Karel and David
The Belgium issue is rather worse than you suggest. A friend checked
with the Belgium authorities prior to planning a visit to a Belgium
Fly-in. He was advised that they did have a reciprocal agreement with
the UK regarding accepting the UK permits. and that they would issue him
with a Belgium permit based on his UK permit to allow him to visit the
Fly-in. Would he please send them 80 Euro's for the Belgium permit ! ! !
. My friend decided that in these circumstances he would not make the
visit and advised the Belgium Authorities of that decision, all was Ok
until some weeks later he received an invoice for the Permit that was
never issued. He is still trying to unravel this blunder, and is very
reluctant to plan a flight any where near just in case.
Be very wary of contact with these organisations ! !. I like David have
travelled to Holland or France rather than make a stop in Belgium. If I
had to make an unplanned stop for any reason I would studiously avoid
any mention of a Permit and try and pretend that the Europa is a little
known version of a two seat PA28.
Having said all that I have had good service from Oostende approach in
passing through their airspace.
regards
Tim H
David Joyce wrote:
> <davidjoyce@doctors.org.uk>
>
> Karel, We have always had to fly into a customs airfield as our first
> landing anywhere in Schengen, but it's worse than that as far as
> Belgium goes, as pretty much alone in central European countries it
> still insists on us seeking prior permission to land a permit aircraft
> there, which is a real pain! So although I have several times flown
> along the whole length of the Belgian coast I have studiously avoided
> landing there. Not of course that I have anything against Belgian pilots!
> Regards, David
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "karelvranken"
> <karelvranken@hotmail.com>
> To: "Europa List" <europa-list@matronics.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:01 PM
> Subject: Europa-List: Warning.
>
>
> Dear Europaphiles,
> During the month of october I received a lettre from the Belgian
> Federal Police notifying me that for the exit or entrance in the
> Shengen Countries we need to use one of the six recognised aerports in
> Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp, Lige, Charleroi, Ostend and Kortrijk.
> Offenders shall be fined....etc.
> Last time I was in England I coasted in at Lydd. There was nobody in
> the office nor police nor customs. The other times before I never saw
> the customs in Popham, Dunkeswell or Welshpool even when I asked for,
> several hours in advance with the adequate form.
> I never refuse a control from whatever authority, if they ask me. But
> why have I to pay and tell them what I will do with my small aircraft?
> Is this European freedom? Why were we upset in Arad (Roumania) or
> Forli (Italia) with this officialdom?
> To avoid the cost for 4 extra landings (Lydd 15 and Kortrijk 23 Euro)
> or approximately 92 Euro for a one day trip to England, I suggested
> that they could attach an electronic stamp to my ankle like is done
> for prisonners in conditional liberty. They said that is only for
> light criminals! (Joke)
> Best regards,
> Karel Vranken, #447 F-PKRL
>
>
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