PlasticPilot.net

Each spring, Geneva airport hosts the EBACE (European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition), one of the most important exhibition of its kind. It is the opportunity to see business jets, but also advances in light aircraft technology. The video about the Cirrus Perspective has been made there by AVWeb.

This is a funny place to be, but it mostly addresses professionals. The 250$ admission fee make it a bit expensive for a simple “touristic” visit. It’s also a great opportunity for spotters, as new and prototype aircraft are coming.

However, for pilots and flight schools based in Geneva, EBACE also has some negative aspects. The show is officially open from 20th to 22nd of May, but the NOTAMs “protecting” it last for much longer:

LSSN-A0192/08
A) LSGG GENEVE/COINTRIN
B) 200805170300 C) 200805232200
E) DUE TO HEAVY TFC DRG BUSINESS AVIATION EXHIBITION (EBACE) PPR MANDATORY FOR ALL FLT USING CONC RWY, EXC COMMERCIAL SKED TFC. TEST, TRAINING AND SCHOOL FLT INCLUDING DEP TO OTHER AD PROHIBITED.

LSSN-B0492/08
A) LSGG GENEVE/COINTRIN
B) 200805200000 C) 200805222359
E) DUE TO EBACE EXHIBITION, PPR FOR VFR FLT ON GRASS RWY.
CTC CUST SER …41 (0) 22 417 43 43 BFR SUBMITTING COMPULSORY PLN

If you can’t read a NOTAM, these basically say that all non-airline flights using the concrete runway must obtain a permission from the airport management, and that no training, school, technical test, or examination flight will be accepted. Usage of the grass runway is also subject to a permission, but at least the grass is available for flight training. Sadly, no IFR operations are possible using the grass runway.

The restrictions on the concrete runway are in force from the 17th to the 23rd, and those on the grass runway from 20th to 22nd. They do not mean it is impossible to use the concrete runway (except for training…), but obtaining PPRs will not exactly easy. By the time I’m writing this post, there are no ones left for tomorrow nor the day after tomorrow. Any “last minute” flight is simply impossible.

I understand well that the airport has to avoid overload, and that for economical reasons priority is given to commercial aviation, but loosing a week of flying is not easy to accept… especially as other restrictions do exist, including all week-ends from Christmas to Easter, because of ski charter traffic, and a dozen of days each spring because of the Geneva Motorshow.

This year, the UEFA Euro Champioship (soccer) will bring its own bunch of limitations. Once again, it does not make flying impossible, but it is one more obstacle. One problem is also that Geneva does not have kind of a “secondary” airport. The next IFR airports are Les Eplatures, Bern, Chambéry, or Annecy, which are all at leat one hour drive away.

Ok, private IFR pilots flying single engines are rather seldom, and have higher requirements than VFR pilots. Somehow, this is no longer a concern for me, as I no longer live in Geneva… but I still have good relations with some club members there.

A final word ? It’s all about good collaboration and mutual understanding. There are lots of things pilots can do to improve integration of general aviation and airlines. Relations between airport management, ATC services and the local aero-club are rather good, but when it comes down to financial issues, commercial traffic will always win. Airport has a limited capacity, just as fuel has increasing prices. At least can one discuss with someone on this front.