Current reports & tips for VFR flying in Morocco?

We are planning a VFR tour in Morocco during March 2023 with a diesel / Jet A1-powered C172 (provided weather is ok and the ferry of the plane worked out).

To start preparing the trip, I have summarized my notes below, based on information from EuroGA-threads (so some quotes below may sound familiar to some of you) and other sources, and am wondering if there is anything you would add or change? A fellow pilot (thank you Brahim!) was already kind enough to share his thoughts, however maybe there is some additional useful input available…?

Links

• Morocco AIP
  __ Content mostly available in English too, but AIP GEN 1.7 ‘Differences from ICAO Standards’ seems to be in French only → Try Google translator…
• Morocco CAA
• Weather: Use Windy

Sources:

• https://rundflieger.ch/flieger-familienferien-nach-marokko/ (trip report from 2019)
• https://www.euroga.org/forums/trips-airports/14447-casablanca-mohamed-airport-gmmn#post_331975 (Dec 2022)
• https://www.euroga.org/forums/trips-airports/11891-trip-report-spain-and-morocco#post_246837 (May 2020)
• https://www.euroga.org/forums/trips-airports/11529-handling-at-marrakesh-experience-laayoune-dakhla-anyone#post_233560 (Dec 2019)
• https://www.euroga.org/forums/trips-airports/11197-morocco-advice#post_224431 (Sep 2019)

Do’s & Don’ts, general stuff

• Have EUR cash in small notes for fuel (change is considered as tip) / credit cards accepted for fees
• When exchanging cash to Dirham keep the copy of the exchange receipt
• VFR routing only along official, predefined routes
• Exercise pronunciation of reporting points 🙂, “they may also ask to report as distance/radial to some VOR”
• File flight plans for every flight in person at the C-office or tower; forget filing via Skydemon & co.
• Filing the FP and especially refueling can last forever; factor in enough time
• Several reports recommend wearing a pilot shirt & epaulets… (??)
• Controllers speak good english with clean ICAO radio communication
• Staff at C-office usually very helpful
• Prepare a “General Declaration” and print some as draft for each flight to save some time (content?, one report says it is not required anymore?)
  __ AIP GEN 1.2-1 (scheduled traffic!): “ Airlines will have to mention on the general declaration all mention relating to the number of passengers embarked or in transit).“
• Some altitudes / heights are shown in the VFR chart in meters, some in feet!
• Handling: “Unless you’re fluent in French, a handler is going to make your life so much easier.”……. $$$? When using handling, aim for Swissport when available (?).
• “You don’t need a flying permit for anything north of Agadir, for the south of Morocco it needs a flying permit (Western Sahara). I suggest you get one before you arrive as takes a bit of time to process at the CAA”
  __ No details found in AIP
  __ Check https://airtrafficrightsauthorization.aviationcivile.gov.ma/ linked from the Morocco CAA…?
• “If the royal family happens to travel on that day in the area you want to cross, they may not let you fly at all”
• Reportedly no VFR Night allowed
  __ AIP ENR 1.2-2: “Night VFR flight To fly according to the night visual flight, an aircraft shall respect the provisions which may be set by instruction of the minister in charge of civil aviation. This instruction may fix meteorological conditions superior to those of paragraphs 1 and 2.” §1 = VMC rules, §2 = Special VFR flight

Thoughts

• Perhaps fly to Gibraltar, too?
• Maybe get a PLB

“Must-go” places:

• GMMZ Ouarzazate
  __ Scenery described as stunning, a “bit of no man’s land”
  __ No PIREP in Skydemon
  __ “Don’t land south of Ouarzazate, it’s not very safe.”
• GMFK Errachidia
  __ Scenery described as stunning, a “bit of no man’s land”
  __ No PIREP in Skydemon
  __ Fuel ?
  __ “If you want to fly to the sand dunes south of Errachidia (Erg Shebi), then you have to coordinate that with Errachidia tower the day before. It’s a sensitive border area, and the Errachidia controller needs to get permission from the Army (or whoever, some higher-up) for that. No big deal, but needs to be done the day before the flight.”
• ?

Reportedly nice places to go:

• GMFF Fes Saiss
  __ PIREP in Skydemon positive (2019)
  __ Report suggests contacting local aero club for help to avoid handling (~280€)
  __ “Do NOT overfly any royal palaces (Fes, Marrakesh)”
• GMMT Casablanca Tit Mellil
  __ 2 PIREP in SD (2018, 2022), nice airport
  __ No mandatory handling, reportedly more GA friendly than GMMN Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport
  __ Jet fuel available?
• GMME Rabat
  __ One PIREP in SD from 2019 on fees (ok), but no details
  __ “There is always something with the Royals there”
• GMMH Dakhla
  __ “Nice sea and water sports stop”
  __ One PIREP in SD, nice airport
  __ Watch weather – coastal fog?
• GMML Laayoune
  __ No PIREP in SD
• GMTT Tangier
  __ PIREPs in SD, easy airport
• GMMI Essaouira
  __ PIREPs in SD, easy airport
• ?

Places to avoid:

• GMMX Marrakech (?)
  __ “No handling required, but then it’s a pain in the a**” – hence consider handling?
  __ “It’s the only complicated airport with GMMN (Casablanca). All other airports you can go without handling.”
  __ “Do NOT overfly any royal palaces (Fes, Marrakesh)”
• GMMN Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport
  __ Mandatory handling which is quite expensive, instead fly to GMMT Casablanca Tit Mellil Airport
• ?