Or a series of bite-size installments to be published periodically in the Club
magazine?
Duncan McFadyean
On Tuesday, June 11, 2002 5:33 PM, Mark Chetwynd-Talbot [SMTP:markt@avnet.co.uk]
wrote:
> Alan,
>
> Another great account. You write so well you really should write a guide for
> everyone yourself! Go on!!
>
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: forum-owner@europaclub.org.uk
> Subject: Europe on a shoestring
>
>
> I've just returned from the second foreign trip in as many weeks, in my
> 'classic', monowheel, 80hp Europa. I fear this may be my last
> opportunity for extended foreign travel for a time as I begin new
> employment on Monday.
>
> Trip 1. The Channel Islands and Geneva.
>
> Day 1 : Rayne - Alderney (Channel Islands) 1hr30 en-route: a night under
> canvas in the island's only licensed campsite.
> Day 2 : Alderney - Le Mans 1hr30 - Annemasse (via Lake Geneva) 3hr15 :
> The hotel, adjacent the airstrip was about ?36/night/person inc.
> breakfast.
> Day 3 : Annemasse - Coulommiers 3hr10: Precautionary. A second night
> under canvas. Beaten back and surrounded by thunderstorms.
> Paradoxically, it never rained once !
> Day 4 : Coulommiers - Abbeville 1hr05 - Rayne 1hr15 : Again, temporarily
> grounded by localised mist on the southern coast of the Channel.
>
> Pondering the dilemma of being stuck in France reminded me of a famous
> turn of the 19th century "The Times" newspaper headline from London,
> centre of the British Empire - "Fog in channel, continent isolated !"
>
> I had a great time. A memorable highlight was a viewing of Lake Leman
> (Lake Geneva) and the Jet d'Eau fountain. From my loftly aspect, I could
> see the mountains all along the southern side of the lake to Evian and
> across to Montreux.
>
> The scariest moment .... probably getting lost (sorry, temporarily
> uncertain of my position !) in the back streets of Annemasse, late on
> Saturday night !
>
> Alderney is a great (if somewhat relaxed!) staging post for onward trips
> to western France. Avgas is currently 52p/litre, and the
> landing/overnight fee, a trifling ?6. Bring your own tent and stay for
> ?4, though be warned, the campsite is at the opposite side of the
> island. Breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast was ?2.50, and was taken
> outdoors while watching the tide creeping up the deserted bay.
> Afterwards, I heaved my huge rucksack some 3 1/2 miles alongside the
> picturesque harbour road and up to the airfield. Now I know how the
> humble snail feels, carrying his home on his back.
>
> Once in Annemasse, it's possible to take an expensive taxi or bus and
> tram to Geneva, cruise the Lake, or take the train to Montreux. (circa
> ?20/return). On departure, if air traffic is light, Geneva International
> (Contrin) may allow zone transit over some of the loveliest terrain in
> Europe.
>
> My homeward journey was interrupted, east of Paris, by an impenetrable
> barrier of 'Cu. Nim.' with fork lightning clearly visible to the north.
> The sky was dark and foreboding. After prevaricating over alternatives
> (make a decision and stick to it !), I elected to drop the aircraft into
> Coulommiers, which is possibly the most remote airfield in the western
> hemisphere. I had no living soul for company overnight, save for
> unwelcome colony of ants nearby. Once again, the tent proved an
> invaluable asset. I cellphoned Orly to tell them of my diversion, though
> they weren't really too interested.
>
> The following morning, I was up with the early light, though once again
> was forced into a diversion due poor visibility and diminishing fuel
> reserves. I selected Abbeville, and on this occasion was fortunate to
> meet with two English pilots with 'bags of time' on their hands. They
> had dedicated the month of June for microlighting the breadth of Europe.
> They kindly dropped me at the local filling station to uplift 40 litres
> of 'Sans plomb 95'.
>
> Refuelled, with improving skies, I struck north toward Calais, and
> opened my flight plan for the hop across the Straits of Dover.
>
> Paradoxically, on the weekend in question, the southern UK enjoyed more
> favourable weather than the continent, and conditions improved as I
> crossed the channel. Into Essex, the visibility extended for 50 miles or
> more.
>
> I was home fourteen hours later than originally planned. It could have
> been much longer. Channel crossings are always at the mercy of
> unpredictable weather. Delays are inevitable if excursions are regular,
> and this should always be allowed for. However, the aircraft and engine
> performed without fault for the entire trip.
>
> Trip 2. The low countries and Scandinavia.
>
> Day 1: Rayne - Calais - Antwerpe, Belgium.
> Overnight in a grubby hotel, near the city Central Station. The area
> around the city square and catherdral is lively and very attractive
> however. The airport is quite expensive. (landing fee ?10).
>
> Day 2: Antwerpe - Gronningen, Holland - Tonder, Denmark.
> Gronningen is again expensive, and European Avgas is typically around an
> astounding ?1/litre. However, the little grass strip at Tonder was
> recommended to me and was warm and welcoming. Fuel was cheaper, and
> overnight accomodation was a sofa within the airfield building itself.
>
> Day 3: Tonder - Antwerpe (3hr) - Rayne.
> I was begining to realise the difficulties of pan European travel within
> the countries of the EU. Highly taxed, and with the necessity of flight
> plans across FIR (read national) boundaries, it becomes a bit an
> administrative nightmare unless you plan the details of your trip well
> in advance of travel. Of course, then you may be at the mercy of the
> weather.
>
> Also, flights should be to Customs airfields if the destination airfield
> is outside of the EU (and vice versa). The UK, not having signed a
> pertinent agreement, is outside of the EU for customs purposes. Since, I
> wasn't sure of how to view Sweden in this context, I abandoned tentitive
> plans to fly there.
>
> I suddenly realised that the cheapest night's accomodation was to be had
> under the roof upon which I am currently paying a fairly sizeable
> mortgage. I headed for home !
>
> Lessons learned:
>
> 1/ The homebuild flying community badly needs a compiled list of
> welcoming, cheap, flexible European airfields. Something like the
> equivalent of 'Farmstrips guide for Europe'. Factors to consider are:
> location, telephone number, language spoken, landing fee, proximity/cost
> of overnight accomodation, local attractions etc.
>
> For Europe, we also need a summary of specific air regulations and
> customs requirements for the country concerned, and whether Euro's are
> acceptable or national currency required. Example: Denmark and the UK.
> (Also note that Denmark and Germany require much higher levels of
> aircraft liability insurance).
>
> Perhaps some of our fellow European builders/pilots would be prepared to
> suggest exchange overnight visits to their local strips by responsible
> pilots from other countries ? Any offers ??
>
> 2/ Long water crossings are frightening, particularly with unreliable
> radio equipment like many Terra 760's.
> They have a tendency to make you re-appraise the safety and logic of
> your decisions whilst en-route ! Thank goodness some aero-engines have
> an excellent in-service record. I realise that the engine doesn't 'know'
> it's over water, however.....
>
> 3/ European Avgas can be horrendously expensive, due tax. UK fuel for
> export (Avgas and Mogas) and fuel from the Channel Islands comes in at
> around half the price. (just over ?9/flying hour as opposed to over
> ?18). The bigger airfields (giving access to Customs, money, provisions,
> accomodation, flight planning services) tend to charge much more to
> land. For heavens sake don't intentionally land at Copenhagen's main
> airport without checking the landing fee first !!!
>
> 4/ Ad hoc flying in Europe is pretty complicated. Planning before
> departure can significantly reduce the administrative overhead. Roll on
> the days of cheap wireless internet access via handhelds, or better
> still, a homebuild pilots guide to shoestring flying in Europe.
>
> ... & I'm trying desperately to avoid the fairly obvious suggestion that
> I should write one myself !!
>
> Alan
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