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.
General Aviation Flying in Europe
Key Takeaways:
- The 23-day private jet tour across Europe, organized by Air Journey, involved navigating complex logistics, multiple air navigation service providers, and unique challenges like slot restrictions and 8.33 kHz radio spacing.
- Flying in Europe revealed significant differences from the US, including often non-linear flight routes to overfly various countries (and their billable airspace), and notably high FBO handling fees and remote parking at many airports.
- The author ultimately expressed deep gratitude for the simpler, more unified, and less costly air traffic control system and FBO services available in the United States upon returning home.
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