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General Aviation Flying in Europe

Dick with his generous hosts, Shardel and Pete, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean in the Cessna Citation M2. Dick Karl
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article details a 23-day private jet tour across Europe, organized by Air Journey, highlighting the extensive planning and logistical support required for international private aviation.
  • Flying in European airspace presented unique complexities, including strict slot requirements, fragmented air traffic control systems across multiple countries, non-linear flight paths, and notably high FBO handling fees.
  • The author contrasted the intricate, regulated, and often costly experience of flying private in Europe with the comparatively simpler, more unified, and less expensive general aviation environment in the United States.
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Around here, we call it the “trip of a lifetime,” though that hardly does it justice. You might remember last month’s column that left off at an improbably tasty restaurant in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, after just the first day of a 23-day private jet tour of Europe. Air Journey organized the trip, and it featured three airplanes: two Cessna CJ3+s and “our” Cessna M2. I say “our” because my wife, Cathy, and I were guests of Pete and Shardel, the actual owners of this glamorous Garmin-bedecked M2.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

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