The semi-circular rule in France has always been and is still to fly even flight levels westbound, and odd levels eastbound. A mnemonic in French is: P = Pair = Portugal, I = Impair = Italie. If you fly towards Portugal, you need an even (pair) flight level. For VFR, add 500 ft.
The IFR routes are indeed organized in a way that differentiates between northbound and southbound routes, but at least on the official chart, this is achieved by declaring each route that deviates from the semicircular rule with an E> symbol. I think Jeppesen may do this differently and state it on the chart legend as a general rule. But this does not alter the semi-circular rule as such.
So there was and is no contradiction with SERA either.
Patrick wrote:
Not need to list Switzerland and Norway as exceptions – they are part of the Schengen area.
And Liechtenstein is missing, I think. ;)
achimha wrote:
France is in violation of SERA, still?
SERA gives the “competent authority” the option of specifying different cruising levels. As do the ICAO Rules of the Air.
Here’s the appropriate AIP section for France.
It’s based East/West track, like everywhere else (except possibly still the UK?)
Indeed. ENR 1.7.7. So from now on I will disregard the rule on the cover of the Jeppesen chart :-)
Patrick,
Patrick wrote:
Not need to list Switzerland and Norway as exceptions – they are part of the Schengen area.
They are but they do need customs.
I am happy to read that Toussous is still open to traffic from Switzerland, I thought it was not.
Rwy20 wrote:
And Liechtenstein is missing, I think. ;)
Mooney_Driver wrote:
I think Liechtenstein is EU….
Liechtenstein is a member of the European Free Trade Association, and, while not a member of the European Union, the country participates in both the Schengen Area and European Economic Area. It also has a customs union and a monetary union with Switzerland.
Does Liechtenstein have any airports?
Only a heliport. Liechtenstein is featured in the list of countries without an airport. It’s the last real dictatorship in Europe.
Actually I just realized with the 2003 constitution it’s no longer a full blown dictatorship. Hans-Adam can still dissolve the parliament at will but a referendum can overturn that. Too bad, the last dictatorship gone!
