CNVV question

The language at St Aubon is not a problem. They will pair you with and instructor that speaks english. They have two weather briefings in the morning; one in french and one in english.

Lots of nice places to stay that are fairly close. Consider the town of Digne. It is an historic spa location with some nice lodgings.

Use Trip Advisor, Yelp, and VRBO. Lots of options.

On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 4:24:36 AM UTC-8, Bob Pasker wrote:
On Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 4:05:51 PM UTC-5, Don Davidson wrote:
Second, my non-pilot wife is going to accompany me, and I want to find some really nice accommodations for her to enjoy while I'm flying. Any suggestions? We'll probably have a rental car, so it won't be a problem for me to drive to the airport from someplace reasonably close.

on the way to Cannes, about 2.5 hours away from the airport, you will find one of the most amazing restaurants you have ever been to: Hotel Deux Rocs. As Michelin says, "worth a detour"

http://www.hoteldeuxrocs.com/en/en-r...nce-83440.html

Thanks very much to all for the helpful suggestions and tips. This is a great start for our planning purposes.
Best regards,
Don Davidson

On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 7:34:05 AM UTC-8, wrote:
The language at St Aubon is not a problem. They will pair you with and instructor that speaks english. They have two weather briefings in the morning; one in french and one in english.

Lots of nice places to stay that are fairly close. Consider the town of Digne. It is an historic spa location with some nice lodgings.

Use Trip Advisor, Yelp, and VRBO. Lots of options.

Anyone know of links that explain how an pilot licensed in the United States can get approved to fly gliders in France?

On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 2:23:14 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 7:34:05 AM UTC-8, wrote:
The language at St Aubon is not a problem. They will pair you with and instructor that speaks english. They have two weather briefings in the morning; one in french and one in english.

Lots of nice places to stay that are fairly close. Consider the town of Digne. It is an historic spa location with some nice lodgings.

Use Trip Advisor, Yelp, and VRBO. Lots of options.

Anyone know of links that explain how an pilot licensed in the United States can get approved to fly gliders in France?

I think the rules may be changing for this year so I would make sure you only look at current rules.

I have gone five times.
You need to start the process about four months before you will leave the U.S.
You need a second class medical as a glider pilot.
You mail your application, a copy of your medical, a copy of your pilot license, the photo page of your passport, and money to the French agency.
CNVV will give you all the details.
Call them.
They speak english on the phone.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 3:20:19 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I have gone five times.
You need to start the process about four months before you will leave the U.S.
You need a second class medical as a glider pilot.
You mail your application, a copy of your medical, a copy of your pilot license, the photo page of your passport, and money to the French agency.
CNVV will give you all the details.
Call them.
They speak english on the phone.

Do all those requirements apply if you're only planning to fly dual with a pilot who holds the appropriate French license and medical?

I suggest you call CNVV and ask those questions.
Go to the source.

Wouldn't that make you a "passenger"? Legally speaking, of course.

On 3/3/2015 5:22 PM, Don Davidson wrote:
On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 3:20:19 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I have gone five times.
You need to start the process about four months before you will leave the U.S.
You need a second class medical as a glider pilot.
You mail your application, a copy of your medical, a copy of your pilot license, the photo page of your passport, and money to the French agency.
CNVV will give you all the details.
Call them.
They speak english on the phone.
Do all those requirements apply if you're only planning to fly dual with a pilot who holds the appropriate French license and medical?

--
Dan Marotta

Just curious if someone could comment about the "pucker factor" of flying in the French Alps. I remember Bill Bartel saying that is the most terrifying flying he had ever done. Do not really remember why, but the congestion in the air and limited handout spots were a real attention getter. I might have remembered this wrong but would love to hear from U.S. based flyers have have sampled the wonders of flying the French Alps. Must be the most majestic views of any flying.


On Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 10:25:25 PM UTC-8, Per Carlin wrote:
On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 6:15:38 AM UTC+1, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 1:52:35 PM UTC+13, waremark wrote:
On Thursday, 26 February 2015 21:05:51 UTC, Don Davidson wrote:
Hi, I'm planning to attend a mountain flying course at CNVV in St. Auban in June, and I'm trying to get answers to a couple of questions from others who have flown there.

First, I speak only enough French to mangle a dinner order. How much of an obstacle is that likely to be both for flight instruction and getting around the area?

Second, my non-pilot wife is going to accompany me, and I want to find some really nice accommodations for her to enjoy while I'm flying. Any suggestions? We'll probably have a rental car, so it won't be a problem for me to drive to the airport from someplace reasonably close.

Finally, we'll plan to do some sightseeing and other activities together while we're in the area, so any suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
Don Davidson

Not answering your question, but make yourself a translation table from knots to kmph and from feet to meters. I found flying with unfamiliar units on the instruments took up unnecessary attention.

It's not much of a table! And you don't want to be looking at a bit of paper.

Thermal at 80 - 100
Cruise at 130 - 150+
Safe speed near the ground in the gap between those ranges, depending on wind

Quick and dirty 1000 m is 3000 ft. Add 10% if you have time.

Don't bother about hight at StAuban, it will be close to the ground in 90% of the flyging time.

Speed is important, you will learn quite fast the correct speed depending on situation. You will also learn to not spend time at the instrument. Look out is a survival instinct that you need to adopt fast when flyging in the French Alps.

If you haven't flown the central Rockies, you should look into that, as
well. We're putting on a camp 20-28 June based in Salida, CO this
year. No registration fees, no equipment requirements except for beer
after flying. Just show up.

Oh, yeah... Our mountains run perpendicular to the prevailing winds, if
you know what I'm saying...

On 3/7/2015 1:00 PM, wrote:
Just curious if someone could comment about the "pucker factor" of flying in the French Alps. I remember Bill Bartel saying that is the most terrifying flying he had ever done. Do not really remember why, but the congestion in the air and limited handout spots were a real attention getter. I might have remembered this wrong but would love to hear from U.S. based flyers have have sampled the wonders of flying the French Alps. Must be the most majestic views of any flying.


On Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 10:25:25 PM UTC-8, Per Carlin wrote:
On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 6:15:38 AM UTC+1, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 1:52:35 PM UTC+13, waremark wrote:
On Thursday, 26 February 2015 21:05:51 UTC, Don Davidson wrote:
Hi, I'm planning to attend a mountain flying course at CNVV in St. Auban in June, and I'm trying to get answers to a couple of questions from others who have flown there.

First, I speak only enough French to mangle a dinner order. How much of an obstacle is that likely to be both for flight instruction and getting around the area?

Second, my non-pilot wife is going to accompany me, and I want to find some really nice accommodations for her to enjoy while I'm flying. Any suggestions? We'll probably have a rental car, so it won't be a problem for me to drive to the airport from someplace reasonably close.

Finally, we'll plan to do some sightseeing and other activities together while we're in the area, so any suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
Don Davidson
Not answering your question, but make yourself a translation table from knots to kmph and from feet to meters. I found flying with unfamiliar units on the instruments took up unnecessary attention.
It's not much of a table! And you don't want to be looking at a bit of paper.

Thermal at 80 - 100
Cruise at 130 - 150+
Safe speed near the ground in the gap between those ranges, depending on wind

Quick and dirty 1000 m is 3000 ft. Add 10% if you have time.
Don't bother about hight at StAuban, it will be close to the ground in 90% of the flyging time.

Speed is important, you will learn quite fast the correct speed depending on situation. You will also learn to not spend time at the instrument. Look out is a survival instinct that you need to adopt fast when flyging in the French Alps.

--
Dan Marotta