Tour of Eastern Switzerland, Ski Report 23 Jan

[stabilator]

Removed

[Iceman]

Beautiful pictures. I have only ever flown around the Eastern Switzerland area in the summer, landing at Samedan. I would love to do your trip in the winter.

Which type of aircraft were you flying ? Getting to 13000 ft in it looks quite impressive !

Iceman

[CaptCrispy]

Very nice pics.

I live in this area, Walensee in about 30 mins drive and the view looks almost identical from the cable car up to Flumseberg.

Can't wait until I finish the PPL to fly around here also - very jealous!

[Geraint Pinches]

Hi all. Great pics!

I have to go to Davos in August for a wedding. What's the nearest GA airfield (ie. one that isn't on top of a mountain and is comparatively user friendly for someone without a mountain rating)? I know of Samedan. Is there one closer with at least 500m length (in a PA28 Archer III), 3 on board (and am a fairly capable short field pilot so 500m is OK).

Many thanks in advance.

Geraint.

[stabilator]

Iceman - the aircraft is a Remos G3/600, 100HP Rotax with Rospeller vp prop. The highest I've been is 16,000ft over the Matterhorn, still plenty of climb performance. I use an O-Pur portable oxygen system and a Gerbing electrically heated waistcoat.

Crispy - are you doing your PPL in Switzerland, if so where?

Geraint - I would recommend Bad Ragaz. Easy to get to Davos by train (via Landquart and Klosters). 495m asphalt and very friendly:

http://www.lsze.ch/

Samedan is spectacular but recently massively increased their charges, including raising parking fees by 400%, so are currently boycotted by many private pilots in Switzerland:

http://www.engadin-airport.ch/fileadmin ... sung_E.pdf

[CaptCrispy]

Crispy - are you doing your PPL in Switzerland, if so where?

No, I'm English but living in Switzerland, I started with a trial at Andrewsfield and did spend some time trying to do lessons in both countries, usign Speck LSZK over here.

This should (was) possible legally with JAR rules, but in reality it just wasn't worth it, lots of issues with administration.

So I will finish at Andrewsfield (hopefully by spring) then have a few lessons to learn the local environment and to do a local IMC and mountain rating; I don't think they are legally required here, but they do appear to be practically mandatory.

Awful Charlie is also based here (most of the time), how about you?