They have set up a website www.lgsp.gr which I assume in due time will be further English-ized :-)
Just some input for your consideration here as a potential next EuroGA Fly In location in 2014.
Sparti airfield is almost ready to be recertified for public use. Before it used to be only for crop dusters operated by the air force.
I was just talking with the operator and told me they are about to finish the aiport lounge building refurbishment and the repainting of the runway markings for the CAA operation permit.
It does not seem probable in the immediate future to get AVGAS since this needs a good consumption per month and no “busy” areclubs are based there.
Sparti is not a coastal or island location so you don’t get the seaside goodies BUT there are two significant sites really worth a visit nearby.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystras
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta
Ancient Sparta is full of history.
It was an independent kingdom state long before Greece became one country.
The way they were running this military style kingdom has inspired generations thousands of years later.
Nothing much to see in buildings but getting an organized tour in the remaining antiquities and learning about the story of it 3,000 years back will be really fascinating.
It is really worth an organized tour with some quality tour operator who knows how to describe things properly.
My pictures from the area http://www.hellasga.com/gallery/kyp/lakonia
Airport website http://www.lgsp.gr
Sparti LGSP can be combined with Kithira LGKC island 48nm southeast which is an excellent Greek island to visit away from all the tourist rush. No AVGAS there too.
AVGAS for both locations though is not a big issue since all have to pass via Kerkira LGKR (210nm NW of LGSP) to enter/exit Greece and can be combined with refueling.
Sadly this project doesn’t appear to have gone anywhere, but I visited the site yesterday and got some pics:
The runway is in a great condition. There was no sign of life but the gate was open.
Indeed … unfortunately it didn’t materialize because the proposed operator (Local municipality) could not bear the costs since the CAA was requiring all sorts of stuff for it to become licensed civil airfield. I think they were not huge but the local municipality was, sort of, broke.
They required fencing (repairs), on site fire service with small pump vehicle, (nearby) ambulance availability and some sort of liability obligations as operator.
I think the last one was what killed the project.
Officially its an Air Force airfield (they are the owner) that has delegated operation exclusively to the local aeroclub.
Under this scheme there are no CAA obligations since its not a “public access” field.
Pic’s from some 10 years ago
One solution that has worked in other countries (e.g. France) to avoid these types of imposed “conditions” is to have any pilot landing there be a member of the aeroclub. That way all operations would remain private and avoid the “public access” issue.
Is the aeroclub still active? Would that be an option? For example, a web site could have a membership application form with either payment on arrival or some pre-payment arrangement.
