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Region 15 AYA Fly-in to EHMZ, Midden Zeeland (the Netherlands),

19th april 2008

One month to go to the first fly-in to the Netherlands in quite a few years.

I did not fly last weekend on this rain soaked grass airfield, but the runway is still useable. The airport manager assured me that he would have a perfect strip available for all Grummans attending four weeks from now and added in typical Dutch fashion that he for that reason would not be in a position to give a discount on landing fees to Grumman flyers!

The programme:

I have not planned anything special for this event, other than a nice get together and a lunch at the airport, where the on-site restaurant has just opened its doors with new and enthousiastic owners after two years of non performance by the predecessors. They are happy to serve a distinguished crowd like the Grumpies a thorough meal, but do not expect high cuisine yet.

If everybody would try to arrive between 11.30 hours and 12.30hours local time, logic would dictate that most of us would be enjoying lunch together and that this might occur at around 13.00 hours Midden Zeeland time equal to 11.00 Zulu on that day.

For those of you that want to stay overnight or intend to arrive the evening before, please give a shout and we will be happy to help with arranging a hotel or B&B or other arrangements. The island is well worth a visit and both Middelburg as well as Veere are pretty places and within easy reach, 15 minutes by car or about 30 minutes by daredevil bicycle. The latter can be rented at the airport. To give you an impression I refer to the links at the end of this message.

Routing:

Flying into EHMZ is easy. It is an uncontrolled airport and you can self announce your intentions and whereabouts on the frequency 119.25. The tower will politely tell you which runway to use and what associated circuit; most other queries will be dealt with with a universal 'roger' . For this service you will be charged a landing fee of approximately euro 17,50, but then you have the privelige that you can park in front of the restaurant without any charges and the tower will even close your flight plan (better double check though)! You have two VOR stations you can use, HSD (114.15) in the north or COA (110.05) (including DME) to the south west.

If you fly in form the south be aware of he special rules zone for ULM's between COA and VRP Breskens. All circuits are north of the aerodrome and a camping site is located directly west of the aerodrome which you are expected to avoid if safety permits. Approach procedures can be found on the following link:

http://www.zeeland-airport.nl/ (Dutch only for the benefit of our international flying community).

PPR, Customs, other info:

There is NO need to give EHMZ a PPR call, since you will be on a flight plan, unless you decide to come in from another uncontrolled aerodrome from within the Netherlands, which is the only exception granted. On the way out this flight plan rule also applies and be aware that the Dutch computers need one hour to accept your flight plan. I have never seen customs around since Intra Schengen flights are exempted and Holland is a liberal country anyway, so this should not pose a problem. Fuel is available and you can pay by credit card, bank card and cash.

Useful links:

Living in Veere makes me a little biased as can be judged from the recommended links:

Background on the city of Veere:

http://www.veere-stad.nl/veere-in-fotos/ http://www.zeeuwsemedia.net/clanron/history.htm http://www.schotsehuizen.nl/schotsehuizen/english.html

hotels in Veere:

http://www.waepen.nl/ http://www.campveersetoren.nl/

Bed and Breakfast in Veere:

http://www.decraecke.nl/ http://www.veere-stad.nl/gids/crowther/

I hope to meet many of you at Midden Zeeland . Please send me a little confirmatory note when you intend to come and in case you need help for any arrangements to be made just let me know.

Safe flying and let us hope for the right sort of weather.

Ted van Dam Merrett