From Hilversum to Rotterdam

On January 17 at the beginning of the afternoon the weather looked good enough to make the first flight in the new year. It was just a little flight to Rotterdam. Later in the afternoon would the weather get a little worse with more limited visibility, but after lunch it was fine. So it was nice to grab an hour.

Hilversum's small airfield with grass runways is located in a former peat bog area and the field is often quickly unusable in wet periods. Also these weeks the field was PPR, and in the morning no green light could be given yet to use the airfield. In the afternoon I had to make some effort to get permission to use the airfield, and then it was allowed.

It was a little roundtrip to Rotterdam that lasted only an hour back and forth (The flightradar24 algo's assumed it was one flight). There was some crosswind on runway 25 that was in use at Hilversum, and there was talk over the radio about not letting students fly solo because of too much crosswind. It was a short uneventful flight to Rotterdam with a landing on runway 24.

Woerden

Railway bridge at Gouda

Rotterdam airport

René at Rotterdam airport

From Rotterdam to Hilversum

In Rotterdam, the local flying club may facilitate handling for recreational general aviation flights. They did this for a price of €30, which made the visit to Rotterdam, including the landing fee €52.26. Not something to do every week, but the last time was almost two years ago, so why not occasionally.

After a short stop and coffee, and a brief conversation with the receptionist who has been with the flying club for many years, it was time for the return flight. The mandatory flight plan had already been submitted simultaneously with the flight plan for the outward flight.

Meanwhile, upon arrival at Hilversum, runway 31 was in use. After asking if the landing fee had remained the same in the new year (it had, still €19) we knew what to include in the payment for the flight. Then it was time to go home again.

Taxiway Lima to V2 Rotterdam

Visual Reporting Point Oscar

Old City Hall and St Jan church in Gouda

Final runway 31 Hilversum airfield