@eddsPeter
I really liked the report! Makes me want to visit North Africa!
So…my “investigation”:
1.) FPL was recieved by fax – reason: FPLs from AFTN addresses KBLIHAEX (EuroFPL.com) were not distributed even in the past in accordance with DOC4444 and national AIP. Garmin/EuroFPL/SkyDemon/AutoRouter are using this AFTN address the same for all four applications – KBLIHAEX. That means all FPLs from these app will be delivered as fax msg. (for example – in Netherland you are also not allowed to file a FPL via AFTN – they have the same reason). So if you file a FPL via these apps you have to call and check your FPL.
AIP SR, ENR 1.10.1.4.4 Submission by FAX
Flight plan submitted by FAX to CARO (FAX number: +421/2/48 57 22 85 or +421/2/43 42 33 90) must be confirmed by telephone by submitter (TEL number: +421/2/48 57 22 80 or +421/2/43 42 21 02) immediately after submission. Flight plan not confirmed by telephone will not be processed for distribution by CARO personnel.
2.) FPL was recieved by fax aprx. at 07:30 UTC with EOBT 07:40 UTC – 10 min.
AIP SR, ENR 1.10.1.2 Time of submission
1.10.1.2.1 Flight plan shall be submitted at least 60 minutes before departure (3 hours before departure if IFR flight is subject of ATFM measures) or if submitted during the flight, it shall be submitted at the time which will ensure its receipt by the appropriate ATS unit at least 10 minutes before the aircraft is estimated to reach the intended point of entry into controlled airspace.
AIP SR, ENR 1.10.1.3 Place of submission
1.10.1.3.1 A flight plan shall be submitted before departure to a Central Air Traffic Services Reporting Office Bratislava (CARO) or direct to the IFPS (IFR-GAT flights) or during the flight (AFIL) via RTF to appropriate ATS unit.
If the FPL is recieved by fax it needs to be put in the ATC systems manualy and also AFTN addresses for all ATC units along the route needs to be added. And that takes some time. If you are filing FPL from the ACFT and after you click „send“ in your app it does not mean that you have the FPL in the ATC systems.
3.) your first filed route: LZIB KOXER 4810N01659E 4807N01651E 4808N01642E 4808N01638E 4812N01627E 4814N01624E 4819N01620E 4823N01618E 4824N01615E 4824N01610E 4825N01608E 4825N01601E 4827N01543E NENUM WLD 4837N00914E EDDS
AIP SR, AD LZIB 2.22.6.5 All VFR flights to/from the Štefánik CTR shall be carried out only via established entry and exit points unless appropriate ATS unit states otherwise.
– first 13 coordinates are only around LOWW (it is not wrong, but for 62NM long segment 13 coordinates is little bit confusing)
– instead of using your 4825N01601E you should use STO
– instead of using your 4810N01659E you should use VFR exit point DEVÍN
– coordinates are allowed in the FPLs, but I think using them in area, where VFR points and also ICAO points are established is more complicated for ATC units to recognise exact location quickly
4.) you did not write any EET to boundary
1.10.1.1.10 In the flight plan filed for flights to/from abroad intended to be conducted out of controlled airspace, the pilot shall indicate in item 18 FPL an entry/exit significant point of crossing the FIR boundary with estimated elapsed flying time to the boundary from the place of departure. When entering the airspace of the Slovak Republic, the pilot shall adhere to the estimated time of crossing of the FIR boundary according to the flight plan, with an
accuracy of +/- 10 minutes. If there are no designated significant points on FIR boundary VFR flights shall indicate entry/exit point by geographical place or the direction and distance from geographical place depicted on the Aeronautical Chart – ICAO 1 : 500 000.
In your case, EET/LOVVhhmm EDMMhhmm EDGGhhmm
5.) According to my investigation probably you click on your map on the village (in Garmin app) but the app did not file the route with geographical names of villages but sent all those coordinates. And maybe/probably you saw names in your operational flight plan, and you did not know that FPL was sent with coordinates. That is the reason you dictate via telephone (from your point of view) the same names of villages you had but ARO LZIB had only coordinates.
Final route:
N0172A045 KITTSEE PETRONELL ORTH SCHONAU FREUDENAU DONAUTURM
KLOSTERNEUBURG KREUZENSTEIN STO EDMF
You: FPL:
PETRONELL 4807N01651E
ORTH 4808N01642E
SCHONAU 4808N01638E
- – - 4812N01627E
DONAUTURM 4814N01624E
KLOSTERNEUBURG 4819N01620E
KREUZENSTEIN 4823N01618E
STOCKERAU 4824N01615E
- – - 4824N01610E
SEITZERSDORF 4825N01608E
STETTELDORF 4825N01601E
HADERSDORF 4827N01543E
RESUME: I personally think that not all the guilt is on the side of ARO LZIB (or any other ARO) and it’s not that terrible at all as you wrote. Those web applications are only computers and there is no human interaction. Most of the AROs around the Europe have problems with FPLs filed via these web services. Some of the AROs do not accept FPLs from EuroFPL/SkyDemon/AutoRouter/Garmin/RocketRoute because the applications/web services distributes the FPLs not in accordance with DOC4444, national AIPs, when there is a need to get SPL (supplementary info) there is no response to AFTN messages (or late) etc.
It is legal to use coordinates, but please if possible use full names e.g. Stockerau instead. This will make life much easier for ARO/ATS and yourself if you need to track down a point in your FPL. Maybe it is also neccesary to „upgrade“ those application. Regarding ARO LZIB, there is absolutely no problem to call and ask for a help.
And for your info. FPL from Croatia to LZIB was also incorretly distributed by your apllication! (The application distributed the FPL instead of Croatian ARO).
Maybe now it is the perfect time to open the discussion about VFR planning in Europe. I have no problem to share my email address if there is any problem in LZBB FIR.
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I have done a similar flight (through Morocco) some years ago, and it was so great that I plan to do it again with the family. Our route was Fez, Er Rachidia, Quarzazzate, Marrakech.
Interesting that you didn’t enjoy Marrakech, to me that was one of the highlights. A crazy place, for sure, but very colorful and interesting. The funny part was when a motorcycle appeared next to me while I was still on the runway, with window open, and the driver yelling “50 dollars handling”… :-) We ignored himm and when we reached the apron he disappeared.
My favourite was the Sahara. We made an excursion at night from Er Rachidia.
Navigation (GPS) and ATC (mostly position reports due to lack of radar) was very simple, and there was very little traffic.
Great trip and pics, congrats!
Lovely report, thanks a lot!
Great report, thanks for posting. Its really nice to see people using and going places in their aircraft. Of course, much easier when your ‘significant other’ enjoys the adventure as well. We are off on the 16th June to the Croatian Islands and Sardinia for a couple of weeks. My other half Jackie carn’t wait. 
Great trips!
Thanks for a great report, eddsPeter
I have an update on Brac:
Every 3rd landing in the same year for private flight of GA AC until 5.7 t MTOW is free of handling, landing and passenger service fees.
The above is not applicable for AOPA members (they must have valid membership card with them – we make a copy of as the explanation for the given discount) who always have a discount of 50% on handling, landing and parking fees. And from this year, a group of 5 and more aircraft obtains the same discount as AOPA no matter if they are member of it or not.
