Events are a great way to meet other private pilots interested in instrument flying. Regardless of your experience or membership status, whether you own an aircraft or not, or even if you are not a pilot, you are welcome to join. By flying with other experienced pilots you have the ability to meet new people and learn new skills and ways to safely fly IFR. We hope to see you at an event soon.
PPL/IR Europe at Private Flyer Event in Ballyboy Airfield (EIMH) 5-6th April 2024
PPL/IR Europe are planning to visit the Private Flyer event on 5-6th April at Ballyboy Airfield, Ireland Airport (EIMH).
You are very welcome to join us! More details on the event can be found here:
PPL/IR Europe at Aero Friedrichshafen (EDNY) 17-20th April 2024
PPL/IR Europe are planning to visit the leading show for General Aviation on 17-20th April at Aero Friedrichshafen (EDNY).
You are very welcome to come join us! If you would like to join us for dinner on Thursday 18th April 2024, why not reserve your seat by booking a ticket here.
More details on the event can be found here:
If you are planning to attend please let the Events Manager know. We look forward to seeing you there!
PAFRA Over-Nighter Caen (LFRK) France 3-5 May 2024
An invitation to ALL pilots & friends, including PPL/IR Europe members, to Caen, France Over-Nighter with Pilots and Friends of Rochester Airport (PAFRA).
A reminder of the concept: between the monthly one-day fly-outs arranged by PAFRA, and the whole week tour organised each summer, there is clearly a place in the flying Calendar for an “Over-Nighter” i.e. 24 hours away with a one/two night stay somewhere. A place where we can relax together in a convenient nearby hotel, have a meal, a drink without the worry about having to fly again too soon, and an evening where we can share ‘hangar talk’. Please see the link below for details.
PAFRA Overnighter Caen May-2024 (77 downloads )
PPL/IR Europe Event and Private Flyer Show in High Wycombe (EGTB) 17-18th May 2024
SAVE THE DATE!
This year we are going to combine two of the Private Flyer Events with a social fly-in and get together for PPL/IR Europe membes and friends.
As well as attending this Private Flyer event, we will hold our own social. More details to follow!
For details of the Private Flyer event itself, please see here: https://www.privateflyershow.com/uk/
PPL/IR Europe at France Aero Expo (LFLY) 6-8th June 2024
PPL/IR Europe are planning to visit the France Air Expo on 6-8th June at Lyon-Bron Airport, France (LFLY).
You are very welcome to join us!
More details on the event can be found here:
PPL/IR Europe Annual Conference 28-30 June 2024 **TICKETS NOW ON SALE!**
The Annual Conference is our main event each year, and this year we are hosting it in the beautiful city of Hamburg, Germany (EDDH).
The PPL/IR Europe Annual Conference is a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, meet friends old and new, and for many, to add a new airport to your logbook. Following the tremendous success of AC2023, again we have found an airport that has hotel and conference facilities within walking distance.
Please see below for details and to book tickets. Additional nights, e.g., Thursday, Sunday, etc., can be booked using this form too.
Please note attendees can cancel, with a full refund, up to two weeks before.
BUY TICKETS
Friday 28th June
- Friday afternoon / evening arrivals for anyone wishing to join pre-evening dinner and drinks.
- Land at Hamburg (EDDH) Airport - please remember to book a Pilot Pack ticket.
- Hamburg (EDDH) Airport Charges 2024 (158 downloads )
- Check-in, a short walk away, at Motel One Hotel - please remember to book a Friday night hotel ticket.
- Or head straight for dinner at the Radisson Blu from 8pm - please remember to book a Friday evening dinner ticket.
Saturday 29th June
- Remember to book a conference ticket.
- Some pilots fly in on the day - please remember to book a Pilot Pack ticket.
- 09.00 Registration opens.
- 10.00 we take our seats for the Chairman's Opening Welcome
- 10.30 One Pilot’s Flying Experience - hear one pilot's forty years experiences as a pilot, an aircraft owner, the many aviation-related companies he has owned, his personal airstrip, becoming an instructor, an examiner, and so much more.
- 11.00 Hear the latest updates from EASA and the CAA, relevant to the European Private Pilot.
- 11.30 Breakout Session One - a similar format to last year, though one hour for each one this time - please see below.
- 12.30 Lunch, teas, coffees and soft drinks are included in the price and an opportunity to spend time with fellow pilots.
- 13.30 Breakout Session Two - a similar format to last year, though one hour for each one this time - please see below.
- 14.30 Teas, coffees and soft drinks are included in the price and an opportunity to spend time with fellow pilots.
- 15.00 Breakout Session Three - a similar format to last year, though one hour for each one this time - please see below.
- 16.00 Breakout Session Four - a similar format to last year, though one hour for each one this time - please see below.
- 17.00 Closing remarks
- Stay for dinner at 7pm at Restaurant Schifferboerse in central Hamburg - please remember to book a Saturday evening dinner ticket.
- AC2024 Saturday Dinner Menu (44 downloads )
- If not staying, have a safe journey home, having rekindled old friendships, made new friends and refreshed your skills.
Sunday 30th June
- For anyone staying, get a tram into the city, or head back home, having rekindled old friendships, made new friends and refreshed your skills.
BREAKOUTS
When booking your conference ticket, please select your four breakout sessions from the list of eight below.
- FORB: Foreflight Flight Tooling Beginners Class - this session is for people new to Foreflight and wish to understand the basics.
- FORA: Foreflight Flight Tooling Advanced Class - this session is for people who are very familiar with Foreflight or have completed the Beginners class, jumping into the very advanced capabilities of Foreflight for VFR and IFR flying.
- WEAT: Weather Forecasting and Management for Pilots - a session dedicated to understanding Skew-T diagrams, weather fronts and patterns, forecasting tools, and strategies for managing unexpected weather changes during IFR flights.
- EMER: Emergency Procedures and Safety Best Practices - a review of emergency procedures, including case studies and lessons learned from real-life incidents.
- GARM: Garmin Avionics Drop-In - this year we are more informal, inviting people to meet with Garmin to discuss their particular needs and have questions answered.
- AOAM: Aircraft Ownership and Maintenance - this session is for people keen to learn more about aircraft ownership and maintenance as well as to view aircraft brought to the event by Textron Aviation and/or Pipistrel.
- WELL: Pilot Well-being and Stress Management - this session covers single crew and multi-crew strategies for managing stress, fatigue, and maintaining peak performance during flights.
- FLYU: Flying in the UK - flying to and in the UK is quite different to flying elsewhere in Europe, VFR and IFR. This session helps non-UK pilots understand those differences. UK pilots are welcome to still join of course.
PLEASE SEE THIS LINK TO BOOK TICKETS
BUY TICKETS
PPL/IR Europe Event at Private Flyer Show in Leeds East (EGCM) 5-6th July 2024
This is the second PPL/IR Europe event combined with a Private Flyer show, including a social fly-in and get together for PPL/IR Europe membes and friends.
As well as attending this Private Flyer event, we will hold our own social. More details to follow!
For details of the Private Flyer event itself, please see here: https://www.privateflyershow.com/uk/leeds/
PAFRA Europe Week 8-14th July 2024
As Peter has done for the past 23 years, he is organising another PAFRA Summer tour: Monday - Sunday 8th-14th July 2024 to Rothenburg ob der Tauber Dinkelsbühl + Innsbruck
As before, the trip is arranged in easy stages so pilots/planes can join us for whatever period they like. There is no obligation to do the whole trip. Likewise, although an outline programme is proposed, everyone is entirely free to use their time as they wish.
The trip, as always, is not restricted to pilots/planes from Rochester/ Lydd; but is open to all.
Help & assistance is offered for those unfamiliar with foreign travel & flight.
Please see the link below for details.
PAFRA 2024 (42 downloads )
PPL/IR Europe at Italian Volare Reggio Emilia Airport (LIDE) 3-6th October 2024
PPL/IR Europe are planning to visit the Italian Volare on 3-6th October at Reggio Emilia Airport, Italy (LIDE).
You are very welcome to join us!
More details on the event can be found here:
PPL/IR Europe at Private Flyer Event in Leeds East (EGCM) 7-8th July 2023
PPL/IR Europe are planning to visit the Private Flyer event on 7-8th July at Leeds East Airport (EGCM).
You are very welcome to join us!
More details on the event can be found here:
PAFRA Summer Flyout to Germany 10-16 July 2023
PAFRA Flyout [Germay]
This is another invitation to ALL pilots & friends, including PPL/IR Europe members, from the Pilots and Friends of Rochester Airport (PAFRA) to Germany in July 2023.
As Peter has done for the past 22 years, he is organising another PAFRA Summer tour. By popular request, he is going in the SECOND week of July, a week before the Annual Conference to: Berlin, Potsdam & Dresden.
The trip is arranged in easy stages so pilots/planes can join for whatever period they like: There is no obligation to do the whole trip. Likewise, although an outline programme is proposed, everyone is entirely free to use their time as they wish. The trip, as always, is not restricted to pilots/planes from Rochester/Lydd; but is open to all.
Please see the attached for details.
PAFRA Summer Trip 2023 (323 downloads )
BELOW HERE ARE HIDDEN!
Textron Aviation Webinar Tuesday 12th December 2023 (1800UTC)
I am pleased to announce another webinar as we move indoors for winter. This time it is with Textron Aviation.
Topics
There is plenty in this webinar to wet every appetite:
- Following on from our Garmin webinar, we look at Textron's view of new trends and solutions for inflight connectivity.
- Textron AV share insights into how they support a European fleet of piston, turboprop, jets and what customers expect.
- Textron AV discuss typical aircraft upgrades from their customers - find out what is trending.
- For those more technically minded, Textron AV discuss if recruitment of engineers is becoming a problem.
- Finally, for those who dream big, Textron AV discuss buying, operating and owning the Citation M2 Gen2, and time allowing the Denali too.
- Plus time for questions and answers from our hosts at Textron Aviation.
Times
- 18.00 UTC
- 18.00 BST
- 19.00 CEST
Register in advance for the event here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
More events to follow throughout winter and spring.
Notification of PPL/IR Europe AGM 26th October 2023 (1800UTC)
This is formal notification of the Annual General Meeting of PPL/IR Europe, to be held via Zoom, on Thursday 26th October 2023.
- 18.00 UTC
- 19.00 BST
- 20.00 CEST
Register in advance for the Zoom link for this meeting here.
Minutes of the previous AGM, held on 10th October 2022, and the latest set of Annual Accounts, are available to members on the Annual Accounts Page.
Scottish Highlands Fly-Out 12-14th August 2022
We still have plenty of summer left and so this is an opportunity for another fly-out. This time across Scotland, UK.
Graham Mountford, Chair Elect, is kindly leading us on a wonderful trip around Scotland.
Feel free to come for one day (Saturday, or Sunday) or make a weekend of it.
All tickets are fully cancellable and refundable 10 days before. Hotel bookings are fully cancellable and refundable 11:59pm local hotel time on 11 August 2022 (1 day before arrival).
In the unlikely event that we decide to cancel the event due to poor weather, a full refund will be given.
All times are local (UTC+1).
Friday 12th August
- For those people wishing to arrive on the Friday, fly to Inverness airport (EGPE) and a short (3-8 mins) walk to the Courtyard Marriott Hotel
- Please book General Admission ticket (fully refundable) to reserve your slot
- Please book Pilot Pack ticket for airport landing - limited to 12 aircraft, first come, first served (all fees go towards your landing and parking). Once confirmed I shall provide details for PPR / booking in. Please note this amount paid (for a Pilot Pack) will be deducted from your actual landing and parking fee.
- Please book Rate 1 Hotel for two nights' accommodation at the four star Courtyard Marriott Hotel
Saturday 13th August
- Flying option - make the most of the long hours of sunshine (12th August sunrise is 05:35 and sunset is 21:05)
- Please note that all routes and stops are provisional and subject to conditions and permissions on the day. Anyone joining this fly-out will receive direct updates on any proposed changes. The following day will also be covered in the bar the evening before.
- If flying in on the Saturday arrive at Inverness (EGPE) no later than 8.30am, or meet us at one of the destinations below.
- 9.00am depart to fly North to Orkneys, up the coast to John O'Groats, over Scapa Flow, and out to the small islands to the east, optional touch and go on Westray and papa westray (shortest scheduled route) for capable aircraft (520m strips), continue around the Orkney Island and land at Kirkwall (EGPA) for tea and biscuits in the terminal. Estimate 1:20 flying and 1 hour break.
- 11.30am depart Kirkwall to fly along the north coast of Scotland and across to Stornoway, do not land but fly down the outer Hebrides – spectacular landscape, and over Barra, to see the beach airport, optional landing there for those who want and if tide permits, otherwise onto Tiree (EGPU) to land for lunch at a nice local restaurant about 20 minutes walk from airport. About 1 hour 40 to Barra, extra 15mins to Tiree. Allow 3 hours for lunch and walk.
- 4.30pm fly from Tiree to Mull and up the west coast to Skye then across the mountains back to Inverness (EGPE). Approx. 50 minutes, arriving back at Inverness about 5.30pm.
- Non-Flying Option (if weather awful or people want alternate)
- Drive to Cawdor Castle for visit, with tea and cake at castle.
- Contine to Speyside and drive along the Spey to Macalan distillery for distillery tour and lunch.
- Drive over the moors back towards Forress and along back to Inverness
- If not booked for Friday, please book General Admission ticket (fully refundable) to reserve your slot.
- Please book Pilot Pack ticket for airport landing - limited to 12 aircraft, first come, first served (all fees go towards your landing and parking). Once confirmed I shall provide details for PPR / booking in. Please note this amount paid (for a Pilot Pack) will be deducted from your actual landing and parking fee.
- If not booked for Friday, please book Rate 2 Hotel for one nights' accommodation at the four star Courtyard Marriott Hotel
Sunday 14th August
- If flying in on the Sunday only arrive at Inverness (EGPE) no later than 9.00am, or meet us at one of the destinations below.
- Please note that all routes and stops are provisional and subject to conditions and permissions on the day. Anyone joining this fly-out will receive direct updates on any proposed changes. The following day will also be covered in the bar the evening before.
- 9.30am fly down the great Glen over Loch Ness ad past Ben Nevis to Oban (EGEO) for a tea stop. (30 minute flight, 1 hour stop)
- 10.30am continue down to Cambeltown and touch and go on former shuttle emergency landing strip and continue to Islay (EGPI)) and land to visit Bowmore Distillery and have lunch. (30 minute flight, 3 hour stop)
- By 3.00pm depart back to home airfields.
- If not booked for Friday/Saturday, please book General Admission ticket (fully refundable) to reserve your slot.
- If not booked for Friday/Saturday, please book Pilot Pack ticket for airport landing - limited to 12 aircraft, first come, first served (all fees go towards your landing and parking).
TRAVELLING TO THE UK
- For anyone travelling to the UK, please see here for border control rules and restrictions: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
INVERNESS AIRPORT NOTES
- Inverness Airport Operations require a full PPR in advance of attending. I will provide full details for anyone who has purchased a Pilot Pack for this event.
- Airport opening times are Friday/Saturday/Sunday AD Closures: 0700-0735, 1800-1845. Times in UTC.
- Unfortunately, they are unable to offer any discounts from their published prices.
- Highland Aviation can provide AVGAS on the Friday and Saturday. Jet A1 is also available but through Airport Operations.
Book Tickets
To book tickets please see here.
Tips and tricks on Flight Tooling for IFR Flying - held on Wed 19th January 2022
We started our 2022 events programme, with a virtual get-together on flight tooling.
The presentation was given by Paul Ruskin and Craig Warmington.
Topics covered:
- Insights and tips flying IFR using SkyDemon and benefits over other products
- A personal workflow for using Foreflight for IFR flight planning and flying
- A personal workflow for using Garmin Pilot for IFR flight planning and flying
Avionics Seminar in Salzburg on 13th November 2021 hosted by COPA
As many members will be aware, the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) runs a range of training events through its Cirrus Pilot Proficiency Program (CPPP). COPA is running a one-day seminar on avionics in Salzburg on Saturday 13 November 2021 and have invited PPL/IR Europe members to participate.
While run by COPA, the workshop will cover other types like Cessna, Mooney, Piper or Diamond / TBM etc.
Details of the event (in German) are below, together with a link for registration:
CPPP LOWS Salzburg Avionics Workshop
This time the workshop is presented in German language only. If it is a success, COPA may provide it next year in English. Indeed, the PPL/IR Europe Board is exploring opportunities for working with other like-minded pilot organisations in Europe so I'm delighted to announce this as the first product of the initiative.
Michael Hochenrieder, who hosted us so well for a social weekend in 2017, is part of the CPPP team and should be able to address any questions you might have.