Flying a Light Aircraft from the UK to France

Planning Required to Cross the English Channel in a Small Plane

Oct 21, 2008 Helen Krasner

Many British pilots would like to fly to France but are worried about the paperwork and other organisation involved. But it is not difficult if one plans carefully.

Flying from England to France is very easy. The English Channel is only 18 miles wide at its narrowest point, and there are plenty of airfields near the coast in both England and France. Many pilots who have not flown outside their own countries are put off by the legal formalities involved, but they really don’t need to be.

Documents Needed for a Flight to France

The pilot and all passengers will need their passports or some other form of identification. The pilot will need to make sure he has all the aircraft’s papers, including the Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Airworthiness, the licence for the aircraft radio(s), and a copy of the procedures and signals used when an aircraft is intercepted. Anyone planning to fly the aircraft will also need his or her own pilot’s licence.

Other Formalities

It is not necessary to leave England from an airport with customs. However, the aircraft either needs to land at a Customs Airport in France, or notify the customs authorities well in advance. The pilot needs to file a flight plan – always required when crossing an International boundary.

Maps, Flight Guides etc

The pilot will need a chart of the area of France in which he wishes to fly, unless he is just visiting one of the Channel ports, which are shown on the UK aviation chart. If going further than Calais or Le Touquet, he will also need a Flight Guide showing the French airports; these can be easily obtained from all aviation equipment suppliers such as Transair.

If he only plans to visit large airports, he will be able to speak in English on the radio, but at many small airfields a basic knowledge of aviation French is required. Various ‘crib sheets’ are available online, giving most of the phrases needed.

Returning to the UK

When coming home, it is necessary to either land at a Customs Airport in the UK, or at a General Aviation Agreement (GAA) airfield having told HM Customs in advance. There is a form to fill in if doing the latter, and four hours notice is required. Again, a flight plan will be necessary.

An Easy First Flight to France

For those who want to make things simple, a trip from Lydd or Manston to Le Touquet is a good option. All of these are Customs Airports, and all are used to dealing with inexperienced pilots on their first trip overseas. They will help out with everything from route planning to filling in the Flight Plan form. The staff at Le Touquet speak English, and will also help with finding accommodation in the town. It should be noted that it is now necessary to inform customs at Le Touquet if one is flying in; this used not to be the case.

That’s really about all there is to it! Of course, the pilot will need to check the weather, look over the plane carefully, and do everything else he would do if going on any long trip. After that…all that is required is to thoroughly enjoy oneself!

Source

Flying In Europe, Pilot Magazine, April 2004

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