Since the South African adventure in Spring 2016, Juliet Bravo’s flights have been of a more routine nature within the UK and Europe. However in few days time, I am embarking with other pilot friends on a trip to Albania and Romania and as this is a relatively unknown part of Europe for GA, it is perhaps worth a write up.
Seven aircraft are taking part ranging from a Cessna 303 and Twin Commanche through my Bonanza, a brace of TB20’s and a Cirrus SR20 to a Grumman Tiger which I used to own in earlier years. We all meet up in Tirana on Monday 11th September although individually some of us are foregathering at various places en route. We spend two full days in Albania before going on the Sibiu in Romania for three full days there. The trip which is organised under the auspices of PPL/IR Europe, an organisation promoting the interests of instrument rated pilots in Europe and encouraging pilots to acquire instrument flying abilities, finishes on Sunday 17th September from whence we all make our way home.
Once again my wife Miranda is coming with me, with her sewing and a number of other wives are also coming with their husbands. Most of us all know each other well so we are looking forward to a jolly outing. Compared to Africa, preparation is relatively minimal but Albania requires all aircraft to get a landing permit in advance from its CAA and the lack of avgas at our destination field in Romania requires an element of forward fuel planning.