Wow, C150 = Time Saver = Awesome 3 Days.

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 16:17:29 +0200, Greg Farris
wrote in ::

Sounds like fun!
I was recently (two weeks ago) on an engineering job outside of Paris France
(180nm SW of Paris). My programmer was arriving from Los Angeles on Friday
morning, and we had to get him to the site in time to meet with the
contractors before they all took off for the weekend. I could drive up to get
him, but as you say this would have been 4 hours each way - tiring to the
point of being dangerous, and not exactly optimal use of my time. Train
schedules were not cooperating, despite the excellent trains in Europe, they
are not perfect to all destinations at all times.

Weather was great though, and there was an airport a couple miles away, with
a flying club where I was able to rent a 172. Did a checkride the night
before, then launched in the morning, had a stunning tour of the French
countryside and had my guy on site before lunch! And the total cost of the
operation was not that much more than the train, that would have had him
there at 5PM.

Everyone was thrilled with the "usefullness" of the small plane that saved
the day - but in truth we sort of hit everything "on the numbers". The trip
was just long enough to be useful, but short enough to be practical. Weather
was fine - couldn't have planned this ahead of time under VFR, Other
transportation means were not coming through - and of course my car was
already there, so we weren't stranded upon landing.

The only "imperfect" element was that in Europe you cannot fly into large,
ommercial airports - at any cost. Charles de Gaulle is strictly off limits to
GA, so I had to get the guy to taxi to a small airport, which cost him some
time and money - but he was more than glad for the sightseeing tour. He only
saved 2.5 hours, compared to me driving him, but for me it was three hours of
relaxing flight, compared with eight hours of stressful driving.

G Faris

What a great story. Thanks for the information.

I thought there was considerably more involved then a typical check
out in renting an aircraft from an French aero club. Are you fluent
in French? What of the differences in ATC operation, charts, etc?

You make it sound so easy.

In article ,
says...


What a great story. Thanks for the information.

I thought there was considerably more involved then a typical check
out in renting an aircraft from an French aero club. Are you fluent
in French? What of the differences in ATC operation, charts, etc?

You make it sound so easy.



I am fluent in French, and have lived, worked and flown there quite a bit.
In this particular case though, both airports were towered with English
speaking permitted, so probably anyone could have done this particular trip.
You can easily buy 1/500 charts, somewhat similar to sectionals (four of them
cover all of France) and they have an excellent on-line service for VFR
approach and airport information plates.

Look at :
http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv..../VAC/P/VAC%20A
D%202.LFPT.pdf

to see the Paris airport I flew into - a 20 min taxi ride from Charles de
Gaulle where my programmer's 777 landed.

Airspace considerations require some familiarity - but everything is charted
and you can get clearances in English. I hear quite a few Brits on the
frequency, though I think you get more efficient service if you communicate in
French, and most non-towered airports are French only.

G Faris