Thanks Aboule, good tips !
Hi Phil,
Pretty much the same recommendations as the others:
Calvi is fine and GA friendly. Avgas available on request (I think it’s BP). Just request it to the tower and the truck will come over.
Bastia: never been there.
Ajaccio: avoid! (unless you have connections with the local club). I stopped there last summer to refuel during lunch break and had to wait for 1 and a half hour at the gas station before the guy showed up. I paid more than 30€, only to wait at the petrol station.
Figari: lovely and affordable. See my report ;-). Check the NOTAMs, PPRs are usually requested in summer because the parking lot can be crowdy.
In any case, I always take poles and ropes to tie the aircraft down. It can be pretty windy and both in Calvi and Ajaccio I’ve always been parked on grass. I would also recommend entering the crossing points in your GPS (MERLU, LONSU, OMARD and Co…), even if they can be located using STP and AJA VORs.
Regards
I was in Carcassonne the week before last and still no fuel for visiting aircraft despite having an Air Total fuel station!
I have been in correspondence with the airfield management and they tell me its something to do with the fuel station being next to the training apron???
He reckons fuel available by the end of the year but don’t hold your breath, we always call in at Limoges on the way down and fuel up their, only an hour down to Carcassonne then and we end up with 4+ hours in the tanks.
BTW. thanks for all the great info on Corsica, really appreciated and helpful…
(before anybody says it I know there is no fuel at Carca, pain in the bum!)
Interesting. I had no problem refueling (and paying in cash) in summer 2011. The guy at the fuel pump gave me a pair of “avgas only” stickers and insisted i had to glue them on the wings before the next refueling (which never happened), because he “wasn’t allowed to fuel planes without stickers” 
…
If you are into golfing, or enjoy, small beautiful (caribean-style) beaches, go to Figari. The Sperone Golf Course must be one of the most beautiful in Europe. The adjacent beaches are like paradise.
Agree that the condition of Propriano airfield is quite a disaster. Also, the way to the beach isn’t totally trivial (unless walking down the runway).
Calvi is quite good. Nice beach and a decent town. Taxi is 20 Euros.
I second Figari – we went there last year for the Tour de France. GA facilities are top of the line, various car rental is right at the field, people are friendly (well.. for France), fuel is cheap. The best beaches are in easy driving distance. We were parked on the grass and were advised that we should have PPR’d for hard parking.
Can we get a hire car at Propriano airfield?
I didn’t, but I’m sure it isn’t a problem. There is no shortage on rental cars on the island. A taxi to the city was € 20 or so…
Corsican language has a lot in common with Italian, as a result of Genoa being in control for a long time. But I think you’ll be just fine with standard French, based on observation (mine is non-existent)
Great Info guys
My French is pretty good but I am wondering if there is a strange dialect on the island?
As far as a nice area to actually visit, airfield aside for the moment, would Propriano be the the choice?
Our plan is to Fly from Carcassonne, where we will be based for a while this Summer (before anybody says it I know there is no fuel at Carca, pain in the bum!) and stay over 2 or 3 nights in Corsica with a hire car to take a look around. Can we get a hire car at Propriano airfield?
I have been at Figari, Calvi and Propriano. My favourite airport is Figari, very nice there and friendly. The language problem is an issue but can be resolved with your hands and a smile. On Departure I was very well prepared but did not understand the SID the Tower gave to me. After several “say again” I got a different Route which came very clear.
The car rental at Figari is cheaper than at Calvi where you have to pay an extra charge of 40 Euro when picking up the car at the airport. Propriano has an amazing beach right at the end of the runway but the aifield itself is a disaster.
