Shoreham EGKA UK to Malmo ESMS Sweden, August 2015

[peter-h]

A little IFR trip report EGKA-ESMS
http://www.peter2000.co.uk/aviation/esms/index.html

It gives you the flavour of European light aircraft IFR ops.

I am sure American pilots will say how good a life they have, and they would be right :smile: But once you fly IFR, and provided you stick to reasonably large airports, Europe is easy enough.

 

[JimNtexas]

Fascinating, thanks for posting.

 

[SCCutler]

Thanks, Peter - I always enjoy your trip reports.

A friend and I have discussed (his idea!) flying to Europe via the Blue Spruce Route some day. Still a dream! Your reports make it seem a bit closer to do-able.

 

[ntbjounin]

Excellent writeup!

Do you have any writeups youve done about vfr trips? I havent done much vfr but would love to hear about vfr euro procedures.

 

[peter-h]

Yes - some VFR writeups here

Predictably, once I got the IR (Arizona, 2006) I have done most long trips outside the UK under IFR, because it renders controlled airspace irrelevant and is a much easier way to fly especially in some messy airspaces.

VFR in Europe is same as anywhere else but some airspaces are so complex you have to pretty well hope that you will get a transit. For example look at the VFR leg here (the one from Bergerac to Lucca). Fortunately in that case the French just clear you through, but

- they are not obliged to (unlike e.g. the US Class D "two way contact" concession)

- they possibly won't let you into "danger areas" and def not into prohibited areas

- in most countries CAS clearances are not assured at all

This translates to nearly all VFR being done at low level, say 1500ft, and below the cloud.

 

[Dr. O]

I see EGKA-ESMS as 652 miles great circle (didn't bother calculating your exact route)
That is within 50 miles of our usual first leg going from Michigan to Florida, a route we have flown many times over the past 20+ years.
I usually do not talk to anyone other than announcing my landing/takeoff on unicom. Maybe one trip out of 5 or 6 I will have to file for weather - and that could be avoided by a RON.
Your pictures are great. The country(s) is scenic. But I diligently avoid socialist pestholes.