VFR SUCKS! 3 WEEKS to fly 120 MILES, ridiculous.

[@RayClegg-zz9fm]

20 years ago I flew VFR to Oshkosh and back from Netherthorpe via the North Atlantic route. Very frustrating and took in total about three weeks. Flying over the sea, not above 5000ft, was rather buttock clenching but apart from delays for weather in Iceland and Greenland all went well.

[@ShortField]

WOW that is some journey. Well done Ray.

[@markstephens7236]

So cool to be able to fly internationally so easily. To do that here in Australia is a very big deal. Another great video, thanks Terry.

[@ShortField]

I see minimum looks like Cape York Tip (top of Aus) to PNG is about 100 miles but I guess most Aussies live down south so you would have to add on another 1,700 miles from Sydney or over 2,200 miles from Perth :-) Thank you so much for the kind comments Mark.

[@markstephens7236]

@@ShortField True, and PNG is not quite France.

[@bikeguy3034]

Try doing it from New Zealand 😂😢

[@cjoller2701]

Too much ocean to cross i rekon. You’d need a lot of extra fuel for sure

[@kevchilton908]

Amazing video! 👍 I admire your tenacity, Terry. Well done for sticking with it and great to see that you were rewarded in the end 👌👏👏👏

[@ShortField]

Thanks Kev always look forward to your encouraging and positive comments sir.

[@JodelFlyer]

Glad you made it there in the end. Did you see Alistair there? He lives on the Air Park and has featured in some of my St Omer videos. Really interesting, informative and professional voice over!

[@ShortField]

Yes was chatting to him, it's funny because he said his French isn't great either 🤣 Thanks Tim

[@CabOnTarget]

Great stuff Terry. Stumbled upon your channel today and have watched 3 of your videos back to back!. New to the interest of aviation and actually needed to google what VFR actually stood for haha. Anyway keep it lit. Ive liked and subscribed btw

[@lee4318]

Really enjoyed this one Terry, loving the camera work especially under the Sport Cruiser. What a dream to own property at that sky park eh.... Cheers Mate

[@ShortField]

Thanks Lee 👍

[@Jeffybonbon]

You have highlighted the major problems and thats why i gave up flying in the UK Its very frustrating and not worth the hassle a great video i enjoyed it very much

[@ShortField]

Thank you, it isn't always like this 🙂

[@Jeffybonbon]

it spoils the pleasure its like having a fantastic sports car and stuck in a traffic jam best of luck @@ShortField

[@spencermackel7800]

I’ve had about 8 different flights planned to SoCal this year that I had to end up scrapping due to cloud layers I could not get through as a VFR pilot; this became my biggest motivation for getting my Instrument rating last month. I built up most of my simulated IMC and cross country PIC time with a safety pilot rather than an instructor, and recommend for others to do the same. Cheers!

[@flytoinspire]

Yikes, what a fiasco 😂 But it's all worth it in the end. Air parks are a fantastic idea, wish we had one in the UK. Hope to see you soon buddy :)

[@FlyingDarkLord]

I second that! 👍🏼

[@InducedBank]

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again! Well done Terry, perseverance pays off!! Two of our club members are over in France right now, on their 2nd week flying there. Hope the winds settle down soon so they can get back up to Scotland.

[@ShortField]

Thanks Mike, that's a trek in flex wings.

[@Lif-999]

Hi Terry, thanks for inviting us along for ride. Splendid visuals. Stay safe.

[@ShortField]

Cheers Phil

[@ClausThanner]

Very nice video! Thx. for sharing your honest frustrations! ;-)

[@ShortField]

Thank you Claus.

[@CTLondonVideo]

Fantastic production values and brilliant flying keep up the good work.

[@ShortField]

Thank you so much, very kind.

[@CptnSavage]

I really enjoyed you sharing this trip with us. I live in Seattle, Washington, USA and the only flying I could do would be to Canada or Mexico. The opportunity to fly from GB to the continent and visit all the other countries is just a dream for me. I loved seeing this video and would love to see more of them. Thank you.

[@ShortField]

Thank you for the very kind comments Captain.

[@frankish5314]

Hah.. I live South of Settle in Oregon. It became very clear I would need an instrument rating in short order.. As long as the freezing level is above the terrain of course.. :)

[@grenzboy2730]

as a pilot in US this video was super interesting

[@ShortField]

Thanks so much sir 👍

[@papics]

Nice video, and great timing: I flew into Verchocq just past Friday! For this leg I was the co-pilot (I flew to LFAE in the morning, also very much recommended), and we landed uphill with a DA40. It was definitely the steepest and narrowest runway I have been to so far, but indeed, the quality of the strip is very good, and the locals are super friendly!

[@ranh71]

Great adventure Terry, this year the weather has been terrible. France looks great fun.

[@SK-dy8xo]

Excellent video 👍. Weather sucks in this country, I’m trying to get my QXC done for more than two months, very disappointing.

[@gazcolfer2069]

Great video and that airpark looks amazing!

[@ShortField]

Thank you sir.

[@peteralan5557]

15:30 Smallest "runway" I have ever seen! Looks like a farm track. Thanks again for your post!

[@ShortField]

It is skinny :-)

[@HoundDogMech]

In August 1973 I took the club PA28-235 leaving at Noon instead of 6 am (It needed a 100 hour inspection) from 02C to KIAD to visit my brother. Good excuse to fly. got stuck i Lorain County OH airport for 3 days at 6 am the weather was clear and 3 in haze going east into the sun I could see nothing. So going through the TELETYPE Sequence reports and waiting for better than Clear 2&1/2 H for 3 days I left and returned back to 02c and a week later started an instrument rating. Well I found myself sitting waiting for weather more than when VFR only capable. Why TS ICE destination and 400 miles around it forecast at 100 sky obscured and 1/4 but to get better. one question: You ever have ICE, I did Twice both un predicted. The worse one was a guy flying of Grayling MI PIREP in & out of the tops at 60 neg ICE. Well overcast at 100 and tops 6000 Piece of cake except for the 3/8" of mixed. and builds up to 12000 over lake Michigan Diverted to KMKG Where it was above freezing and theICE brushed off with your hand.

[@ShortField]

Wow what a story. Thank you for this excellent comment.

[@matthill1727]

Great video Terry! Glad you stuck with it. I'll probably be doing that route in reverse this summer. It seems the American Airpark dream did not die and has made it to other countries. The idea was there would be airparks everywhere and nearly everyone would have one car and one airplane. Far from that, there are between 420 and 600 airparks in the US today.

[@markallisonparamotor]

Wow what a fun adventure. Looks so idyllic having your plane at home! Amazing, glad you got there in the end.

[@ShortField]

What do you mean, you take your aircraft home every night :-)

[@yurimoros]

Amazing video Yes usa is amazing place to fly I do all over from miami to Canada o Seattle San Diego when you come I’ll more than happy to fly with you

[@theflyingfrog]

There's a fantastic air park down here in the southwest of France, in Biscarrosse (LFBS).

[@flyingmissionary]

Great video Terry. Would be nice to see Airparks like this pop up around the UK.

[@ShortField]

Agree Dollar 👍

[@porkorosso7885]

Hi Terry, thanks for sharing. We had a great day in Le Touquet!

[@ShortField]

We do have some fun Vince. Thank you for coming.

[@JBMPPS]

Great video as always Terry. One small correction; in this case you do not have to arrive via a customs airport because you are coming from another country outside France, but because you are coming from outside Schengen

[@ShortField]

Good point! Cheers for noticing it.

[@glennwatson]

Fun seeing the uk water crossing. I’ve flown the bass strait crossing a couple times Victoria to Tasmania. 241nm. There’s a recommended crossing route that has you within 30 mins of gliding distance most of the way so only life jackets required. Small islands with landing areas some of them I wouldn’t really want to try unless a real emergency.

[@ShortField]

Yes Glenn 22 nm is nothing really I don't know why we're so anal about it but there's been a few light aircraft gone down in channel over the years it can get very busy on nice days.

[@darrenlivermore7903]

Loving the channel Terry! Looking forward to following your adventures

[@FlyingDarkLord]

Your videos go from strength to strength sir! Exceptional, love it! 😊👍🏼

[@ShortField]

Cheers Geoff most appreciated.

[@jamesgodfreyltd6605]

Wow! Totally enjoyed your adventure.. congratulation on yet another brilliant video! J

[@ShortField]

Thanks James 👍👍👍👍

[@DanSmithBK]

Great vid again Terry, and love this idea! I’ll have to plan to pop in for a visit next time I’m over La Manche!

[@ShortField]

Get over there Dan he is very welcoming.

[@salcombebunker1800]

Very enjoyable Terry your films get better and better. Chris in Devon.

[@ShortField]

Cheers Chris.

[@flyingwithmatt1986]

Superb video Terry, really really good. That air park looks fantastic! All the best mate catch up soon.

[@ShortField]

Thank you Matt.

[@epictetus8028]

Nice video!

[@ShortField]

Thanks so much.

[@ChrisFlies]

Fancy going halves on one of the plots? Lovely video and always good to see how you deal with the weather, customs and new airfields

[@ShortField]

One day Chris 😃

[@Coepilot]

Another great video Terry! I’d never even thought about AirParks in Europe… but now that’s another couple of destinations on my ‘to visit’ list! 😉 I shall continue my sun dances on behalf of all of us 😂

[@ShortField]

Thanks George :-)

[@GolfFoxtrot22]

That was brilliant and I hope the forced wait was worth it. The joys of VFR only, welcome to my world. 😅

[@ShortField]

Thanks Giles.

[@GunniesLetsFlyVFR]

I am so envious mate. Love watching your videos. Sport pilot but its been a while since I have been flying. I live in Thailand. (Aussie) Keep them coming :) All the best 👍👌

[@fpvfishing2366]

great stuff Terry! i never knew there was airparks in France... we can only dream hey ;)

[@ShortField]

Me neither, but there appears to be a few of them.

[@geoffreycoan]

Nice video Terry, shows the real-life trials and tribulations of VFR flight. Perseverance and patience definitely required! I like flying into Calais to the continent, since Abbeville lost its customs status I have always flown into Calais. Its very relaxed, the restaurant does good food, and the Microlight landing fee at €7 is half that of Le Touquet (and in fact Calais is free on Sunday’s as the office is shut!). It was unusual to not see customs there when you arrived, I’ve found they are always on time - sometimes in the restaurant having lunch if I arrive in the middle of the day! Just one minor point, 123.5 is not the frequency for the air park, its the French Microlight Unicom frequency, same as our safetycom, so should really preface all calls with the airfield name and they should be in French ☹️. I have a ‘French circuit cheat sheet’ that gives me the key calls to make when arriving or departing, can share the link if its useful to others

[@ShortField]

Great thanks Geoff.

[@DavidR_192]

I thought English was the international language for aviation, and that all ATCos and Radio Oprtators needed to communicate in English, if the aircraft instagated the call in English?

[@geoffreycoan]

In the case of the air park they weren’t giving a radio service. No one in the tower talking to you. They don’t even have a dedicated radio frequency for the field. They use the Unicom frequency that many airfields share and pilots give blind radio calls to other pilots as to their position- eg “vent arrier vingt deux’ (downwind for runway 22). These can often be in French at smaller airfields as there’s no requirement for French pilots to speak English if they’re not flying into larger airports or in the upper airways

[@jcopeman]

I'm having similar problems, cancelled 2 lessons this month so far cancelled and one cut short due to high winds, rain and generally English weather...

[@crazycons]

There is another Airpark in Northern Germany (Müritz Airpark). And I thought, there may be some in Skandinavia.

[@ShortField]

Saw the one in Sweden but not the German one. Be nice to visit them all.

[@hefeibao]

If it helps, Seattle weather is just like the UK in the winter. Lots of MVFR/IFR days. We sympathize.

[@stevenstyles7602]

Terry What’s the rule on life jackets? I thought you had to declare them on the flt plan. if you can glide ( as you worked out) then, you don’t need one?

[@ShortField]

You don't need to bring or wear them on a private flight Steve but it's prudent too. You do list them on the flightplan but it's not legally binding :-)

[@DeadReckoner]

It's been hellish trying to build hours! I finally got my CPL qualifier done a couple of days ago - EGPG-EGPU-EGZF-EGPJ-EGPG :)

[@ShortField]

Sorry for the late reply Scott well done mate.

[@DeadReckoner]

@@ShortField cheers 🍻

[@electricaviationchannelvid7863]

Could any of You elaborate on what they are using on that grass field to make it all weather? Some kind of grid made of metal or plastic?

[@ShortField]

It has a mesh in the grass to give grip in the wet and maintain the stability of the strip in winter.

[@TheWilliamHoganExperience]

It's gotta be really tough flying VFR over their. Where I live (Los Angeles) we get socked in every summer morning at the coast by low stratus too, but there are plenty of options to divert inland, and the clouds generally clear by afternoon. I'd think IFR training and proficiency would be kinda mandatory in Britain / France, unless you like diverting and waiting for weeks on weather windows. An IFR rating obviously doesn't make you invincible. It's just gonna get you into deeper trouble if you think you can fly through anything because your IFR rated. Above all else, Mother Nature demands humility and respect - especially in light aircraft. Hope you're able to fly in America someday soon - especially the Southwest. While our (vast) deserts have their flying challenges, IFR isn't (usually) one of them =)

[@ShortField]

So want to fly Stateside. The UK is small compared to US and has a temperate climate with an Atlantic influence which means we rarely get consist weather of any flavour, however in the south east where I'm based things are always better weatherwise. I have an instrument rating but the Sportcruiser is sadly only certified for VFR here so I have to fly visually :-)

[@catherinekilgour2563]

Flying IFR requires not only training but an aircraft that is rated IFR and an airport with IFR facilities. So while becoming IFR rated is on my list of things to get signed off that still leaves the two other parts of the equation which are not so easy for me to fix.

[@christianforero.]

Incredible quality and editing sir! subscribed👍🏼

[@ShortField]

Much appreciated Christian!

[@Fly_is_Fun]

you upload nice videos, I'm currently waiting for the ICAO ENG exam to be able to fly outside the Czech Republic

[@ShortField]

Best of luck!

[@DirkLarien]

Great adventure. Similarly flown several times to visit one of my country largest peak. But every time i tried it ended up being in clouds. But i got there eventually :-).

[@ShortField]

Not just me then, :-) Fantastic well done for not giving up.

[@ryanlargen8717]

Just a quick question, I have my PPL and have around 80 hours, around minute 8:30 you begin your climb, and fly close and looked like through a small cloud. Are you legally able to do this or does the 3-152 and all that still apply?

[@ShortField]

It was just a bit of vapour really Ryan :-)

[@gilespearce3146]

Hi Terry - Absolutely love your channel. I'm currently a PA28 pilot but having watched all of your videos I'm really tempted by the sport cruiser and i wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing typical monthly maintenance costs you've experienced with this aircraft ?

[@ShortField]

I'll try and do a video on them Giles but I must not let the wife see it :-)

[@gilespearce3146]

@@ShortField Thanks Terry look forward to seeing that one

[@DB-qw6xq]

There's another one near Lucon, Atlantic Air Park, 85400, Chasnais, France. No facilities however.

[@draidangraham]

Lovely video, nicely done. Thank you 👍

[@ShortField]

Thank you kind comments like this mean more than you would think. Really appreciated.

[@draidangraham]

@@ShortField I started ppl training more than 10 years ago but due to working training and money I put it down and picked up a few times. Now I have the time but putting the money into building RV12is. Your France trips are my goal 😁

[@ashleywalker2721]

Interesting that they let you in without getting your passport stamped. Is that normal? When landing at Deauville earlier this month, I had to wait an hour on entry and they would not let my through at all. I would have been tempted to fly straight back to the UK from the air park.

[@ShortField]

Well there was no one to stop me, but I did send all my passport details to border control (both sides) 24 hours before leaving. If I had flown directly back and had a ramp check in the UK it might have been an issue but I did think about it :-)

[@geoffreycoan]

Calais are pretty relaxed. If the customs guys are not there, or are in the restaurant having lunch, you can just walk past and into the main terminal building as Terry did. Its unusual to not see customs there when you’ve given them prior notice; in my experience they are always there on time for your scheduled arrival or departure. You can’t fly back from the air park to the UK, have to go via a customs airfield and since they already have your passport details they know who you are if you don’t follow the rules !

[@alk672]

Is it that much different IFR in a single piston? Can't really fly anything other than the most benign clouds, and even then sensible people won't go in many cases (clouds all the way to the deck, over the mountains, at night). Winter is off the table due to freezing levels in many areas.

[@ShortField]

Fantastic point and I totally agree, light SEP in IMC have limited use cases. This aircraft is VFR only though.

[@julianpratt9616]

Another fab video Terry! I am (hopefully) about to get checked out on a SportCruiser down at Goodwood. Can I ask what software you use to edit and put together your YT videos? Want to do similar but no idea where to start! All the best!

[@ThePhobicFlyer]

Great vid Terry. Love the views especially from your 360 camera mate!! Nice one and one day I'd love to attempt that journey myself! 😀👍

[@ShortField]

Sorry for the late reply Andy, couldn't do this without that little camera :-)

[@Alex1211s]

What frequencies do you use to communicate with vince? Does the uk have a dedicated pilot to pilot frequency or do you just try and find an empty one?

[@ShortField]

We use an air to air chat channel, think it's a microlight frequency but everyone uses it.

[@dr_jaymz]

More so these days you have to really really really want it to make it work out. I had an FAA medical at Spruce Creek and it is such a great place, but obviously can't work over here; even if you built one, you can't use your plane as a commuter or fly wherever you want without PPR and have great facilities like you do in the states, owing an aircraft is a no brainer over there and there are plenty of no-brainers who fly them something like 10x more GA per person than here. Still I cherish my memory of being there and reflect on what could have been over here.

[@ShortField]

I need to go Stateside soon. I watched your latest video, very good I noted the Rockwell Commander G-OVIN, it used to be based at Southend and then North Weald and I know the previous owner do you know if it's permanently based at your airfield now James?

[@stratotramp6243]

it's nuts isn't it my last flight was 27/05! 🤣I have been oh holiday i suppose. In the mean time I've started growing Bonsai to work on my patience.

[@ShortField]

I thought you were done?

[@stratotramp6243]

@@ShortField Have enough hours in general, all exams done (some twice as they expired!), have the requisite hours in past 24 months for Solo Nav, Navigation as a whole. But need 3h30 more solo. As long as i get GST done before march should be ok. It's still really painful. Probably to the point where i'm not going after it as tenaciously now. Maybe up on tuesday/wed. Was meant to get up sat as that did look promising then turned crap. I think it will come together August/Sept.

[@BMC2]

Weather has been horrible this summer. The life jacket is the first thing I noticed by the way haha

[@ShortField]

Agree WX is trash. 🤣maybe I should have said the lifejacket was in the back 😆😆😆

[@rainbowdash7194]

Amazing video terry! Very professionally done. (minus the life jacket cockup 🤣)

[@ShortField]

🤭 You know me, never perfect but always happy to share my cock-ups.

[@rossross8224]

just a quick one , where do you get your weather information from normally, thanks 😁

[@ShortField]

Hi Ross, multiple places but as a VFR only pilot I get my best overview from the BBC.

[@rossross8224]

@@ShortField thanks for that will need to check that out 👍

[@benb5727]

Great video!

[@hontonoroger]

The past few weeks really had often changing weather. Kinda hard to find a good time slot for a ride.

[@ShortField]

I know 😞

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIlIl-v9h]

Does the UK have an ADSB-Out requirement?

[@geoffreycoan]

No, the UK doesn’t have either a transponder mandatory or an ASDB-out requirement. Its likely that these will come with time as the airspace continues to get more congested and they want to integrate drones etc, but at the moment the only requirement is if if you have a working transponder then it must be turned on and squarking mode-C

[@bikeguy3034]

​@@geoffreycoanInteresting, even New Zealand is ADS-B out mandatory in all controlled airspace.

[@TheVariety-vortex]

What met site do you use for your planning

[@JohnParker1967]

A very nice video Terry 👍 great production level too .

[@ShortField]

Cheers John

[@reubengreeph4727]

Excellent video as always! Can I ask what camera you use underneath?! Is it a 360° one?

[@ShortField]

Yes, it is! An Insta360 One R on a certified mount.

[@andywilkins6657]

Great video Terry, with some great camera work. 👍

[@ShortField]

Thank you Andy kind comments like this mean more than you would think. Really appreciated buddy.

[@ianrkav]

Are those PS28's not IFR equipped? Or are they at least capable of it?

[@ShortField]

Not certified but probably capable. The wing loading is very low so you would get thrown about in cloud.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Desire, patience and persistence pay off👍

[@adriankirk4644]

Most interesting, thank you.

[@ShortField]

Thank you.

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Great video

[@1robcook]

Autopilot.... so jealous 😄

[@xpooriax]

any particular reason you are not getting your IFR?

[@ShortField]

Aircraft is certified for VFR only ☹️

[@rodneyskennedy3163]

Great trip indeed, id love a house at that air park.

[@ShortField]

You and me both!

[@thesolaraquarium]

A UK expat who returned to the UK from Las Vegas told me that he got sick of the blue skies and missed home (London), lol…. he missed the rain.

[@ShortField]

:-) LOL

[@paulhoulden]

Amazing! im 5 lessons in towards the PPL, would love to be doing this one day! thanks for the video!

[@edgarwideman737]

This guy sounds like the weight of the world is on his shoulders 😉 Great video.

[@ShortField]

It's my happy voice :-)

[@flyingkub]

I think I would have grown feathers earlier on the second flight with the converging cloud layers. It is a shame that when I asked the French for permision to fly the Kub over the answer was no as I do not have a permit (SSDR's don't have permits), yet they allow other Europian countries SSDRs to fly in?!

[@ShortField]

Thank you Algy. I can't see why you can't visit, that seems daft.

[@flyingkub]

@@ShortField Things may have changed now but that was just before Covid

[@geoffreycoan]

Its a bit crazy but the French approval is for Microlight aircraft flown under their country of ownership’s licence. Since SSDR don’t have a licence they can’t fly legally in France. Stupid but that’s their rules.

[@flyingkub]

@@geoffreycoan we have to have a licence NPPL(M). Did you mean permit?

[@geoffreycoan]

@@flyingkub You’re correct, I was intending to refer to the aircraft’s “permission to fly” mechanism, which in the UK is a permit to fly. Loose wording on my part saying “licence”. The issue for SSDR’s in France is nothing to do with the NPPL(M) pilots licence.

[@arjandoornink3721]

You now what they say. If you got time to spare, go by air. Greetings from Holland

[@ShortField]

Aye I know :-)

[@nightwaves3203]

Maybe locals can know of a seasonal trend for when clouds burn off good enough for VFR.

[@JohnMGreiner]

I was stuck 3 days in the middle of nowhere because of easy IFR 900 ft ceilings. Got my instrument immediately as quickly as I could.

[@VusaMoyo]

Did you have to do Immigration and Customs landing back in the UK?

[@ShortField]

We can return to UK with just a GAR or General Aviation Report form to UK border force. Don't normally need to go to a particular airfield but they most know your destination and they have the option to bowl up for a ramp check.

[@daveslow84]

You should add *in the UK :D I'm sure VFR in South Africa is pretty awesome :p

[@BK-it6te]

Why you don’t get a IFR license?

[@Account4096]

I think he has it, but is limited by the VFR-only status of the LSA he owns. In his other video "It's time to move on" he details his flying journey which goes quite a ways back.

[@musoseven8218]

I greatly admire your determination Terry, thanks for sharing 👍😊✌️ That is the downside of VFR and Eg LSA types too. It can be maddening (training is the most frustrating), I envy those abroad in airparks with long term good wx. All that bureaucracy, makes me wonder if a subcutaneous bio chip would be easier🤔🙄😲 Meanwhile if you jump on a rubber boat borders don't exist apparently 🤔🤔 But in reality your entry and exit to France was dead easy. All joking aside does one need the dreaded pointy medical intervention to enter France these days?

[@ShortField]

Yes I agree LSA's struggle when it comes to mission flying. Thank you as always.

[@franzfoneboneaviation4017]

Nice video. In case anyone is interested our house - closest to the runway - is actually for sale so if you want to live the dream just drop a PM

[@ShortField]

Thank you, hopefully this will drum up some interest.

[@AviationWithAbrar]

So why is your aircraft VFR only, it seems to have all the right instrumentation?

[@classicraceruk1337]

He would need an extra license that enables him to fly on instruments. He would also need one to fly at night. The instruments in the plane make no difference.

[@AviationWithAbrar]

@@classicraceruk1337 I know lol, he had an IMC rating he has mentioned in a previous video iirc. His plane isn’t certified for instrument flight.

[@classicraceruk1337]

@@AviationWithAbrar He does have an IR(r) I think he has said it’s no current.

[@AviationWithAbrar]

@@classicraceruk1337 he’s said in his video in which he got stuck above cloud that his pipersport is only certified for daytime VFR. That’s why I asked the question.

[@classicraceruk1337]

@@AviationWithAbrar I forgot that. I checked on the CAA website and it concurs with that. Light Sport Aircraft were not around ( or I did not know about them)when I took my PPL 55 years ago. I went straight to twins as my friend had a Cessna 421. That flew IMC and in the airways beautifully. With no medical my days of P1 are well over.

[@lapipesmoker3751]

You mentioned that your French is kind of poor. Isn't standard radio communication in English? I thought that was an ICAO standard for the world. I realize local pilots would speak in their own language, but don't pilots need to be somewhat proficient in English in order to fly in other countries?

[@geoffreycoan]

Agree, but many French airfields especially smaller ones say “French only” on the plate.

[@DavidR_192]

@@geoffreycoan - Legally highly questionable. If you spoke English and they refused to engage, the consequences to them would be significant. The French have a big issue with English don't they?

[@geoffreycoan]

@@DavidR_192 I don’t think it is questionable. English is the international language of aviation and you will get English if you are getting a formal air traffic service ie flying through controlled airspace or flying into an airfield with an AFIS tower service. Talking to Lille Information for example when crossing between the UK and France over the English Channel they are delivering the service in both English and French depending on what the initiating pilot speaks. BUT this use of English for formal air traffic service doesn’t mean that every French pilot regardless of where they are flying has to speak English as being a requirement to be a pilot. If you are flying into smaller airfields that for instance don’t provide a radio service and all the pilots are responsible for their own separation and notifying each other where they are by giving blind positional radio calls, then quite often that is French only. It’s their country, it’s their language and we have to fit into their requirements. I’ve got a cheat sheet that gives me the key phrases to say and it works quite well. The difference is that there’s no ATC giving you a radio service

[@lucmatter9601]

Within Schengen, we can fly to any other country. It is a deliberate choice of the UK not to be part of Schengen, even after Brexit.

[@ShortField]

We are deffo bozo's Luc.

[@DavidR_192]

@lucmatter9601 - I think you should say "it's a deliberate choice of the (dumb) *UK government* , rather than just the UK. Half the population of Britain did not want Brexit.

[@BlueSideUp]

"...as we travel to France from a country that decided to Brexit, we had to go through customs" please 😂 I don't... B.t.w., IFR from/to a field without instrument procedures relies on VMC for parts of the trip, it might help less than you think.

[@ShortField]

I try to steer clear of politics on here but I know what you mean. Calais did have an ILS but think it's now withdrawn.

[@geoffreycoan]

Actually the requirement for entry via a customs airfield is not Brexit, its that the UK never joined the Schengen free movement. You’re actually entering the Schengen zone and that has to be done via a customs airfield. You had to do that pre-Brexit. Since Brexit the only change is that you have to file a GAR customs notification on the outbound as well as the inbound flights

[@trickedouttech321]

if your plane is IFR equipt then get your cert and you are all good.

[@ShortField]

Aircraft is daytime VFR only I have instrument qualification but can't use it in this machine 😞

[@DanFrederiksen]

yeah VFR is much too restricting and even dangerous if weather closes in on you. When we have modern tech it should simply not be an issue. I've proposed a PPL-GPS certificate that includes IFR flight assuming the aircraft has modern big informative displays with synthetic vision and ADS-B such that anyone can fly completely blind with ease. In 2023 simple weather must not be crippling. It made sense 100 years ago when instruments were difficult but not today. I would abolish the sport pilot licens and unify into one and make sure that it's a simple license to get. Any 10 year old child can learn to fly MS flight sim in a matter of minutes and that is simply synthetic vision instrument flying and it's not hard to heed a collision warning from ADS-B and you can see them coming hundreds of kilometers away on the display. That some pilots want to go on to multiengine commercial flight should not hinder pilots of small planes. Also ATC should be fully automated so there is no effort in getting permission at all. It's just instant via computers.

[@ShortField]

Interesting comment Dan. Thanks

[@bikeguy3034]

Totally agree! Should have a limited IFR rating that allows flight in IMC enroute but only allows visual approach and landings - so utilizing the tech for S&L flight IMC, but no complicated IFR approaches etc. Would allow pilots to get through weather to their VMC destination!

[@DanFrederiksen]

@@bikeguy3034 I think we can do landings too. a good map and synthetic vision so you can see the runway clearly in any weather should make it quite easy. It's like playing MS flight sim. just with better physics. We don't need all the old radio beacon procedures. keep it simple. and you don't have to fly into super busy airspace with an LSA. plenty of airports around

[@bikeguy3034]

@DanFrederiksen Was just thinking how to make it realistic and feasible that the aviation authorities go for it since most of IFR is instrument arrivals and approaches/low-level risk of CFIT etc. Enroute IFR is a non-event!

[@DanFrederiksen]

synthetic vision, which it's called in aviation and you can think of as a flight sim, shows you clearly your relation to the ground. if it's any good. existing products are really quite poor and has cluttered misguided legacy nonsense like compass rose and speed and altitude tape. they just do as always, they don't think. synthetic vision should be the primary purpose of big displays. speed and altitude are just a couple of numbers. Don't need a lot of cluttered graphic. playing MS flight sim and thinking of it as synthetic vision is a good way to see what could be. just use outside view so it doesn't become meta

[@spdaltid]

So here's mytwo cents: Clearly you enjoy flying and enjoy making videos. I've watched a few and it is refreshing to see a real attempt at objective fault analysis. A rare commodity: Well done! There does seem to be a recurring theme of dramas though. Perhaps through a need to get the video out and grab some KZbin hits? or an enthusiastic expectation gradient that may be little too steep? Only you can answer that effectively. Yours is one of the better channels on here - so please take what I put forward here positively... [About me: Ex Air Force QFI. Active in GA. Decades as a TRE/IRE on widebodies. - so take what I say with a grain of salt!] As stated, yours is one of the better channels and provides a valuable source for up and coming aviators. My impression though, is that in your aviation your are a little too reliant/mesmerised by the information technology present. This, combined with your KZbin aspirations appears to result in an overload of input that results in a degradation of your Situational Awareness. Be assured, I am impressed that you choose not to comment directly and maintain a sterile cockpit during the high threat phases of flight. That's great. Suggestion: Reduce the cockpit clutter - the information overload is mesmerising. I've flown numerous long haul, including Polar flights with much less navigational information. Trans-Pacific, Atlantic or Polar, like others I always plotted my way on a handy chart - not too accurately, but enough to give me a reasonable -"fag packet" - awareness of progress, and gave me time to proactively consider various scenarios and options - without getting bogged down in the BS. Operating a light aircraft is very similar - you're in charge. Respect the weather, GPWS warnings, time constraints - a Captain smarter than me once said that we only manage three things - Time, People, and Risk. I'm sure you can go back over some of your events and fill in the blanks. So what I am saying is get the basics squared away - Aircraft Performance, Visual flight rules/navigation and standardise the R/T. Once you've mastered those - and none of us ever do fully - carefully add on those fancy layers. Above all, enjoy and fly safely!

[@DavidR_192]

The very length of this post, the passive-aggressive snipes and the fact that you think anyone would read it all (I got about 3 lines in and didn't like your tone or approach) is a little narcissistic. Pilots don't really learn from huge posts full of opinions and thinly-veiled judgements, on KZbin. (Regardless how many 'qualifications' the poster includes). You could perhaps take this advice from me; learn a little humility, learn that your way (whilst it may have served you well) is not the *only* way, learn that we all forge our own way in life and again, never take 'advice' and opinions from KZbin comments. (The irony is intended).

[@trickedouttech321]

I think you being silly, that is all good VFR weather, if you have holes you good. Don't get me wrong I am all for playing it safe but that was a little silly safe.

[@ShortField]

VFR has a defined minimum VMC legally, I do try and stick to it, however getting a tape measure out is a bit difficult in flight :-) I have an instrument qualification but the Sportcruiser is daytime VFR only (sadly). Thank you.

[@DavidR_192]

@trickedouttech321 - < Never listen to people like this.