I’m preparing the season opener for Aerosport in Luxembourg, which is held on the weekend of April 24-25, 2015. The plan is to visit three airfields located on dutch (near) island, being Midden Zeeland, Texel and Lelystad. The planning is well advnced. As I wanted to practice with the G1000 auto pilot, I flew today together with Kristof Goossens to Texel in order to be well prepared.
I did not take off from ELLX ( Luxembourg) but from Zwartberg-Genk (EBZW) which is nearer from Texel ( only 134 NM). With the 172SP, this flight would take some 90 minutes.
The weather this morning in Zwartberg is fully overcast, but with a cloud basis above 2000 ft and acceptable visibility. A mobile wig coming from the Northeast of the Netherlands should clear skies as we head up north and visibility should further increase.
After take off in the ‘orning in Zwartberg, we avoid the militairy Control zone ( CTR of Kleine Brogel EBBR) even if it is not active on this Sunday. We pass on a Western course and call Brussels information on 126,9.
A bit later, we are crossing the dutch border and are contacting Eindhoven Tower to get a crossing clearance for their CTR. Not too much traffic here and we get cleared to cross thie control zone with our Skyhawk.
Holland is quite flat and we see at the horizon Amsterdam popping up….in the sun. The Amsterdam Control zone (CTR) is prohibited for VFR flights as ours, so we pass on a eastern cours next to it. We’re now flying over the “dutch great lakes” and continuing our journey to Texel. The sights are now superb in every way ( see pictures below)
We approach the dutch island of Texel from the south east via a so called corridor at 1500 ft altitude. Texel seems very small from the sky. Kristof has already been here with his wife and is very positive about this place.
At the runway 04 is in use, we get directly into base leg at 1000 ft. I have some troubles locating the airfield ( where to land) and as we git too high in final to make a safe landing we annouce on the radio: ” OO LVA go around”, meaning we start climbing again. This time we go for a full circuit and a couple of minutes later, we’ve made a safe landing.
The landing fees are 17,5 eurosand the airport manager Mike de Bruijn proves to be a very friendly person. He offers his help with regards to the season opener we are organizing for Aerosport. I also attend a visit to the manager of http://www.hotelairporttexel.nl/ which is locted directly at the airfield. The suites are very spacious and modern. These are a perfect fit for our Luxembourg pilots.
Texel seems a very nice place to attend a weekend visit in April with the family. But today we are in a hury as Kristof has to work later this afternoon ( he’s air traffic controller). So we take off again and fly the same 90 minutes road back to The Genk Zwartberg airfield.
