Biarritz-Bayonne   LFBZ

Date of Visit = July 1998

Pilot: = Chris Belton

e-mail = chris@yarboo.freeserve.co.uk

Field Report = After a hot sticky flight westwards from Montauban through non-stop restricted areas (with permission), we arrived at Biarritz and gleefully set upon on the free refreshments in the handling agent's office. I pointed out to John, my travelling companion and navigator, a bottle of green Izarra, the Basque traditional drink. I later returned from paying the landing fee just in time to see him swallow a large cupful of the lethal brew, thinking it was cordial - he had a cold and was oblivious to the pungent fumes. He wasn't much help on the next leg!

I don't think we actually paid a handling fee, which made the refreshments particularly good value, and as with most French airports, the landing fee was modest. The only drawback was the reluctant refueller, who was finally pursuaded to put in an appearance by a local pilot who said it was always like that. That was couple of years ago, so it may have improved!

Photos: John Hardy