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Velocity moving to Portugal

Just to add: Switzerland is also quite straight forward for basing an N reg experimental there. It will change in a few years though.

IFR with an n reg experimental in Europe is a bit of a grey zone and depends on the country. But seems it’s definitely easier than for non n reg.

Overflight permit for Germany is super easy.

Switzerland

Peter wrote:

Most of the uncertified community is Europe is flying with Mode C transponders, presumably for this reason (FR24, Flightaware, etc). It is fairly normal to not apply for the required cross-border permits.

Peter, that is just your assumption, nothing more I guess. Or is there any proof for that claim?

Also, no need to hide from anything as long as it’s according VFR. In many/most cases no cross border permits necessary any longer (last one which fell a few years ago was Belgium AFAIK). Basing a foreign reg. Experimental is a whole different story of course. To my knowledge Germany is one of the easiest countries to do this, even N-reg. IFR.

The solution for the OP is probably just moving to Germany instead of Portugal and keep his N-reg.

EDLE

The general lack of the traffic on FR24, and talking to owners

Of course, we have done this before 6 years ago…

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

Peter wrote:

The general lack of the traffic on FR24, and talking to owners

Ah – that indeed is the proof I asked for…

EDLE

Mooney_Driver wrote:

keeping the citizenship going may be well beneficial.

It has to be balanced against the ballache of having to file US taxes forever (even if you’re not due to pay anything), which even with the right tax lawyer, is burdensome and somewhat costly (my wife has to use a specialist accountant to avoid paying taxes in a country we don’t live in, and have no intention of living in).

Andreas IOM

that indeed is the proof I asked for

Maybe you expected registrations and FR24 tracks, but there would be an outcry if somebody posted that.

no need to hide from anything as long as it’s according VFR. In many/most cases no cross border permits necessary any longer (last one which fell a few years ago was Belgium AFAIK).

Depends on where you fly. Most GA flies to the same places, same places, all the time, so it is fine. The aircraft fits the mission profile.

Basing a foreign reg. Experimental is a whole different story of course.

What is the difference between basing (a pretty vague term) an N-reg uncertified somewhere, and flying a “legit” uncertified across the border to a country which needs the permit but you haven’t applied for it? All this has been widely done all over Europe and it is evident that neither is likely to be enforced provided you stay below the radar (literally, by being non-txp or a Mode C, not Mode S, also not ADS-B OUT, and figuratively by not having an accident) and provided you don’t have any enemies (e.g. don’t try running a GA forum on which about 1 person a year has their wheels come off and gets evicted and who then goes on a “revenge rampage” all over social media ).

To my knowledge Germany is one of the easiest countries to do this, even N-reg. IFR.

I think that’s correct, but Germany isn’t Portugal, in just about every way imaginable BTW can you fly an uncert aircraft IFR in German airspace? Last person who tried to check it out found a NO.

It has to be balanced against the ballache of having to file US taxes forever

Indeed; I’ve today paid £460 for the annual cost of my US trust (SAC) and a US citizen of a Green Card holder doesn’t need that.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

My point is simply (and I have made it already more than once), that flying a homebuild all across Europe VFR is perfectly legal. If it’s not gererelly allowed, just apply for it, no problem. No need to hide below the radar what you keep on claiming, but it’s just FUD. Therefore it’s of course covered by the insurance. BTW I do fly a homebuilt across Europe myself.

Again – I’m not talking about basing…

EDLE

If it’s not gererelly allowed, just apply for it, no problem.

That’s true, as written, but I’ve been told many times that e.g. Spain almost never replies, so the standard procedure was to apply, and fly anyway. Has this changed?

The need to obtain permits puts a big damper on going somewhere at short notice i.e. when the wx is suitable We see this on our meet-ups. If the flight was international, they almost never turn up. With some great exceptions

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

alioth wrote:

It has to be balanced against the ballache of having to file US taxes forever (even if you’re not due to pay anything), which even with the right tax lawyer, is burdensome and somewhat costly (my wife has to use a specialist accountant to avoid paying taxes in a country we don’t live in, and have no intention of living in).

That is the problem, yes, if you earn more than you tax in your country of residence I understand. I know some folks who do, others who have given up their citizenship. It is a huge step however and shuts the door of ever returning there. Not my business of course, but I am usually not someone shutting doors permanently.

In the background of basing a plane and owning a US LLC which in turn owns the plane, I can imagine that first, owning the LLC as a foreigner may be not as easy and b) flying and operating a N-reg plane as an American rather than a European “rule avoider” as some CAA’s are labling them, I would think that holding the citizenship is beneficial on that part.

LSZH(work) LSZF (GA base), Switzerland

@Peter – Spain is one of the few within Europe where you need a permission. For most you don’t. I’ve not been to Spain yet with my Europa but at least what I know from the Europa Club who do regular trips there and from the german UL-Forum, you do get a reply/permission from the authorities (IIRC it’s via e-mail and doesn’t even cost anything). To describe these few cases where you can’t just go as a “big damper” is highly exaggerated. A much bigger damper is e. g. the jungle of Corona regulations, Non Schengen etc.

Last Edited by europaxs at 04 Nov 19:39
EDLE
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