How to fly to France from Germany

VFRnav Support
1

Hi Karsten, @KBfly

I’d be very happy to help you or others fly in France.

Of course you have to speak English or French on the radio. I believe it’s mandatory to file a flight plan to cross the border and to land at an aerodrome that has customs service. (?)

Once that formality is completed you can fly freely in France while respecting the chart.

It’s on this second part that I could help you without limit.

You can largely fly in France without a radio (uncontrolled zones or Class E). It’s fairly easy to avoid zones where the radio is mandatory.

You can take off from an X airfield to go to Y without stating your flight intentions, even on a 600 km trip at 4,000 ft for example. You don’t have to account for yourself as long as you don’t cross Class D or R zones, nor CTRs.

Otherwise, with a minimum of English, if you can receive and read back to the FIS officer a transponder code, a radio frequency and a QNH that unlocks transitions into Class D. (Otherwise you have to go around.) For R zones that depends on the reason for the R, its activity (active or not), and whether you can obtain authorization or not. In general you can easily pass above or below R zones if in doubt.

For Class C with “control”, you need operational English otherwise it’s going to get hot! :skull_and_crossbones: Same for CTRs.

In France 90% of runways are open! Good news.

We could talk for a long time but it’s best to talk about what particularly interests you. Don’t hesitate to ask targeted questions. If you have a project, a route, etc., it will be easy to discuss a concrete plan.

I’m good at cartography, but not at paperwork. I’ve never filed a flight plan in my life… I have a lot to learn on that side! I hope to fly to Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Germany should be easy for me because I’m bilingual :winking_face_with_tongue: however I don’t know the local rules! Flight declaration, etc. It will be best to open a separate thread for that.

I’m located between Paris and Brittany. So W - N/W. I fly an ultralight (ULM) with a 912ULS, radio, transponder. Cruise speed 130 km/h at 4,200 rpm, range 800 km. I don’t like to fly faster; if needed a sustained 160 km/h would be possible but it doesn’t appeal to me. (205 Vne) I also do mountain flying (Alps and Pyrenees). With the tent and the gas stove, and the restaurant when there is one.

I remain at your disposal for any questions you may have. We can also talk by phone.

Safe flight,

Daniel.

2

Thanks so much, Daniel,

When I have something specific planned, I’ll gladly reach out to you with my questions.

Best regards,

Karsten

3

Hi Daniel,

thank you very much for your absolutely valuable contribution on flying in France!!

Really great!

France has long been a dream destination for me to visit with an ultralight (ULM). But you just don’t dare.

Could you perhaps name an airfield near the German border that you know and can recommend? I understand some French, but I can’t speak it. Therefore a field with English communications would be very advantageous for me.

Do you also use 7000 as the transponder code on VFR cross-country flights outside controlled airspace?

Thanks again! :clap:

4

Many thanks from me too for the info! :ok_hand:

5

Hello,

Yes, 7000 is the code you squawk at each takeoff until you receive another code from AFIS or the controller.

You can fly freely in classes G and E with your 7000, without any other limitation up to FL115 maximum.

The semicircular rule applies above 3,000 ft (3,500, 5,500, 7,500 etc. for 0°–179° and 4,500, 6,500, 8,500 etc. for 180°–359°)

Here is a very good summary of flying in Europe.

FFPLUM — Flying in Europe

Finally, it is not necessary to go through customs within the Schengen Area, but you must file a flight plan and activate it to cross the border, and then close it afterwards. So radio in English. (You can also close by telephone.)

Which exact model of UL (ultralight) do you have? 600 kg, 525 kg, 450 kg? Already certified in France or not? (Otherwise you must fill in a derogation form.)

Which area would you like to go for your first flight? Lorraine or Alsace?

For landing/takeoff do you want radio in English with an AFIS and a big runway, or a local AD (aerodrome) with a grass runway in self-information and you manage with a few words… Sarrebourg ZoulouDelta downwind 04… Sarrebourg ZD base 04… Sarrebourg ZD final 04, Sarrebourg ZD at parking I leave the frequency.

(Downwind, base, final, quit, but it has to be in French where there is no agent).

Sorry for the number of questions; with more details the answer will be better targeted. :grinning_face:

Have a good flight.

Daniel.

Ps. En auto info

AD-2.LFGT.pdf (178,2 Ko)

AD-2.LFSH.pdf (207,3 Ko)

AD-2.LFGY.pdf (151,8 Ko)

6

Hello,

I had changed this note into French, but the translation doesn’t seem to have followed?

Can anything be done about that?

E.g.: shortened three maps and texts.

Other things to know:

Within France you can fly freely to any airfield that is registered “Ouvert à la CAP”*. You don’t need a flight plan. Just announce yourself on the radio 3 minutes in advance. Please use the correct frequency!

If the CAP airfield has an AFIS, there is usually a small fee to pay, e.g. €10.

If there’s only an A/A frequency, it’s free.

*ouvert à la CAP “open to public airfield circulation”

Have a good flight.