Useful airfield information and home of the forum's fuel price league tables.

Moderators: deltacharlie, GlosOps

User avatar
By Steve H
#870374
This is a very convenient and easy to find airport just inside Italy from the French border on the coast. It is located a couple of miles inland and up a valley. There is one runway at a generous 1448m and aligned 09/27. Any approach to 09 will mean a downwind leg either into the valley next door and across the ridge onto final or almost along the runway heading and turnaround in a 180 turn in the tight valley onto final. Note that they are quite fond of their VRP reporting points, so you should know where these are and be ready with them. The guy in the tower was fine with English on the radio although I did have to repeat my callsign five times – G-GDRV (I think it was the ‘double G’ that threw him).

Image
Albenga airport

If landing on 09 try to land short as the only exit from the runway is at this end. There is quite a mix of interesting aircraft operating from the airfield. The AVGAS was easy and promptly attended to by a pompier. The terminal is fine, with a small snack bar and facilities.

You pay at reception in the terminal which is a true artform in itself and well worth the entertainment value it provided. The lady asks you a huge number of detailed questions and spends about 10 minutes bashing stuff into the computer, then generates a bill as long as your arm which includes small changes for pretty much everything, I swear the only thing that wasn’t itemised was the number of sheets of toilet paper I had used! The cost wasn’t outrageous (but equally not cheap), I just found it all a bit weird that’s all.

A very convenient and easy airfield, good for a break and refuelling. Don’t know what the town is like as we didn’t stay.
User avatar
By Pete L
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1621778
Popped in on the way back from Venice Lido. Airport has changed hands and now has aspirations to be the private jet reliever airport for Nice and Genoa. They will be getting a GNSS approach. Met the new airport director, David Manton.

Nice terminal and small restaurant patronised by the factory next door. Friendly staff.

The centre of the old town apparently has some Greco-Roman ruins but like Savona is not the place for a beach holiday. Locals live in the hills rather than on the coast - apparently the views are great.

AVGAS 2.40/L

Handling not cheap for a 0.6T aircraft - 45 euros for a 2hr stop. On the other hand, it would be the same for 2T. Don't think we're their core market.

Only two easy routes to the coast from the Tuscan plain - one heads direct for Genoa and one about 10nm on heads for the coast W of Genoa. The terrain otherwise is not good - the spot heights don't give a good impression. Following the motorway and railway into Genoa looks the slightly easier option - I of course chose the other one.
User avatar
By skydriller
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1622085
Thanks for that Pete L.

I called Albenga asking about possible car rental if we landed there and was told to send an Email with my request, which I did. Having never received a reply, we decided to go to Genova instead, and I have to say it sounds like I made a good choice.

Regards, SD..