Trip from Shoreham EGKA, UK, to Ampuriabrava LEAP, Spain, September 2024
This article describes a trip from Shoreham, UK, to Ampuriabrava in Spain. It was a EuroGA meet-up and it was exceptionally successful due to a number of factors.
I have a small electronic business and due to being super-busy at work, I have not had the time to write a detailed standalone article, so I am linking to a thread on the EuroGA forum which has most of the details - here. I hope to get back to doing my normal writeups during 2024/2025.
Oxygen
An oxygen system is practically necessary for IFR in the Eurocontrol system, for anything involving flight over the Alps (except, marginally, flying in the canyons, which I don't do). Occassionally, the weather is nice and one can fly at FL090 or so but most people would still get tired after several hours. Also many routings are not available below oxygen levels, due to controlled airspace structures, and in some cases terrain.
On this entire trip the usage was around 30% of the 48 cu. ft. cylinder, for 2 persons. Without oxygen, this kind of trip is doable but you would have fewer options if the weather is not as you expected.
The Value of an IR
The flights described could have been done under VFR, on similar routes, but probably with more "negotiation" enroute and you would be much closer to the terrain (so needing really light wind conditions) unless going around the Alps. And you would need to get enroute notams, very carefully, because ATC will not generally be looking after you. The real value of an IR is not to fly in IMC; it is the fact that ATC works with you rather than (as so often) against you, so you get access to airspace and altitudes where you can fly in sunshine.
This page last edited 13th April 2025