I am always being asked about holding points which, for some reason, are not published on the Limoges airfield chart.
Here they are marked on a photograph by Stuart Morton,
NB Click on picture for a larger image.
You can also view a full-sized and 'clean' version of the original picture here
Following-up Sue's original article on the subject here, we have a new set of Limoges 'Reporting Point' pictures taken by Stuart Morton who is a professional photographer—see his stunning pictures of short-field landings here
After some initial training elsewhere, Stuart is currently working towards his PPL under Sue's guidance.
To make these useful reference articles easier to find, I have introduced a new category of 'Reporting Points' on the sidebar of this blog—hopefully, this might stimulate some contributions relating to other airfields.
As usual, you can click on the pictures below to display a larger image—however, Typepad limits the size of images displayed on this blog (to save space) so I have provided separate links to the full-sized images, some of which are really quite spectacular.
Note the appearance of countryside and lakes compared with the original article—ground features can change quite a lot with the seasons.
The up-to-date Limoges area chart to go with these pictures is available at Limoges Area Chart
Whiskey-Alpha (Position: LMG 038º / 4 nm)
Full-sized image here
Full-sized image here
Whiskey—Saint Victurnien (Position: LMG 355º / 4 nm)
Full-sized image here
Full-sized image here
November-Whiskey—Oradour sur Glane (Position LMG 002º / 7 nm)
Full-sized image here
St Pardoux Lake
Unofficial reporting point marking the North-Western corner of the Limoges CTR 'stub'.
Full-sized image here
Full-sized image here
Echo-Alpha (Position: LMG 067º / 12 nm)
Full-sized image here
Full-sized image here
Echo—Saint Priest Taurion (Position: LMG 077º / 16 nm)
Full-sized image here
Sierra-Alpha (Position: LMG 107º / 9 nm)
Full-sized image here
Full-sized image here
Sierra—Solignac (Position: LMG 109º / 11nm)
Full-sized image here
Full-sized image here
Full-sized image here
As Limoges (Bellgarde) is an international airport within Class D airspace, it is essential for pilots to maintain positional awareness at all times.
To assist my students and other pilots with this objective, I have collected photographs of the official reporting points together with some other useful landmarks in the local area.
Limoges has a single hard runway running South-West/North-East so it is convenient to describe the area in terms of a typical familiarisation flight starting with a take-off from Runway 21.
Immediately after take-off, a sharp right-turn (in the normal circuit direction) takes us towards reporting point Whiskey-Alpha which is a large quarry (carrière) about 4 nm to the west of the airfield—it is next to the Vienne river and has a railway line running alongside it.
If inbound following the river from the west, a left turn towards the airfield at WA will position you on base leg for Runway 03 where you can, if required, make a further left turn onto the downwind leg for Runway 21.
Following the Vienne river in a westerly direction for 3 nm, we come to reporting point Whiskey at the village of Saint Victurnien which has a distinctive stone bridge spanning the river close to a weir—this reporting point is just outside of the Limoges CTR so inbound aircraft should definitely be in contact with Limoges Tower before passing it.
Actually, the Vienne river is quite handy for pilots getting to know the area as you can follow it for about 50 miles in the direction of Poitiers, with no danger of getting lost, before hitting any restricted airspace—on a good day, the Power Station chimneys at Poitiers can generally been seen from 20-30 miles away.
From WA, a right turn to the North takes us to November-Whiskey at the burnt-out village of Oradour sur Glane which is preserved as a monument to those who died when the village was destroyed by the Germans during the 2nd world war—more information on that incident at www.oradour.info
NW is also a short distance from of the Limoges CTR boundary.
When exploring the area, it is generally a good idea to keep out of the CTR so a flight to the North-East for about 15 nm would take us to the large St Pardoux lake which is not an official reporting point but marks the North-Western corner of the CTR 'stub'—be sure to request permission if crossing the active runway within any part of the CTR.
About 6 nm to the North-East of the airfield, Echo Alpha is a distinctive interchange where the North/South motorway converges with several other roads and a railway line—EA is well within the CTR so more-easily explored if departing from Runway 03 or inbound for Runway 21 via the recommended route for that direction.
Reporting point Echo, 4.5 miles east of EA, is at the small town of Saint Priest Taurion which is situated close to the fork of a river where there is also a distinctive viaduct.
The southern reporting points are only 2 miles apart, Sierra Alpha being another Quarry on the edge of the CTR and Sierra at the village of Solignac which has a distinctive abbey at it's centre.
Other Noteable Landmarks
On our original route following the Vienne river to the West, the town and airfield of Saint Junien are about 5 miles beyond St Victurnien (Whiskey) and, a further 5 miles upriver, there is a Paper Mill whose smoke can be seen from miles away which is most helpful in conditions of poor visibility.
When leaving Limoges to the South-West, heading very slightly left from Runway 21, we can line-up on the Les Cars beacon (2480' amsl, 719' agl) which is approximately 13 nm away and takes us on a direct heading to Perigueux.
The official charts for Limoges and other French airfields can be obtained FREE from www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr
NB Click on pictures for larger images
NB1 If any readers care to submit local-area information for other French airfields, we will be happy to publish it
Recent Comments