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Why Cross the English Channel

For aircraft based in the South of England, Le-Touquet is closer than Cardiff or Manchester. France, Belgium and Holland are unusual and different, furthermore many of the towns along the French coast are not readily accessible to us except by ferry and a long car journey taking several days. By air we can reach these magical places and be home in time for tea.

Above: the G-BASH flying group relaxing at Honfleur

In England light aircraft pilots are tolerated, in France we are greeted as guests and as tourists. Airfields such as Calais and Le-Touquet exist solely to serve this tourist market and it is with civic pride that the local "Chambre du Commerce" will operate its local airport.

Advantages

• France is more relaxed, it is a big place, and the skies are more open, air traffic control are far less paranoid.
• The airfields are better equipped and much cheaper.
• It is unusual to pay more than £6.00 for a landing at a regional airport.
• Many regional airports are fully equipped with a Fire Service, full time air traffic control and an Instrument Landing System.
• Fuel in the Channel Islands is approximately half the price of the UK.

Disadvantages:

• We must cross 50 miles of sea to get there.
• We need to interact with Customs and Excise
• We need to File Flight Plans cross Flight Information Region boundaries.