Navigation in France 2016

[Roger Mole]

Here's a link from my blog that anyone who's thinking about visiting France this year might be interested in, especially if they have a GPS system. You don't have to have SkyDemon - it can be easy and quite inexpensive once you've crossed that 20 miles of water.

http://www.micro-trike.co.uk/wordpre...n-france-2016/

[Leaving now]

A question for all the Francophiles on the forum:

Can an Ultralight fly in France without a transponder fitted? if you can, can you cross an FIR boundary sans transponder?
We are being told that any flightplans submitted & actioned will automatically be assigned a squawk code? Don't understand that part because if you don't have a transponder you can't squawk.

[Roger Mole]

Yes, you'll be OK so long as you remain clear of Class D and above airspace. I flew from the UK to the Dordogne in my old AX3 'sans transpondeur' back in the day and back to the UK and return last year in my Savannah. Just make sure that your navigation is good ie use a GPS based system that shows airspace.

Note that for customs clearance, Le Touquet is in Class D while Calais is not and Abbeville is no longer a customs airfield, sadly.

Same applies to 25KHz radios - approved in France to 2020 so long as you remain clear of Class D and above airspace.

[Leaving now]

Thank you Roger The DGAC actually gave me an even better bit of news

Dsac Sud Aviation Générale Envoyé par : PATRIS Pascal	08:16 (3 hours ago)
to me

Dear Sir

There are no problems to fly in France with a 3 axes ultralight without a transponder. You only need to fly on the airspace non-controled. In FRANCE the transponder is mandatory only in the CTR, near the big airports.
So you can cross all the FRANCE airspace without transponder. In FRANCE the most of ultralight aircrafts haven't any transponder and even any radio.
Sorry for my english but I hope you understand my answer.

Sincere Regards

Pascal PATRIS

DSAC-S/SR/OPA/AG
Direction de la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile Sud
Département Surveillance et Régulation
Division Opérations Aériennes
Subdivision Aviation Générale
Allée Saint-Exupéry
BP 60100
31703 BLAGNAC
tel : 05 67 22 91 47
fax : 05 67 22 91 41
E-mail :pascal.patris@aviation-civile.gouv.fr
ou dsacsud-aviationgenerale@aviation-civile.gouv.fr (boite fonctionnelle)

[Roger Mole]

Yes, he's absolutely right but I would caution against doing the Channel Crossing 'sans radio'.

Also not having a radio limits where you can land - unnecessary at most small ULM airfields but most 'mixed' airfields, even quite large general aviation fields eg Aurillac which is served by Jump ATRs, require radio and many also say 'FR seulement' (French only).

Like most if not all French aviation bureaucrats, Mr. Patris is bending over backwards to help, so good on him.

So come on over, you'll have fun and if you need any more info (airfield cards, routes etc) just ask.

Remember that during the week (and on some NOTAMed days) France is criss-crossed with low level corridors used by l'Armée de l'air and you MUST NOT enter them during the hours while they're active. Active days and hours are published so it's not a problem but depending where you're headed for, they may influence your choice of route/time/height etc

[Leaving now]

Roger,
I am aware of http://www.dircam.dsae.defense.gouv..../activite-rtba so the RTBA won't be catching me out. I suspect the French Military won't be able to slow down enough to 'escort' a ICP Savannah out of their airspace but could quite easily stick a heat seeker into our trusty 912s so we will be complying to staying out of their way
We will have a handheld onboard hardwired to 12v power but may choose to adopt a listening watch only enroute & just use it for calls inbound to landing sites.
FR seulement bothers me a bit because I am only ENG seulement I guess saying the language of aviation is English will only " Vraiment pipi le ATC francais de "

[Roger Mole]

Roger,
We will have a handheld onboard hardwired to 12v power but may choose to adopt a listening watch only enroute & just use it for calls inbound to landing sites.
FR seulement bothers me a bit because I am only ENG seulement I guess saying the language of aviation is English will only " Vraiment pipi le ATC francais de "

That's perfectly OK and it's what I did on my flight from Stoke to the Dordogne in my old AX3. But don't worry!

Unless an ATC service is indicated on an airfield card, even quite large airfields only want you to help others by broadcasting your position, intentions etc, usually on the universal 123.5 unless indicated otherwise.

To assist myself in this when I first arrived here I found some good English/French stuff on the internet which I have unashamedly nicked and posted for download on my blog

http://micro-trike.co.uk/downloads/f...ch_Phrases.txt

http://micro-trike.co.uk/downloads/f...h_Phrases2.txt

Brush up a bit and you WILL get by, trust me.

Even at quite large airfields with ATC and 'FR seulement' they will know immediately that you are English and will appreciate (and respect) your giving it a go. Then they will invariably come back to you in English, maybe not perfect mind, so you don't flounder.

This is a very positive, helpful and friendly country regards aviation and everyone without exception will bend over to help just so long as you don't abuse the system eg by flying blatantly through restricted airspace and operational danger zones.

Regarding the corridors, you might find the following link helpful because it shows exactly which corridors and where are/will be active for a couple of days ahead without the need to work it out for yourself, plus it takes account of any specially NOTAMed activity.

https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/schedules

[jetlag]

Beware the Frenchies and their military just love to fly low, very low, I have had them below me when I'm at 1000'. I jollied along the Gironde the other day direction the "central Nucleaire" (Nuclear power station) kept well outside the zone and then did a 180°, when I was not far off Talmont at 1500' I had a big BLUE helicopter fly slowly below me left to right. Maybe just a coincidence, but them chappies are the Gendarmes d'air. We had an ATC from Birmingham staying with a friend and he was "gob smacked" at the level of help, assistance and we ULM's receive from their French conterparts. It aint 'alf good 'ere

https://basulm.ffplum.fr/ for listing for all the runways/microlight/clubs/private and most of them are FREE to land and take off

http://www.ffplum.info/ for lots n lots of info

Bon vols