LEAVING THE UK:- The best way to fly yourself out to France by microlight is to keep the risk to a minimum, and wherever you are flying from in the UK, head for the shortest channel crossing between Dover/Folkestone, and Cap Gris Nez. If needing to stop in the UK before crossing the Channel, then the airfields of Headcorn (Lashenden), or Lydd are suitable microlight-friendly stop-off points. Links are included below to both these excellent airfields so that you may obtain all the information that you need about them.
Don't forget that you will need to file a flight plan for the cross-channel section of the flight. Making sure you have a flight plan form with you already filled in, they can be filed by phone with:-
Heathrow Flight Briefing Unit on:- 020-8750-2615/2616/2617/2618.
Once the flight plan is successfully completed to the destination aerodrome, it will be considered closed. However, if for any reason, you fail to take off and activate the flight plan, make sure the authorities are aware of the fact that the flight is not going to take place. Or, if you have to divert to an airfield other than your destination, again, make sure that the authorities are aware of this. Should you require help in filling out a flight plan form for a microlight flight from the UK to France, then you can contact us via e-mail.
When planning flights to France, please make sure that your first "port of call" is to a customs aerodrome on the French side. On the right is seen the most suitable aerodrome, Le Touquet (LFAT) as it has refuelling and customs facilities available all the time, is en-route to us and fluent English is spoken both on the radio, and when making use of the ground facilities.
Le Touquet Airfield Information:-
- Tel: 0033-321-050399
- Airfield elevation 21ft
- Lat N50°30.560' Long E001°37.440'
- Radio Frequency 118.45MHz
- Rwy 14/32 tarmac, 1850m x 40m
- Rwy 06/24 tarmac, 1200m x 40m
Flights across the channel should be done as high as possible with regard to cloudbase to minimise the "at risk" time in the event of an engine failure mid- channel. The maximum height that can be used with regard to controlled airspace above is Flight Level 65, and in fact this should be used as the crossing height wherever possible, for the reasons already stated. It is recommended that at least 10 mins before "coasting out", contact is established with London Information on 124.60MHz. You stay with London information until you are mid-Channel, at which time you change frequency to Lille on 120.37MHz, where you will find fluent English spoken.
ARRIVING IN FRANCE:- Having passed over to the French side of the Channel, you will stay with Lille until just North of Boulogne, when you should establish contact with Le Touquet on 118.45MHz to obtain authority to enter their Control Zone.
Don't forget your aircraft documents and passports!!
Aircraft documents are rarely required, but should be with you just in case. Passports are however still definitely required, as the UK has not signed up to the "Schengen" agreement. You should make your way to the "Douanes" (Customs) office to show your passports.
Once you have shown your passports, you should then go to the booking-in desk, only a short distance away to give your aircraft details (microlights in France are known as ULM's-Ultra Légers Motorisés). At the same time as giving these you can request fuel from the fuel bowser. You should go back to your aircraft and the fuel bowser will arrive shortly afterwards. After refuelling, you will then make your way back to the booking-in desk to pay.
Once the refuelling needs of your aircraft have been looked after, you can attend to the refuelling needs of passengers/pilots! There is an excellent restaurant on site at the airport where, if you are there at lunch or dinner time, first-class meals can be had. Outside of those times, tea/coffee and sandwiches are available.
After leaving Le Touquet, the next recommended destination (depending on aircraft range) is 161 miles Southwest to the airfield of Flers St. Paul (LFOG), Lower Normandy. If unable to reach Flers in one go, a good idea is to break the journey at Dieppe, from where any modern microlight can reach Flers, irrespective of wind conditions.
Flers aerodrome is pictured at left, and relevant information is shown below for you. If you have no luck with the numbers shown, try calling us on the phone number shown in the banner above, and we'll try to help.
Flers Airfield Information
- No phone number for ATC - just announce intentions on 123.50MHz
- 3 phone numbers available for fuel (airfield not normally manned during the week):-
- 0033-233-655980 (1st choice)
- 0033-688-733371 (2nd choice)
- 0033-233-650917 (3rd choice)
- Airfield elevation 656ft
- Lat N48°45.090' LongW000°34.22'
- Radio frequency 123.50MHz
- Rwy 06/24, tarmac, 720m x 25m
Your destination is shown here at left looking from the '11' end of our runway roughly in the direction of 160°(M), and below from the '29' end of the runway roughly in the direction of 260°(M).
La Baule Airfield Information:-
- Aerodrome code LFRE
- Airfield elevation 105ft Variation 4°W (1995)
- Runway orientation: 11/29
- Dimensions: 950m x 25m (1045yd x 28yd)
- Surface paved, strength 2.5tonnes/wheel
- Runway lighting: nil
- Radio: La Baule Information 121.40MHz
- When radio not manned, announce intentions on 121.40MHz (auto-information)
- Fuel: 100LL Avgas and Jet A1
- Co-ordinates:
Lat: 47°17'22"N Long: 002°20'47"W
(Lat: 47°17.367'N Long: 002° 20.783'W) - Operating hours (local time) between 1st Sept and 30th June are 0900hrs - 1200hrs, 1330hrs - 1900hrs, every day (except Tuesdays) inc. every weekend and bank holidays. Operating hours (local time) between 1st July and 31st August are 0845hrs - 2000hrs (continual)
