAP on the subject whose number I've thankfully forgotten.

In short, if you use it, don't forget to have your forced landing field pre-selected as you proceed along your merry way. Being an good pilot, you would do that anyway, of course.