Quite a lot of fields have become “French only” in the past years.
I know of none which have “become” French-only.
There is generally a lot of misconception about this “french-only” thing around…
Calais is one…
Clubs have special arrangements such as codes gates etc.
Bosco has much more experience in France than me. At the dozen airports I have visited, however, the code was always placarded somewehere airside or there was a notice like “use first 4 digits of tower frequency”.
What about getting fuel outside of the regular operating hours? Colmar has Air BP and have their card. Will I usually be able to use it or will they lock the fuel station?
Forgive me all this funny questions but as you certainly have noticed I come from the land where airports get locked up for the night :-)
blueline wrote:
xactly, they don’t have this foolish German and Austrian “Flugleiterpflicht”
Add The Netherlands to the list of countries
Calais was only a very temporary thing, after they lost the TWR and before they had an English-approved AFISO on staff.
italianjon wrote:
Calais is one…
only for some of the time, mainly weekends. They are busy training a second man for the tower to make it even less Fr
The gate code for Colmar if I remember correctly is the twr frequency
No way will you get into Bergerac LFBE after about 6pm. Not without climbing over the fence, but French police are armed so I wouldn’t do that.
When I was last there Nov 2014, it was dark and there was not even a rat in sight. I did eventually get out, using a one-way facility the aeroclub uses, which the fireman showed me. The airport didn’t close for air traffic for another few hours, IIRC.
I strongly suspect Poitiers and Cherbourg are the same, as are others I recall more vaguely. Basically: nobody at the aeroclub (or no aeroclub) and last Ryanair flight has left = no way to get in or out unless you can get the attention of a fireman.
ATC might know of a solution (phone the fireman, I guess) but if you cut it too close time-wise and they have packed up by the time you realise it…
I do carry 2 sleeping bags but not for this purpose 
Last I was in Troyes the gate code was C25421235 !!! At least that is what I have in my notes. I would call the airport operations (very nice people) during operating hours and ask.
The Novotel (in walking distance) seems very good. I have not slept there but I once flew in for dinner and the kitchen was excellent. If that says anything about the quality of the hotel…
Close/open flight plan by radio with Paris (?) on the ground. PCL does not require any prior arrangements.
