Propriano    LFKO

Date of Visit = August 1999

Pilot: = Geoff Semler

e-mail = geoffs@saye.demon.co.uk

Field Report = Excellent GA airfield. 50FF landing fee, AVGAS (7.20 FF/L) and AVTUR available. Cash or Eurocheque.

Nice cafe/restaurant on the field. pleanty of parking but mainly on the grass. Car hire available from Propriano town.

The airfield sits in a river valley with high ground to the north south and East. provides an excellent base for a GA holiday on Corsica and lots of fun flying around coast, hills and mountains.

For pilots without aircraft, there are trips around the local area on a 2 seat microlight or in a Petrel, also an active flying club and parchute club.

All round a fabulous friendly GA airfield of the best variety.

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Date of Visit = July 99.

Pilot: = Anne-Celine Martel

e-mail = aceline@club-internet.fr

Field Report = Corsica is a strikingly beautiful island with a mix of high mountains (Monte Cinto's snowy peak climbs up to 9.000ft) and the Mediterranean sea at its best with turquoise cristalline water and white sandy beaches.

The island offers a number of potential landing spots. Most of them are located on the coasts, the exception being Corte, the only airfield in the mountains (1.100ft).

If Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, Figari are well equipped to accomodate commercial & international traffic, Propriano stands out as my favorite destination.

Located south of Ajaccio, on the western coast, its hard runway is long enough to accomodate anything from visiting Jodels to twin engines.

The circuit is not exactly a rectangle since you need to avoid a piece of mountain located in the downwind (nothing nasty though). Landing on 10 will grace you with a magnificent final over the sea and the beach.

Watch out for windshear and turbulences any time.

SERVICES

A local character, named Charles, will probably come out of his office like a devil (well, a Corsican one, so it won't be that fast !) to park you where he thinks adequate. As he will also be providing you with 100LL or weather information (Aerofax) and file in your flight plan, you'd better comply ! Check on your Jeppesen but to my knowledge he is around every day. Beware AFIS service has been suspended since 1993, you will be on auto information on 118.50 (in French...)

Landing fee is around 50FRF, parking overnight 20FRF (cash).

100LL is around 7.20FRF/l (cash).

No weather bureau nor customs on the field, you need to fly to Ajaccio or Figari (15 mn flight).

FOOD / HOTELS

The bar restaurant has good food for a decent price(try the "assiette de charcuterie corse", it is absolutely delicious).

Camping on site is very pleasant and highly promoted by the locals (it's free). Warm showers are available at the restaurant for 10FRF.

You can book a hotel in Propriano through   www.hotelinfoplus.com

Grand Hotel Miramar +33 + (4) 95760613 will pick you up at the airfield. Roc E Mar Hotel 33 + (4) 95760485 slightly outside Propriano offers rooms for 500FRF for 2.

MOVING AROUND

Taxis are available on request - number from Charles or the restaurant owner - to go to town. Car rental is possible in Propriano, but since the only thing I do when I come down to Corsica is park my plane in Propriano, set up my tent, go for a swim and fly around the island, I can't help you with that !

Try   rentacar.inuk.com

Keep in mind driving in Corsica is slow, hazardous and sickening - the road just turns and turns and turns forever. Cycling is out if you are not in tip top shape (very hilly around therre).

DOING THINGS

Around Propriano you can sail, jetski, scuba dive, hike, ride a horse. My favorite activity though is located just at the end of the runway, a superb beach and a great swim in the Big Blue. Getting to the beach is a bit trickier than before.

The river that flows along the runway has been blocked by sand and has risen quite high, you can no longer walk across but you now need to swim across it (it's easy) before getting to the beach and sea. The general idea is lock your valuables in the plane, walk there, drop off your shoes and other useless outfit by the river, swim across with your beach towel and other essentials. The great thing is that the swim back through the river will take all the sand and salt off your skin. Brilliant, isn't it ?

You can also from there walk along the beach to the small village of Propriano (about 1 hour) it is much shorter than if you walk down the road.

FLYING TO AND AROUND CORSICA

Remember that VFR flying from the continent to Corsica requires a flight plan and adequate equipment for flying over water. Mandatory reporting points are either Saint Tropez VOR (STP) or Cannes VOR (CNM) and then Merlu, in the middle of the sea. It is almost impossible to get a transit through Nice VOR approved, due to interferences with the new IFR approaches.

Be extremely cautious with the meteorological conditions. Due to the combination of sea and moutains on the coast and on the island, weather changes very fast and is quite unpredictable. Do not attempt to cross without the latest weather information and adequate fuel endurance including potentially very strong headwind.

As the atmosphere over the sea is often very hazy, it is preferable to have some previous flight training in IMC conditions. The horizon seems to mix with the sea at some undefinite point, and you will often have to rely on your instruments rather than on external visual references.

On the island itself, you may find very different weather conditions between the West and the East coast, but also between Calvi and Ajaccio, which are only some 20mn flight apart. Again keep in mind that weather changes very fast, listen to the ATIS and pick up the latest TAF METAR.

Beware of possibly very turbulent wind inside the island. There is gliding activity around Ghisonaccia and up in the mountains. In summer time you may encounter fire fighting planes & helicopters anywhere. Keep away from the military zones and restricted areas.

Keeping in mind those basic flying tips, you will be able to enjoy a truly magnificient island safely !