Read on to learn more about how to attempt your first international hop to Le Touquet, the ideal route, and R/T and paperwork requirements.
You have got your private licence for a bit now and want to take your training and skills to the next level by attempting a long-distance hop. Many pilots dream of this day, and if you are ready to take the leap, then we would like to congratulate you!
Everyone remembers their first international hop, and if you want to make yours memorable, then this guide is just for you. One of the easiest and most thrilling hops is to Le Touquet. It has a clear and relatively easy route, a picturesque horizon, and a diverse terrain – everything that you may need from an international hop.
Read on to learn more about how to attempt your first international hop to Le Touquet, the ideal route, and R/T and paperwork requirements.
Hop to Le Touquet – Route
The best way to reach Le Touquet is to take the suggested channel crossing route. For a VFR flight from the Southeast UK, you will need to depart and head towards the English Channel coastline. The Dover and Kent coast is ideal for this!
You will then generally cross along the shortest practicable route, which is commonly via Dover to Ambleteuse or the Le Touquet track. This route is great because it minimises your exposure to water bodies and significantly reduces the risk of ditching.
Keep in mind that you will be entering French Airspace and the ICAO FIR boundary, which means that you will need to switch from UK to French radio services.
Radio and Communication Expectations
Before departure, you will need to contact your departure ATC unit, which will depend on your aerodrome, to activate your flight plan. You will stay on the appropriate frequency en route until you reach the UK FIR boundary.
As you approach French airspace and eventually cross the FIR boundary, you will switch to French ATC. We recommend ideally switching to Lille Information or Le Touquet Tower, which is advised in the French region procedures.
Please ensure that you maintain two-way radio communication when entering controlled airspace on either side. Radio communication is essential in both French and UK airspace and is vital for safety, transparency, and visibility.
Paperwork and Legal Requirements
Here is all the paperwork you need to carry on your person for a smooth and successful international hop:
General Aviation Report
A General Aviation Report or GAR is important to highlight your exit and return from and to the UK.
It is a mandatory pre-departure declaration for any international general aviation flight from the UK and provides the UK Border Force with advance information about your flight and the details of everyone on board the aircraft.
The GAR is used to satisfy custom requirements, and it also fulfils immigration and policing data. Keep in mind that failing to produce a GAR when asked may lead to civil penalties.
The GAR includes aircraft details such as the registration details, along with departure and arrival points and times. The document will also include crew and passenger information, including passport details.
You will need to submit all the required documents no earlier than 48 hours before your flight and no later than 2 hours before departure. You can use the UK online GAR Service or an approved third-party tool to maintain and submit the document.
Keep in mind that you will typically need a separate GAR for the return flight, especially when returning to the UK.
Flight Plan
A flight plan is a formal document that highlights all the details about your flight. This includes information about your route, altitude, aircraft type, and ETAs.
The flight plan is required to cross international FIR boundaries and is strongly recommended and often required for VFR international flights. Furthermore, your flight plan is important for ATC and even search and rescue awareness because you will be flying over water, and there is always the small risk of ditching.
Licence and Medical
Private general aviation flights require the pilot to carry a valid licence. You will need to carry your PPL or LAPL, which must be valid for international operations. For flying to the EU, ensure that your licence is internationally recognised and is compatible with EASA or ICAO.
You can confirm your validity and compatibility from your flight club and use third-party services from the club to validate your licence, if it isn’t already.
Pilots are also required to carry their valid and current medical certificate. The medical certificate confirms your ability to operate the aircraft without physical or mental constraints and may be required by personnel at any time.
Logbook
Logbooks are rarely inspected, but it is a good idea to always keep them with you, especially when conducting international hops.
Your logbook must be on board with you because, as per international standards set by ICAO, logbooks are considered part of the required documentation since they record your flying history and confirm safe operation.
Aircraft Documentation
Pilots must carry with them all the required documentation pertaining to the aircraft that they are using.
This includes:
- Certificate of Registration, which shows your aircraft’s legal registry.
- Certificate of airworthiness that confirms and proves the aircraft is legally airworthy.
- An insurance certificate which must cover flying in foreign airspace, in this case, France
- A Radio Licence, which is required for smooth and standard radio communication.
French Customs
When flying into France via Le Touquet, French customers require prior notification via email with details of the aircraft and all the persons on board.
Pilots must highlight the aircraft registration, departure airfield with ETA, pilots and passenger names, nationalities, date of births and passport numbers, and contact details.
All of this must be sent ideally 24-48 hours before arrival, or at most within 2 hours of reaching French Airspace.
Travel Documents
When travelling from the UK to France, you, along with every other passenger on the aircraft, will need to produce a valid passport.
British nationals generally do not need a visa for short visits for tourism, but must follow Schengen entry rules. Keep in mind that you may be asked for proof of onward travel or evidence of accommodation at the French border control.
Planning and Executing the Perfect International Hop
Here are all the tips that you will need to keep in mind to get the most out of your first international hop to Le Touquet:
Flight Plan
A flight plan is your best bet at performing a safe and smooth international hop. As mentioned above, your flight plan will cover every detail about your trip, like altitude, wind speed/direction, weather information, terrain type, duration, and, more importantly, routes.
The flight plan is an essential and mandatory tool because it enables pilots to plan everything on the ground and focus on flying. This way, even when things go wrong or if you face unexpected circumstances, you can refer to your flight plan for alternatives.
When travelling to Le Touquet, you will need to clearly detail all the destinations that you plan on visiting. Consider all the checkpoints in between, like other airports, refuelling stations, and more.
For the best experience, have your flight plan cross-checked by instructors and veteran pilots who can help you further tweak it if required.
Weather Information
Weather is perhaps the biggest variable in aviation, which is why you will need to ensure that you account for weather patterns before taking off.
We recommend using METARs or other reliable weather reports to ensure that you get the most updated information. Even before taking off, we recommend that you double-check the weather reports and use visual aids to identify the weather in your area.
Private pilots are only allowed to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) when operating light aircraft. Visual Flight Rules are a set of guidelines that dictate the appropriate conditions for flights. The only way you will be allowed to fly outside of VFR is if you have additional certifications related to instrument flying or if you have a Night Rating, which can allow you to fly in the dark.
Aircraft and Human Limitations
Working within aircraft and human limitations is the best way to ensure maximum safety when conducting international hops.
For example, pilots with certain health conditions may not be able to complete long-distance flights. As long as you know your limitations and operate within them, you will always be safe, but if you knowingly push yourself, then you will unnecessarily put your life and your aircraft at risk.
It is also a good idea to draft a section in your flight plan that covers emergency scenarios. Since you will be travelling over a large body of water, you will need to account for ditching scenarios.
Furthermore, you will also need to keep in mind the limitations of your aircraft. This means that you will need to know all the small details about your aircraft of choice. This can include information about fuel tank capacity, stall speed, top speed, braking capabilities, and more.
Aircraft Inspection
Before taking off, ensure that your aircraft is in great condition. The best way to ensure this is by conducting pre-flight checks.
These checks are mandatory and include checking and rechecking fuel reserves, engine health, and other important details about the aircraft. Your aircraft must be up to date on its inspections and must not have any outstanding issues that may become a problem during your international flight.
If you don’t have enough experience with these flight checks, then we recommend that you take the help of your flight school's engineering wing. Comprehensive flight schools, like Sherburn Aero Club, also have in-house aircraft engineers who can help you diagnose and find issues in your aircraft before they become a problem.
Final Preparations
When everything is done, you will have a robust flight plan to help you successfully conduct your first international hop to Le Touquet.
However, a great way to ensure maximum safety and success is to ensure that you always keep an eye on the variables of your flight. This includes checking for weather, visually inspecting the aircraft for problems that you may have missed, and keeping an eye on any relevant NOTAMs.
If you do run into sudden bad weather, then you should refer to your flight plan, which should highlight alternative routes. Remember, once you are in bad weather, the best strategy is to manoeuvre out of it. Your flight plan will contain a set of alternative routes that you can take without putting your journey at risk.
You should also keep an eye out for any changes in the airspace that you are travelling into. This includes looking out for any restricted airspace or temporary restrictions. This can be done by checking the Notice to Airmen or NOTAM report.
You may also use mobile applications such as SkyDemon to get an overlay of your route and quick updates. These apps are useful during flight and can be used by pilots to keep a check on new developments while in the air.
However, you should always rely on the documentation and reports provided to you by your flight school first. These reports are based on highly calibrated tools and provide a very accurate outlook to help you conduct a successful flight.
Finally, as mentioned above, keep all necessary documents with you during your flight. You will also need to ensure that everyone travelling with you has valid and updated documents. You may be asked to produce these documents at any time during your trip, and failing to do so might result in heavy penalties or, in the worst case, suspension.
Why Choose Sherburn Aero Club?
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran, in various types of light aircraft.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running on the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, licensing procedures, and perfectly planning and executing your first international hop to Le Touquet.
Photo by Alexandra Giocondo on Unsplash
