Angouleme and Poitiers are also available for outside Schengen entry. Same Douanes unit (Poitiers). Brive and Limoges available as well.
However if you are going to Bordeaux anyway I’d go to LFBD. As big international airports go the fees are not that outrageous. Expensive relative to other French airports but OK compared to the rest of Europe. 125-150 euros ish all in. Easy bus from Merignac LFBD into town, the taxi is approx 50 euros.
If you clear customs elsewhere, Saucats is now the main GA field for Bordeaux but miles away from anything so I’d pay the fees at LFBD for a one off visit instead as it is difficult to get anywhere from Saucats unless someone meets you by car. Another alternative is Libourne (near St Emilion if you like wine). Arcachon worth a visit in itself.
LFBP, Pau is good for immigration and customs without extra fees. And Coming from Zagreb it’s on your way @Damir. Just give them the prior notice by mail and take a copy with you. Then it’s fine. Maybe a little to wait until they have finished their procedures. Have a look on my trip report here.
Bergerac LFBE should be fine. I’ve been there a couple of times. The €50 charge does have the appearance of a ripoff given that LFBE has international scheduled flights and thus has police there, but GA has a lot of this (usually resulting in calls on flying forums to boycott the place) and in the end it is a lot less that you will pay at Bordeaux LFBD in total. But it’s not that close to Bordeaux itself. About 1hr by car and there may be an easy train.
A number of pilots on here are based in the LFBD region.
There are no airports of entry near Bordeaux, other than LFBd itself. The “nearest” one would be Bergerac, but it doesn’t have a good reputation, because they charge 50€ extra per extra-Schengen movement.
LFBD is a bit expensive, but not outrageuosly so. Between 120 and 200 Euros with one night parking (depends on whether it’s a weekend or not), last time I was there. Check [email protected] for latest charges.
Avgas in France is usually between 1,80 and 2,10€ right now, but LFBD is always more expensive by 30 or 40 cents, as their fuel supplier is Esso, who don’t care about anything.
Hi,
I plan flight with Cessna P210 from Zagreb (LDZA) to some airport near Bordeaux. I need airport of entry.
Do you have new suggestions or some ideas for airport with custom on demand?
It seems Bordeaux airport is expensive for general aviation.
Do you know price of AVGAS now in French;
Damir
Is VAT no problem if the N-reg. aircraft is in Europe for longer than (let’s say) six months?
It’s actually more of a problem for an N reg than an EU reg. With an EU reg, only the country of registration will really query it.
With an N reg, it could be any country that will query it.
What you really need is some evidence that you paid VAT on when you imported it into the EU, or when it was bought inside the EU.
Is VAT no problem if the N-reg. aircraft is in Europe for longer than (let’s say) six months?
YES, but this is a simple question with a complicated answer.
One of the variables is whether the owner holds an EU passport.
You can get hit with this big-time and it is a specialist area. I would suggest doing a search here on import VAT, etc.
Is VAT no problem if the N-reg. aircraft is in Europe for longer than (let’s say) six months?
In Germany they wanted to see insurance as well.
Ohh they are going to be so disappointed with my VAT.
But beyond that, in the US they check for Registration, Airworthiness Certificate, Radio License, Operating limitations and Weight and Balance. Also pilot license.
My understanding at least in Iceland you had to show insurance and now in France the VAT payment. Almost forgot, US passport in Europe. Am I missing something?
