Pilot Comments by Norm

Speyer was my Schengen exit point back to the UK. Booked customs police using Speyer's website https://flugplatz-speyer.de/. I felt the request went into a black hole, because I received no acknowledgement on the website nor via email. When I emailed ops@edry.aero to double check everything was okay, they quickly acknowledged that customs police will be present, I could have parking overnight, etc.

My IFR Z flight plan EOBT was 07:30z. Customs police arrived around 07:28z, even though I explicitly said I would be at the airport before 06:30z. Luckily the ops people understood, relayed to the tower, and all was fine.

Aside from the mild stress of Customs police not showing up until the very last minute, everybody was very friendly, helpful, and understanding.

Aircraft:
- DA40
- MTOM: 1,310kg

Fees (excluding VAT):
- Landing: €32.20
- Parking, 1 day + 1 night: €25.22

Fuel, Jet A-1, self service, paid by credit card (excluding VAT): €2.55 / litre (April 2026)

Stopped here overnight enroute back from Aero Friedrichshafen to visit the Technik Museum. It's very large, lots to see, and I enjoyed it, a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Arrange arrival and parking by emailing contact@colmar.aeroport.fr, as per their AIP page. Straightforward process and quick responses.

On arrival, I must say, not the friendliest. Had to repeatedly ask for taxiing directions, with no response or poor instructions (the airport was not busy). They told me to park on Charlie Apron, but gave me directions for Sierra Apron. Unless the Parking Areas on their AIP page are incorrect? In any case, not a big deal, we got there in the end.

Once inside the terminal, it was empty. When I did find somebody, they we very friendly and helpful, giving me numbers for a local taxi into town.

On departure, very friendly and helpful. I'm guessing different ATSU from arrival.

Aircraft:
- DA40
- MTOM: 1,310kg

Paid fees via Aerops. Very quick and easy
- Landing fees (MTOM up to 1,999kg): €13.50
- Hourly parking fees (MTOM up to 2,000kg): €1.12 / hour

Fuel, Jet A-1, self service, payable by AirBP card, not sure if normal credit card will work, never tried. £2.41 / litre, including custom duties + VAT (April 2026).

Colmar itself is stunning and very much worth the visit !

IFR arrival and depature. All controllers where very friendly and helpful.

Handling is mandatory for GA.
Handler: Avia Partners (aka Avia VIP)
Booked via email to lfbd@aviavip.com (as per AIP)
Straightforward process, responsive by email. Suspect MyHandling would also work, but didn’t test it.

Parking for light GA is on Apron Juliet, the other side of taxiway lima from Avia Partners.

No walking allowed from the apron, across lima, to the FBO, which is only ~75m away. You will be driven.

On arrival, met by two Avia Partners staff on Juliet. I think it was their first day on the job. They seemed confused, didn't enjoy it, or both. But once inside the FBO a completely different story: very helpful and efficient, taxi quickly arranged, comfortable seating area, drinks offered. Likewise a couple days later on departure, very well done, and fuel promptly organised.

Aircraft:
- DA40
- MTOM: 1,310kg

Fuel, Jet A-1: €2.86 / litre.

Fees, excluding VAT:
- Handling: €148
- Pax FBO fee: €50 / person
- Airport fees - landing: €23.85
- Airport fees - parking day: €0.46/hr
- Airport fees - parking night: €0.22/hr
- Ramp management fee: €7

Handling hurts once, parking is reasonable thereafter. Given the couple other airfields in the area seem to be French only (my French relies heavily on goodwill from the listener, and on blind optimism when they reply), it is a convenient airport if you need to stay a couple nights to amortise the pain.

A wonderful and quiet airfield, particularly in March 2026 when I visited. I imagine it's much busier in the summer season.

As per the AIP, emailed egcops@bergerac.aeroport.fr to request parking. Very quick response, including an easy to follow map to my allocated stand.

If you plan on spending the night, unless you have transport, renting a car is pretty much required. Luckily there are lots of options at LFBE. But again, if arriving out of season (March), you must book ahead of time - all car hire booths are empty!

All airport staff were very friendly and helpful.

Airport fees for a DA40 (MTOM 1,310kg):
- Landing: €5.00
- Parking: €0.44 per hour
- Some other admin fee: €10.00

Worth the visit, I'd definitely return.

Visited in March 2026. If you don't speak French, take care when reading the ATS operating hours. I initially misread them and arrived around 12:10z, during their lunch break (11:30z - 12:30z) when LFQB operates air-to-air.

Fortunately Seine Approach advised me of the situation and were extremely helpful. I decided to orbit north of the airfield until ATS reopened. Seine later contacted me again when LFQB ATS returned from lunch, about 15 minutes earlier than published in the AIP. Thank you, much appreciated !

The Jet A-1 pump is self-service and accepts credit cards. I struggled to get it working. A very helpful member of the fire crew came out to assist. After some Google Translate, a few phone calls, and some button-pressing, the pump came to life. I suspect the emergency shut-off button was sticking in the "off" position.

Airport fees for a DA40 (MTOM 1,310kg):
- Landing: €9.54
- Parking: €15.00 per night

A taxi is about €20-€25 into the town Troyes and well worth visiting. The medieval half-timbered houses look like something from a fairytale film set, and the tourist walking route through the historic centre is highly recommended (takes about two hours).

Arrived in March 2026.
Aircraft: DA40, MTOM: 1,310 kg
Customs: Emailed as per their AIP pages. Straightforward, no issues.
Fees & Parking: €37.50 for 1 night (incl. taxes).

I booked handling via Touch’n Go in advance to ensure parking. They replied saying they were unable to open my flight details and that I could cancel unless I required assistance (i.e. full handling). On arrival, this made perfect sense. I was the only aircraft on the ramp! I believe there was one local aircraft doing circuits, but that was it. I assume it gets busier in the summer?

The airport felt completely closed. Apart from the arrival's door for Customs, all other terminal doors appeared locked.

Signage is there, and very good, but a bit of hopping around. Customs at arrivals in the terminal building, then out of the terminal, past the tower, towards the fire station for paying airport fees, and finally back past the tower for exit (take a photo of the gate code).

Everyone at the airfield (ATS, Customs, fire crew) was very friendly and helpful.

Phone signal is almost non existent. I finally managed to find a very weak signal outside past the north end of the terminal building.

Taxi situation:
- In March the airport feels abandoned, so no taxis will be waiting around. Might be different in the summer?
- Combined with poor phone signal, this can be frustrating.
- Recommend booking a taxi before your arrival into LFRD.
- About 20 minutes and €35 into Saint-Malo (well worth the visit).
- Where you pay your airport fees, the guys can give you a taxi and VTC list. Although at that point it might be too late, because you'll likely have no phone signal.

Visited in March 2026. A few days prior to arrival I emailed Iberia handling (eascicops@iberia.es) to request the standard “Servicio de Acompañamiento en Plataforma.” They allocated a parking stand for three nights without issue. Of note, their reply email address was eascicops@southeu.com (South Europe Ground Services), different from what's in the AIP.

Total fees were €17 handling plus €83 for landing, ATS, parking, border control, and meteorological services.

All staff were very friendly and helpful.

The approach into LESO is very scenic, especially over Plage d’Hendaye and the harbour.

As mentioned in other PIREPs, GA aircraft must shut down and start up only in the designated area, and then tow your aircraft to/from your designated parking stand. So remember to bring your aircraft's tow bar! A friendly chap was there to help me on arrival. On departure I did myself, luckily my aircraft (DA40) isn't that heavy.

Very pleasant GA experience and great gateway for visiting San Sebastian.

Arrived early March 2026, and no wild boar on the runway this time to cause a diversion, unlike last autumn.

A large but quiet airport that is very GA friendly, making an excellent first stop when arriving from the UK (24 hour PPR for customs & immigration). Everybody is super friendly and helpful. Other than the price of fuel, no other airport fees.

Stayed at the recommended Relais Saint-Jacques hotel, less than 10 min. walk from the airfield. Large modern comfortable rooms and nice restaurant on site.