Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
#1714997
Hi, flying down to the area to see friends this weekend and planning on going to Carpentras but not have any joy in gaining response to any numbers / email I can find anywhere. Just wondered fi anybody has been there recently and has any useful info / contact details that work?
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By G-BLEW
Boss Man  Boss Man
#1715005
tuscandods wrote:Hi, flying down to the area to see friends this weekend and planning on going to Carpentras but not have any joy in gaining response to any numbers / email I can find anywhere. Just wondered fi anybody has been there recently and has any useful info / contact details that work?


Not been there, but a look at the VAC seems to suggest that it is a typically sleepy French GA airfield. I couldn't find any NOTAM (but don't take that as a guarantee of none existing for your visit).

I'd just, erm, go.


Ian
PS A/A in French
#1715055
Thanks John, was there anybody manning radio when you were there, or just blind traffic calls? Taxi won't be a problem as friends are picking us up. Will report back after the weekend with any update on what its like? Btw, your vids are first class!
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By Dave W
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1715060
For further info, there are 4 'Pilot Notes' on SkyDemon, all from July/August this year.

Themes are: Very quiet; often nobody around; fully automatic fuel pumps; no restaurant on field (closest 2.5km); the club can help organise stay if contacted "well in advance".

Sounds a typically pleasant French rural airfield. I quite fancy going myself now. :thumleft:
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By tnowak
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1715200
Many years ago a friend and I I flew into Capentras en-route south in our vintage taildraggers.
Landed in beautifully calm conditions but unfortunately they had run out of AVGAS.
The lady said just go to Avignon - they have AVGAS.
So we took off again in lovely calm conditions.
15 mins later called Avignon who cleared us to land - wind 35 Kt but, fortunately, straight down the runway.
The Mistral was blowing! Taxi off the runway (90 deg to the wind) was "interesting"!
TonyN
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By skydriller
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1715446
tuscandods wrote:Hi, flying down to the area to see friends this weekend and planning on going to Carpentras but not have any joy in gaining response to any numbers / email I can find anywhere. Just wondered fi anybody has been there recently and has any useful info / contact details that work?


SOP for a french airfield than is "Ouvert a la CAP"... none of your PPR business...!!! If there isnt a NOTAM saying its closed, pitch up, its open!

When I go outside France I have to keep remembering that it doesnt work that way everywhere.

Regards, SD..
#1716142
Thanks to all for your responses last week and just thought would report back having been to Carpentras over the b/h weekend.
Flight down was all straightforward but the restricted areas to the N and NW of the airfield make the approach from the N look a little tricky on the charts. However, spoke to Orange who gave us a transit through the area immediately to the North of the airfield before giving us a frequency change to Carpentras.
I made a few calls as we approached and based on what I had read was not surprised that first two calls were unanswered. I had obtained ATIS from Avignon Caumont so knew R30 should be the active so planned to join for left hand circuit for that.
On my third call, a response...initially French then in English simply saying "we have gliders".
So, with eyes on stalks we entered the circuit continuing with position calls, spotted one glider just departing on tow and second short final. Continued a cautious approach with a smooth landing on 30 and after taxying and parking up next to a Piper Malibu (the only other SEP there on arrival) found a chap in the office. In my best Franglais explained I would like to park up until Monday and how much should I pay him...after a few shrugs he suggested Euro 8 - not bad for landing fee and three days parking! If I'm honest, I am not 100% sure he was actually anything to do with the airport - possible just using an office that happened to be on the airfield...but it felt better having paid somebody something to land!
Our friends we were staying with had arrived as we touched down so we were soon back at theirs having a rather nice glass of chilled wine by their pool!
After a lovely few days with them, we returned to the airfield on Monday, filled the tanks with the self service pump (worked fine except for a relatively low value cut off which meant we had to do three separate card transactions to get near what we needed.)
On departure there were no gliders active and in fact a microlight and a Robin both landed while we were re-fuelling and were put to bed in their hangar.
Departed R30 and went to Provence Info to activate our flight plan and obtain flight information service and were asked to route west via AVN VOR before heading North which kept us away from the restricted areas etc. They actually then cleared us to track Northerly before we reached AVN which took us through the Western part of the Orange Class D and on track homeward - the usual good French ATC service (in my experience).
Overall, a lovely little airfield with a decent length, good condition runway and self service fuel....and perfectly placed for the southern Rhone wine region....I am sure we will be returning!
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