Flight Documents

1. The 1/500.000 scale ICAO maps

France is covered by 4 different sheets :

North-West (Ref. 941)

North-East (Ref. 942)

South-West (Ref. 943)

South-East (Ref. 944)

The latest issue, valid for the year is usually published end of March. Since Blois is located close to the center of the country, you may need to carry the four sheets, depending of your cross-country distance ambitions. In most cases the North-East sheet, ref. 942 is sufficient.

2. The 1/1.000.000 scale map titled "Radionavigation et vol à vue"

This map covers the whole country in a single sheet ( divided in 4 plus a special sheet for the Paris area) as well as a booklet, and handles mainly matters related to air traffic control. You will find here a lot of information necessary for cross-country flights : Prohibited or restricted areas with definitions and active hours, penetration conditions, who to contact, on which frequency etc...

This map is essential during flight prep. This map can be supplied from the S.I.A., the address of which can be found in our section "Useful addresses".

3. The VFR approach maps, called "cartes VAC".

One map per airfield, these documents are equivalent to the AIP maps.

4. The 1/200.000 Michelin maps.

These maps have of course nothing to do with air traffic safety, but they are very useful orientation helps, especially during final glide if you don't have a GPS receiver on board. Moreover, they are of invaluable help in case of outlanding.

Sheet 64 or regional sheet 238 are recommended.

At the occasion of a document check by the gendarmery after an outlanding, you may be asked to show that the valid issue of the ICAO map is effectively onboard of the glider.

ICAO maps are available for sale at the ACBV office on the airfield, or at the shop of the IGN (Institut Géographique National) in Blois. The 1/1.000.000 map can be also consulted at the tower, as well as all valid NOTAM's.