Aviation Tour - Maps on www.bankleft.com

Flying a UK registered plane overseas requires compliance with the UK Air Navigation Order's definition of Visual Met Conditions - remaining not only clear of cloud but distincly, also in sight of the surface as exemplified by the heading reference of Mt Blanc at flight level 60 inbound for Annecy in the foothills of the Alps ;)

As above, so below.

Gilles-Marie approached and introduced himself on the Annecy airport apron as another HR100 pilot (they are quite rare planes). A fantastically interesting chap, he has recently retired from CERN and was able to meet us for drinks the next day when he described his inspiring experinece of alp flying and ski instructing. His life long local knoweldge of the area allowed us a good undertanding of the alpine lake geography and the nature of the Haute-Savoie people and dialect.

Gilles-Marie took us for a flight around to Geneva and over his house!

We wanted to fly together south up the alp valley over Grenoble to Gap Tallard but decided to push on rather than waiting for a patch of weather to clear. As always, less time pressure would have been vastly prefereable.