PIREPs by Wolfgang

Great and uncomplicated airfield but with worn taxiways and apron (ex-military airbase). Good to visit Wiesbaden, Mainz and the Rhine wine region. Uncomplicated IFR pickup upon departure if Frankfurt 25 runways are in use. If Frankfurt 25 runways in use, one normally gets an immediate IFR pickup and climb. If Frankfurt 07 runways are in use, then Langen will provide advisory vectors but will not be able to give an immediate climb as traffic on to ILS approaches to Frankfurt 07 runways are only about 1000 ft above the base of controlled airspace and go straight over EDFZ.

Professional handling with good service and reasonable price for smaller GA. Dedicated ramp with dedicated fuel bowsers at southern side of the airport avoiding having to go through the terminal and security on the northern side. However, standard opening hours are only 0800-1800. Please note that rental car counters are on the other side of the airport which presumably can be easily reached with an Uber.

The new FBO is now called Jet Centre by Willis and can be reached at JetCentre@willisaviation.com or +44 3304 407700. They are open until 8 pm local (forgot to ask when they open in the morning but they were open at 8 am). For a DA40 and 2 days of parking, we paid (incl VAT): £27 landing fee £30 handling fee £25.20 parking fee for 2 days £7.50 airport facility fee (calculated as 25% of handling fee) Staff were very helpful and friendly, however make sure that you don't get the FBO to call a taxi for you on their account as they charge a 25% markup over the actual taxi fee.

We visited Leeds East (EGCM) last Sunday as we needed to get to York and weather was very poor. It was great to see that they have an RNP approach with AGCS.Although under the current CAA approval, they can give only 1 slot/hr, the slot booking procedure in itself was straightforward and uncomplicated, and the airfield friendly and flexible as I needed to change the slot time two times due to weather. The required pilot brief is a 16-page monstrosity that can be found at https://www.leedseastairport.co.uk/gnss-latest-information. It could really be condensed down significantly, and much more of the information could be included on the IAP charts themselves.The 1,300 ft descent from minimum altitude 3,500 ft at EPJUG to mandatory altitude at 2,200 ft at CMS01 for the RNP 06 approach is a rather sporty challenge given the short 3.6 NM track distance, which makes it more than a 3° descent. As the RNP approaches are still very new (I had the dubious honour of being the 2nd person to have ever flown the RNP 06 approach), they ask pilots to fill in the feedback form which they provide to the CAA. I provided all of the above feedback in the form, regarding slot frequency and flexibility and the pilot's brief but also included all the positives, including the need for more RNP approaches in the UK at an AGCS/AFIS airfields. Costs for a DA40 incl VAT (same for all aircraft up to 1,999 kg MTOW): £24 landing fee £23 approach fee £10 parking (per 24 hours) Their AVGAS cost was low at £1.99 so filled up enough to qualify for a waiver on the landing fee.