MedEwok wrote:
The tone of the report is very friendly and positive of the “flying farmer’s” activity.
Very good video! We need more of this kind of reporting in GA.
MedEwok wrote:
Today I saw on German television, specifically on NDR, a short clip about a North German farmer who, according to the reporter, owns “Germany’s only privately owned [farm] airfield”( Link , note that German public broadcasters tend to geo-lock their online content, so it might not be viewable from abroad)
The man is named as Rudolf Thode, living in Offenbüttel, Schleswig-Holstein. He’s a farmer and built a 306 m grass airstrip on his own property, which he uses frequently with a C42 ULM.
Interestingly, the clip specifically mentions that it cost him “9000€, countless permissions and a ground survey” to be able to build the airfield.
The tone of the report is very friendly and positive of the “flying farmer’s” activity.
Actually it’s NOT the only privately owned airstrip in Germany as a member of our club had approval granted to fly his Alpi Pioneer 300 to an airstrip owned by a farmer near Everswinkel, close to Münster. Even after he crashed on approach to the airstrip, it’s still in use – this link underscores the fact that he was flying to a farmers field.
There are other strips in use – for example, I know a mechanic who flies from a small field to do maintenance work at bigger airfields, these airstrips are not even listed in (eg) SkyDemon or similar..
Steve6443 wrote:
Actually it’s NOT the only privately owned airstrip in Germany as a member of our club had approval granted to fly his Alpi Pioneer 300 to an airstrip owned by a farmer near Everswinkel, close to Münster. Even after he crashed on approach to the airstrip, it’s still in use – this link underscores the fact that he was flying to a farmers field.There are other strips in use – for example, I know a mechanic who flies from a small field to do maintenance work at bigger airfields, these airstrips are not even listed in (eg) SkyDemon or similar..
That’s very good news Steve! From previous discussions in this thread and elsewhere, one would get the impression that it is practically impossible to get approval for a private airstrip in Germany. The fact that isn’t is encouraging.
What sets the report about Bauer Thode apart though is that he is offensively going public with his little farm airstrip and the population of his village seems to be quite supportive (usually in this kind of reporting they always present an opponent for the sake of balance, but alas there aeem to be no vocal ones :) )
UL airfields vs. proper airfields is a big difference in terms of feasibility in Germany.
MedEwok wrote
The tone of the report is very friendly and positive of the “flying farmer’s” activity.
A heartwarming video; thank you for posting. It worked in the UK and I even understood some of it with my schoolboy German 😀
Has anyone had any experience creating a private runway in France ? How would the paperwork look like ?
This idea has been inside my head for a few years for a specific property, and I want to have an idea of how big of a hassle it would be:
From my understanding the authorization for a private runway only has to go through the “Préfecture”, but I’m betting they will call in guys from the DGAC to make sure everything checks out in terms of security (let alone environmental / nature preservation agencies).
I had a long talk a few years ago with someone who did it. You’ve probably already seen it, but I posted a summary earlier up the thread. Hopefully still relevant.
Capitaine wrote:
I had a long talk a few years ago with someone who did it. You’ve probably already seen it, but I posted a summary earlier up the thread. Hopefully still relevant.
Yes, I’ve only just noticed it, thanks !
As far as the law is concerned, I think it’s still relevant (and it’s the first time I see the approval request form).
One question is whether it is to be used regularly or just on occasion. From what you have written it could come under a UL field which just needs permission from the prefecture but for political expediency I would consult the mairie first.
If you are not intending it to be a CAP field there is little reason for the DGAC to be interested.
With no neighbours there is no one to stop you putting lights in, but don’t forget that ULMs are day only VFR.
Be careful if its an nature area but then the prefect will consider that.
Indeed, the DGAC may not care if it’s private. But they still get sent a copy of the dossier (along with the approval decree if it was approved).
Anyway, the legal puzzle is coming together ^^
I found the original decree defining the contents of the documents to include in the request, dating back to 11 oct. 1960 (available here)
I still don’t know if this decree was modified later, and the Journal Officiel is a scan of the 1960 paper version (it’s not searchable).
In the approval request form , as compared to the decree, they additionally ask for the mayor’s opinion and possible impact assessment as required by the environmental law (of which I believe there is none if the runway is less than 2100m). And there are no enforced flight restrictions in Luberon since it’s a regional park (only national parks have 3300ft minimum fly-over height).
Good news, it may be more feasible than I thought !