It has been a while, since I posted a trip report here on EuroGA. Time for a new little journey. Last Saturday, the weather on the north side of the Alps was good and I decided to accomplish a little tour to the French region “Franche-Comté”. But which airfield to pick?
Back in 2020, I did a little tour with @boscomantico in the region to Pontarlier, Besançon – La Vèze, Belfort, and Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. I was amazed by the fact that France has so many nice airfields, open to the public from SR to SS or even at night with PCL and even more – quite often no landing fees! After flying a lot inside Switzerland, where each landing or go-around costs around 20 to 30 CHF, that would be a welcoming difference. Also, my flying experience in France is still limited, so it was more than time to practice and polish my French radio skills and procedures.
After I heard good stuff about Vesoul, I thought that would be a nice destination for the day. It has a new customs NOTAM, so a direct arrival from Switzerland would have been possible, but the customs authorities did not accept an E-Mail with the famous Word document for the pre-notification yet. Also, they need at least 24 hrs PNR for Vesoul. And that’s where I came up with the idea to stop in Basel-Mulhouse (LFSB) for customs, which is a binational airport, where you can clear both Swiss and French customs at once. I contacted GAC Basel for PPR. They were very friendly and gave me a call within a few minutes, after submitting the request.
For the French outbound customs, I’ve chosen Pontarlier (LFSP), since it is the only GA airfield in the area with ‘only’ a 12 hrs PN to customs, even on weekends. The French customs office replied to my request within minutes. My latest act on Friday evening was sending an arrival customs notification for my home base LSPN and filing a flightplan. Yes, getting out and back in Switzerland takes some more effort, compared to flying within the EU, but it’s all easily doable if you know the procedures.
The next morning, I checked the weather once again for the final go. The Alps had a Südstau with a Südföhn, but for my route, there was nothing to worry about.
The airplane for the day: My beloved DR401/155CDI. I already wrote it elsewhere on the forum, but this has become my favorite GA plane for its class. It has an extremely nice climb performance, also at a high-density altitude, and a decent cruise speed of 130+ kts TAS. Even though I travel alone today, it’s a true 4-seater, which can climb-out Samedan or Münster on hot summer days. Not many other aircrafts in this class can do so. Thanks to the fact of burning Jet A1 instead of Avgas, you can get fuel almost everywhere around the globe. The DR401 has also an optimized and wider window, compared to it’s predecessor, which allows more space.
Only a few minutes after departure, I’ve reached already the city of Basel. It’s a fast marathon of switching frequencies between my home base, Bâle Approach, and Tower. When using the GAC at Basel, you don’t need any flight plan from/to Switzerland or France, even though the French AIP says so for VFR traffic. Using route S, you even cross a very short part of Germany within Bâle CAS. There was a lot of traffic on the frequency and the hold at the end of downwind was not a surprise. Special side note: It was an international hold, crossing the river Rhine each time and circling over both France and Germany. 
A lot of airliners came down on the ILS to the active runway 15. The Tower had to find a spot to squeeze me in. After three orbits, I was cleared to land behind a landing A320. The obvious call “caution wake turbulence” is not a joke here, they expect to land fast, as the next Airbus was already only a few miles out on the ILS and got a “continue approach, reduce speed due VFR approach” call from the Tower, and other two aircraft were waiting at the holding point for departure. This is one of the obvious reasons why the AIP describes a displaced threshold for airplanes below 5,7t MTOW, so wake turbulence can be avoided by a high approach and landing further down the runway. There is simply no time to do a 3-minute separation or so.
After landing smoothly, I was handed off to Ground, which also requested me to “expedite” and I had to pass a C172 coming from the opposite direction. Once arriving at the GAC, a marshaller was already awaiting me and parking was done fast. I was warmly welcomed and escorted to the gate turnstile. In the building of the Basel flight school, I was offered a coffee and had a short talk with local pilots.
Since the GAC is located within the Swiss customs zone, you’re required to send a GENDEC to Swiss customs at least 1 hour prior departure or arrival to or from a non-Swiss aerodrome. This is done via an online customs form, available on the GAC website. Unlike many Swiss aerodromes, where you need to ‘activate’ the customs form by calling the C-office, there is nothing more to do at Basel. The form directly notifies customs and you get a copy of the request by E-Mail. It’s a simple and fast procedure. For the French customs, there is no further action required.
A picture from my parking stand. Before leaving Basel, each pilot using the GAC must report in the little container at the gate, where a French security guard has a small office. He or she makes a copy from your ID / passport and writes down names and callsign.
I’m still standing on the Swiss tarmac, the other side of the zebra crossing is international (French) tarmac. It is also possible to request a parking stand on the international tarmac, by requesting PPR from the EuroAirport directly. It requires at least 24 hrs PPR and some further bureaucracy plus flight plans (also VFR) and a paid bus ride, but if you’re parking multiple days, it might be cheaper. If you’re only coming for one day, without overnight parking, GAC is cheaper, faster, and causes less bureaucracy (and no security check).
Back in the aircraft, I requested my intentions to the delivery frequency, which already had my flight plan. This was however not necessary, the fact that LFSB can be used without a flight plan for both France and Switzerland is very convenient. Nonetheless, there was still a lot of airliner and private jet traffic going on. Together with a Tecnam from the local flying school, I was allowed to line-up on 15 and got my take-off clearance just 30 seconds later.
Upon reaching point WA, I was handed off to Bâle Information (they don’t call themselves “Info”). A bit strange: While delivery, ground, and tower had my details, FIS did not, but I could climb into the TMA anyway. French ATC is always very welcoming and CAS penetration is a no-brainer. They first kept me on 4.000 ft due to traffic above, but allowed to further climb shortly after. Since it was a weekend, I could just cross the airspace of Luxeuil with Bâle FIS.
While this picture was taken on departure, it also gives a nice idea of the right downwind approach for runway 08, after flying overhead and reporting intensions. Vesoul (LFQW) is French only, but I practiced the basic phraseology at home and it went pretty well. The airfield is based on a hill and has a scenic approach. For the time being, there was no traffic at all.
Parked up at the tarmac. In the hangar right next to the little ‘tower’ (which has nobody inside), a friendly guy who spoke English, was preparing the DA20 from the local club. As I didn’t knew my next intentions yet, like continuing to Besançon Thise, I asked for some fuel even though I had enough to continue for another 2,5 hours. Another friendly guy called Jean-Marc showed up a few minutes later and helped me with refueling Jet A1. The airfield also offers Avgas. Mogas however is reserved for the DA20 only.
Paying the fuel was a bit exciting. They have a card terminal, but it didn’t accept any of my credit cards. Even worse, I didn’t had enough cash in Euros with me. Luckily, the terminal accepted my only debit card in the end. My conclusion: Their card terminal is only released for Visa or Mastercard debit cards, but does not accept classical credit cards. Keep this in mind, in case you ever visit Vesoul and want to refuel.
After paying the fuel, it was time to look around the airfield and enjoy the views from the hill. I found this bus station, but it only says “on demand” without a further time table or information online, how to request a ride. Jean-Marc who helped me with refueling came in his car, and asked if I wanted a ride to Vesoul. What a great offer!
We went down a few kilometers and passed the village of Frotey, which is located below the airfield. Vesoul is a bit further. It would be doable by walking, but it would take around 1 to 1,5 hours for each way. I was extremely thankful to get dropped of at a nice bistro. Unfortunately, my French is very limited, so I asked Jean-Marc for a taxi number for my way back. He gave me a number and we said goodbye. After having a nice lunch at the cafeteria, I walked down to the city center for some sightseeing.
During my walk, I passed a nice well-maintained city park. It felt and smelled like summer holidays.
The main square “Place de la République”.
Road works in the old town. Besides this street, everything else was well-maintained and the town didn’t gave a neglected impression at all.
The city hall of Vesoul.
Do I love Vesoul too? Definitely yes! It’s certainly not the most beautiful French town I’ve ever seen, but by far also not the worst. It has a nice atmosphere with some scenic roads and buildings. Definitely a great start to start the sightseeing season.
Once at the train station, I thought to find a spontaneous taxi to get a ride back to the airfield. But besides some busses and private cars, dropping people off, there was no taxi to see at all. Even not a taxi stand or sign, for which I was already afraid of. I thought of walking back to the airfield in 1,5 hrs, but then gave the number I got a try. Guess what… It was not a taxi company, it was Jean-Marc himself! A few minutes later, he arrived at the station and brought me back to the airfield. “Pilote solidarité” he said. Truly awesome!
Back at the airport, I wrote down my flight details on the “Appareils de passage” notepad and decided to fly directly to Pontarlier (LFSP), since I had spent already quite some time in Vesoul. There was now some traffic going on, but still nothing much.
Enroute on my flight to Pontarlier abeam Valdahon. It felt already like at home, by seeing the Eigernordwand from here.
Overflying the scenic Loue river valley.
Landed in Pontarlier (LFSP)! Again a French-only aerodrome, but I already felt a bit more comfortable, especially as I heard and understood multiple position reports from other pilots and in return, they understood me too.
After briefing my latest leg back to Switzerland, including writing down my flight details into the local notepad and looking around, it was time for my departure according to my customs pre-notification and flight plan. The aerodrome of Pontarlier is located at 2.683 ft and overflying the town requires 3.300 ft AGL clearance. Therefore, I made a long turn into the right downwind to gain altitude, prior heading east for Swiss airspace. Geneva FIC opened up my flight plan and it was a straightforward and uneventful flight back to Triengen.
Passing Lake Neuchâtel with a view back to Lake Geneva behind us. Always a lovely experience!
I planned my route right through the Bern TMA. As always, my transit got approved right upon first contact with Bern Arrival. Swiss ATC is great as well, as long as you avoid the Geneva or Zurich TMA.
Another lovely view: Lake Sempach, close to my home town. A true blessing living here.
That was it for today. Hope you liked the report!
Last but not least, paid fees:
LFSB: 30 CHF handling GAC + local landing fee (invoice comes later by E-Mail)
LFQW + LFSP: Gratuite!
Thanks Frans, I enjoyed reading this. Franche-Comté was on the eastern limit of my PPL training, so I’ve been to a few airfields but not the towns; it’s nice to see the photos. Good to see the aéroclub taxi still works on goodwill.
Nice little report @Frans, thanks
Frans wrote:
they need at least 24 hrs PNR for Vesoul
Merecalls using Vesoul as a PoE in the good’ol times, sans this PNR/PN BS that is more and more torpedoing GA (don’t ask about my BP whilst I’m typing this stuff 🥲).
As for customs stops for outbound flights… 😇
Nice trip!
Many thanks for the report @Frans. A lot of good experience in just a single day’s outing.
I wrote off LFSB many years ago after they closed the old France GAC building and a mini-van was needed to drive to the terminal and backing for a €150 fee. Clearly that old building has been torn down and the Swiss GAC fenced off with just the little container now controlling access to/from the Swiss side.
Apart from the Swiss customs form (which from your description works just like any other non-PoE Swiss airfield like LSPM, etc) do you know if a customs control, if made, would be done at the FSB, regardless whether French or Swiss? While the GAC form is clearly a Swiss customs notification, I suspect that it goes to both French and Swiss customs at the terminal so either can decide if they want to come over and meet you. From the GAC web site info, it looks like the turnstile you mention takes you ground-side and then you enter the FSB office from the front. Is that correct, or is there an entry from the GAC tarmac? Were you transported back from the FSB to your plane or were you able to walk back? The customs form has “arrival” “departure” and “transit” options. I assume that your type of stop would be considered “transit”, correct?
Thank you all for the feedback so far!
Capitaine wrote:
Good to see the aéroclub taxi still works on goodwill.Absolutely, I was surprised in a very positive way!
Apart from the Swiss customs form (which from your description works just like any other non-PoE Swiss airfield like LSPM, etc)It’s indeed very similar, but not entirely, since the customs form for Basel does not need further confirmation or activation. Furthermore, you can declare goods for import, which is not possible at non-PoE airfields like LSPM.
do you know if a customs control, if made, would be done at the FSB, regardless whether French or Swiss?Good question. I think it will be done directly on the GAC tarmac, or at the turnstile when leaving or entering airside. During my visit, I didn’t saw any officer, except a security guard from the airport.
From the GAC web site info, it looks like the turnstile you mention takes you ground-side and then you enter the FSB office from the front. Is that correct, or is there an entry from the GAC tarmac?Correct, the turnstile takes you from airside to landside and back again. You can only operate the turnstile with a valid DGAC badge. The FSB office is only accessible from the landside.
Were you transported back from the FSB to your plane or were you able to walk back?I was also escorted back to my plane. In the briefing package I got from the GAC, it states the following: “On the GAC Aerial, it is mandatory to have valid BADGE of the DGAC. If you don’t have one, there must be an authorised Person to guide you in and out of the Areal.” I was told even student pilots from the FSB do not get a badge. Only licensed pilots seem to get one.
While the GAC form is clearly a Swiss customs notification, I suspect that it goes to both French and Swiss customs at the terminal so either can decide if they want to come over and meet you.It’s a pure Swiss BAZG customs form, called “Zollerklärung für grenzberschreitende Flüge für auf dem Flughafen Basel stationierte Kleinflugzeuge”. (English: Customs declaration for cross-border flights for small aircraft stationed at Basel Airport.) Out of practical reasons, this form is also used for external aircraft, using the GAC. I don’t know about French customs, but people from the FSB told me that they don’t seem to bother about traffic from and to the GAC. As LFSB is a binational PoE airport, you can still use it for direct flights from/to the EU with full customs clearance. If you come however from non-Schengen countries, there seems to be another procedure in place.
The customs form has “arrival” “departure” and “transit” options. I assume that your type of stop would be considered “transit”, correct?I had to file a “departure” customs notification, as the GAC is seen as defacto Swiss territory. If you arrive from a Swiss aerodrome to the GAC, it is considered to be a national flight within Switzerland. Flying to another French aerodrome, out of the GAC, is seen as an international flight.
Thank you for the great trip report.
Your photo at Pontarlier brought a smile to my face. I was parked at that very spot many years ago after diverting due to weather.
A couple more pics of Vesoul taken today. A beautiful and functional airfield indeed, but for me it was just a short stop today.
Lovely pics @boscomantico !
