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
Sources:
Do’s & Don’ts, general stuff
Thoughts
“Must-go” places:
Reportedly nice places to go:
Places to avoid:
You may want to add this exotic trip: R44 as far as Errachidia (GMFK)
https://www.euroga.org/forums/trips-airports/11891-trip-report-spain-and-morocco?page=1
Apparently, helicopters needs permits even when not landing off airfield …
I went through it, it is indeed an interesting report (included in my list of sources). Flying a helicopter would be nice too :-)
This is my experience from 2016:
https://www.abeam.be/back-to-africa-full-8-day-trip-report/
Thank you @Niner_Mike!
Hi! I am planning a trip to GMFK next week too. There are multiple reports of AVGAS being available (including above as well as a recent SkyDemon report from last month).
AIP (from Apr 2020) however only lists JET A1 as available. Does someone have some insight as to current AVGAS availability at GMFK ?
BTW, beware reduced op hrs during Ramadan
Antonio wrote:
AIP (from Apr 2020) however only lists JET A1 as available
Spoke to them and they said Avgas100LL available but only in barrels for handpumping. Nobody knows why it is not published…always worth checking before going. I think I’ll carry some extra onboard just in case!
Antonio. I would advise Under no circumstances have Avgas inside your plane.
I was thinking of taking 100L of extra Avgas in aircraft in Morocco but with 45C OAT outside I decided to skip
Admittedly I’m short some feedback from my trip to Morocco.
Does someone have some insight as to current AVGAS availability at GMFK ?
AVGAS was indeed available and hand-pumped from a barrel. No issues there and a friendly bunch of people.
As you plan to fly to that area, just for the sake of completeness the same is valid for GMMZ Ouarzazate while GMAZ Zagora has no fuel at all.
If GMAZ is on your trip list too, make sure to ask staff at GMFK or GMMZ to check if the controller at GMAZ is there – opening times are more theoretical as they just have a couple of flights per week…
Just a friendly reminder: fuel has to be paid in cash. Either in EUR (the exchange rate was „ok“ and didn’t change the needle notably) or in local currency, but then you have to show a bill confirming you got the cash from „official sources“. When you plan to pull out cash from an ATM (again: collect the bill or the money is basically worthless) be prepared to get only 3000 MAD (~300 EUR) per transaction.
Enjoy!
Best,
Marcel