Surprising Freedom to Fly in Europe!
I truly did not expect to find a place to fly in Europe offering the same level of TOTAL freedom that exists in the US and Canada!
Gotland trip:
Location: Bunge airfield (ESVB)
Learn more here:
www.bungeflygfalt.se/
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Just a reminder: Europe is a collection of many many countries. Each country has their own rules. Something that applies in Sweden may not apply in other countries. so always read up on what the rules and regulations are where you fly to.
Yes, what he said! Not every country has the same rules.
Very true, though with the new EASA regulations things have been getting far more unified (not always better though...). It would be great if every county used the same interpretation of the rules in all aspects however.
Also, Sweden isn't in Europe
@@Muggles87 > sweden isn't Europe you're kidding, right? You gotta be. No-one would humiliate themselves like that voluntarily
@@boahneelassmal Sadly, lots of people do. I recall flying for a Pennsylvania based regional airline in the 90's. My Captain refused to accept that Sweden is part of Europe, and kept arguing about what constituted Europe. Basically it was Central Europe, i.e. Germany, France, England. When I explained that Moscow is in Europe he would've fallen off his seat had he not been strapped in. On a previous flight he was quite upset because part time, or remote learning, University degrees actually counted, since according to him it wasn't possible to learn properly unless you sat yourself down in a classroom for four years like what he had done. Unsure what his degree was, but most certainly not Geography or World Affairs. I know he had a scuba license, so I can only presume it was a degree in Underwater Basket Weaving since every subject I ever brought up seemed to derail fairly quickly.
"Most of Europe, ancient ruins like this are gone". I encourage you to visit more of Europe, and you'll soon find that this statement is incorrect.
I was scoffing when he casually said that.
Yeah, like go to Italy, if you put a shovel into the ground you probably just hit a 2000 year old ruin.
Yeah, most cities and towns have a 500-1500 year old intact city centre, and many countries have lots of history that goes back even further, and then there are Italy, Greece and other places from antiquity. Even most villages will have buildings from the middle ages. Not just in the main countries, but I really liked Latvia for example.
Exactly. Even in somewhere like England, where the Romans only came here for a relatively short stint, we still have a whole bunch of very, very old stuff that's still intact. The idea that most of Europe, the cultural centre of the Greeks, the Roman Republic, Empire, the HRE, supported by a religion that just loved building stone churches and cathedrals, plus centuries of castle building, would be in any way devoid of ancient ruins is laughable. Ancient ruins exist all over the place in Europe. What a silly take.
Like the small church in the insignificant village I live in is 1000 years old…
Regarding the ruins: I’m a 20 minute walk from a 1050 year old chapel. There’s still a lot around, intact buildings and ruins.
So many castles in Czechia! 🇨🇿
Yeah there's a church at least 1000 years old literally 5 minutes from where I'm sitting right now here in the UK. There are plenty of castles, cathedrals, and stuff going back even as far as the Romans all around here
Here in Belgium there is some class g airspace left, but for most time you will be sweating on the radio changing frequenties and asking permission to cross zones.
But BE airspace is easier than it looks. Much easier!
If you are still in Europe, you should stop by in Hildesheim (EDVM), Northern Germany, to come and see the Aviators Farm. It is one of the most beautiful aviation places you will have ever seen, with the owner being a walking encyclopedia about every century of aviation. With many old planes in the hangar, he also shelters the oldest flying Cessna in Europe (145 Airmaster). It would make a very interesting episode. Edit: Also really close, in Hannover (EDDV), there's Art Deco Aviation. A really awesome hangar in the art deco style, that is home to an Electra Junior and a Spartan Executive.
Bunge really saved my bacon a few years ago. We were planning to go to Visby but were a bit late. Swedish airports like to close early and we would not have made it. Luckily, the lady owning Bunge had her airfield open for us. It's nice to hear the exact same "welcome to Bunge" a second time ;-)
Please don't mix up Sweden with Europe. Still every country has different flying rules and airspaces.
Nor Australia with New Zealand. Their sheep may be more attractive but the laws of consent are universal.
As a pilot located in northern Germany that’s definitely an addition to the bucket list. 😊
This level of freedom isn’t even what most EU pilots expected to find there. I’m from the Netherlands, and it’s one restriction after another here. Guess I’ve gotta go to Sweden some time.
In Sweden and Finland it is generally like this. In Norway the weather and terrain is much more challenging, even if generally it is quite the same. Some more NATO bases too, for now anyway.
Well, I can't say for Sweden, but in Switzerland, it isn't extremely easy to fly in. Formal departure and arrival procedures, can't fly during certain hours due to noise, etc. While radio work may be lower, I find it much easier when I get back to Florida.
nice one...Sweden and the C150 perfect adventure.
We went to both places last year - to Bunga for having lunch and do some touch and gos. Then we went on to the grass strip of Visby. You can actually walk from there to the town which is nice.
Hi Claes! Great presentation…looks like I must come back for a bit. Enjoyed hearing Inger on the radio!
That looks like a lot of fun!
Great video Steve, any of the planes in the hanger air worthy? Also do they fly gliders at that air field? Safe travels.
Thumbs up 👍 this was a joy to watch 😊
He Steve, If you visit the Netherlands, we can take a filght in my RV-7 (PH-MNX). I've built it between 2017 and 2021 and I'm currently working on my AR.
check mixture lean 200 rpm, Meg drop 200 rpm, carb heat expect rpm drop. stir to ensure controls are free. pax advisory and go.
EU is not the same as Schengen!! And you have to check the AIP of every single country you’re flying to. That being said, you’ll enjoy the difference, most of the time
Sweden, Norway and Finland are all much easier than the rest of Europe, other countries have very busy airspace
Bunge air field 🥰
Some say the Swedes saved a troubled Blackbird back in the day..... heres a vote for a Viggen related episode? :D
In the "ProPilot '99" (maybe '98), the manual was full of aviation quotes. One of my favorites read something like, "Given the incredibly unlikely odds of two aircraft coming together in flight, it's unimaginable why we'd exponentially increase those odds by concentrating them to single points in space." I don't remember who was being quoted. Seems like the EU has taken that lesson in their air space management.
I did not expect this video to be place on Gotland
Come to fly in Czech Republic 🙂
Sweden in general was never bombed during WWII. Sweden had to keep a "neutral" position to not get bombed. Neutral I mean keep semi friends with third Reich and also giving info to the allies.
was that a draken in the background?
come to skavsta nyköping!
At my airfield, they land a PC-12 on the grass when they feel like it, so a Cessna or a Bonanza, that's not really an issue
1966 --- must be an F model. I did my training in an E model (1965) 😀
Greece has some of the weirdest and restrictive laws when it comes to private pilot flights.
I agree, it is extremely weird
Sorry Flightchops but this is just not one of your best videos from an informational point of view! (Nice pix tho). As someone who is based in the UK and flies a Cessna 182 regularly all over Europe (including Sweden) your version of flying in Europe is totally unrecognisable and frankly bizarre. The little bit of Sweden where you were flying right be mostly OCAS (outside controlled airspace) but there's lots of controlled airspace across Europe of course and many, some might say rather petty, rules, especially when you get to countries like Spain or Italy which are definitely not easy places for light GA to fly VFR. Other countries like Germany and France are easier (although the latter has lots of military restricted airspace) and you will almost always be talking to a Flight Information Service (or FIS) who will give you a squawk and sometimes a kind of unofficial flight following. So flying around without talking to anyone sadly rarely happens. Traveling from one bit of the EU to another also involves many different rules depending on countries and although it is true to say there are technically no customs you will usually have to fly via a customs/immigration airport of entry and show your passport as well as sending a GenDec with all your flight and passenger (usually online) beforehand - and God help you if you forget to do this in say Holland or Belgium! Big fines that way! It's all part of the complexity of Europe you might say - and perhaps also the fun. But as simple as you make out?? No way! Maybe in 1925? Oh - and we have many many many unruined monuments and churches etc across the entire continent. Most of the ruined ones are the effect of hundreds of years of time and not WW2, however bad that was. I think you need to come here again, mate! Try Italy or France - or even the UK - next time, for a very different but equally rewarding experience. But keep up the good work.
GA is Europe is largely a play thing for the very rich. Its VERY expensive there, HIGLY regulated and depending on the country a bureaucratic nightmare with fees for everything.
Not true.
It is not much different in the US. Jus that there are more well off people and a gallon of the fuel of your choice costs the same as a litre in Europe. 😅
c150 is the same airplane I trained in.
I have a serious question. If I have a certificate to fly in Europe how hard is it for me to get my license in the USA. Just private pilot. Thank you.
Hi, I have recently gone through this process, it's pretty straight forward. If you have your valid EASA PPL license with the ICAO English qualification, you can apply for foreign license verification. You'll just navigate to the iacra.faa.gov website, create an account and proceed according to the instructions. You will need to upload a copy of your licence and medical and select a FAA field office for your appointment. Once they verify your license, you will receive a confirmation letter. You will need to schedule an appointment with the FAA office you selected and attend the meeting. They won't be interviewing you, it's just paperwork, but you need to be there in person. On this meeting, you will receive a provisional FAA certificate which is valid immediately. The proper one will arrive within one month of the meeting. Although the license looks exactly the same as a proper FAA PPL, it is only valid when your EASA certificate is valid, so keep that in mind. You also need to start this process at least 2 months in advance, ideally before coming to the US, otherwise you'd be here unable to fly.
You can "convalidate" your EU license which involves some paperwork. If I remember correctly, there's also a checkride, but you can do that in the EU with a CFI certified in the US. I looked at this a good while ago, and found some flight schools in the US who can help with the process... it's probably a good idea to fly with them a few hours to learn the little differences.
For the license only paperwork is needed. In order to fly you need to do a biannual flight review with a flight instructor. Nothing dramatic. You can usually do that in combination with a 1-2 hour checkout where you rent a plane.
Was that an ashtray on the door of the cessna?
1969 baby!
There is no law against smoking on a private flight. In fact, all passengers can light a cigar, sip whiskey, and fire AK-47s out the door if they want. (So long as proper precautions are taken).
@@EllipsisAircraftfire an AK out of the door 😂
@@bensge1 wildlife culling, pig and predator hunting from aircraft is a thing.
@@EllipsisAircraftOnly in the US I presume.... XD
man discovers uncontrolled airspace
I was the 1,000 person to like the video, love the context
Outside controlled airspace, you don't even need a radio (like no physical radio on board at all), so I don't see what surprised you. On the other hand, there is no bush plane, you can't land in the middle of nowhere and camp there: there is no middle of nowhere anywhere in Europe, all areas are populated and land owned by someone.
I love seeing Americans discovering Europe
Gorbachev called the EU 'The European Soviet".
Unfortunately we don't have § 91.119 C here in Norway. There is always a minimum altitude. I think it's 1000 feet above ground. You also need to file a flight plan before taking off. So not really freedom country when it comes to flying here.
After a quick Google search 500 feet is the minimum altitude in Sweden and Norway. Yeah..so this cant be compared with the USA where we can take off with no radio, no flight plan and can fly low & slow with the cub. Thats freedom IMHO.
There is no requirement to file a flight plan in Norway as long as you don't cross any international borders.
@@oo3491 thanks! My friend who has a PPL in Norway told me this a couple years back, but maybe it's new rules or maybe only from certain airports/areas? Good to know!
The minimum altitude in Norway is 500 feet above ground, and 1000 feet above built up areas. Further, filing a flight plan is recommended for long trips, but *not required* unless crossing borders or landing at major airports that require you to do so.
@@AudunDragland so sad about the 500 feet limit. Put me off from getting my license here after growing up flying our J3 low and slow in the US. Oh well we get to visit it and fly it from time to time. Also weather here is not ideal.
Piper should have never made a T-tail Arrow. Terrible aerodynamics and elevator authority with already anemic low airspeed performance.
"because this area of sweden did not get damaged during WWII, whereas most of Europe ancient ruins like this are gone" - Clearly, you havn't been to most of Europe. ;) Europe is _full_ of ancient ruins. ;)
Oh, and it's also full of buildings and structures many hundreds of years old that are _not_ ruined. Churches especially. Only some major cities got completely destroyed in Europe in WWII - mostly German ones.
And ancient buildings and infrastructure that is still in tact, that dates back to B.C. 😉
Curious when this was recorded? Including your daughter at this age really breaks continuity from one video to the next.
I believe it was the summer prior to COVID so 19
Probably worth mentioning, whilst we used to be in the EU ( - because idiots) - flying in the UK is pretty similar...
Other options on the uks exit from the eu are available
Yeah, but what about backcountry flying? I bet you are not allowed to fly as low and free as in the us. Seriously, you're not even allowed to experience freedom with your offroad vehicle in germany. So how exactly are you supposed to fly low and land in nature with your plane if you're not even allowed to drive there by car?
It is not necessary to slam an aircraft door to get it latched. Timing and finesse? Yes. Slam? No.
I have a 150 and you definitely have to slam it shut.
@@monkmodemalik8225 do not blame your poor technique on the aircraft.
Slam is often necessary.
Fix the door.
@@EllipsisAircraft precisely.
Just don't have any dirty thoughts
What kind of dirty?
@@lordcarlosherespeaking Russian over the radio 😂?