final comments MEMORIAL HANS GUTMANN TOURIST RALLY FLIGHT GEORGIA 2016

final comments - 1

FAI-GAC

Although the MEMORIAL HANS GUTMANN TOURIST RALLY FLIGHT GEORGIA 2016 was an absolute success as such and well appreciated by the participants, it must be mentioned that the organization team has paid out of their own pockets all the expenses in preparation of this wonderful rally.

It is deplorable to see that FAI-GAC did not even send out our leaflet to all NAC’s in advance of the rally.

Despite the lack of any FAI-GAC support, all 44 participants returned enthusiastic and safely home and a new general aviation destination has been discovered.

Turkey

Because of the military coup attempt in Turkey a couple of weeks prior to our departure, we were able to fly only the VFR routes which have been especially put in place for our rally members.

We received a waiver from the Turkish Ministry which allowed us to skip the sometimes hefty handling charges one may encounter in Georgia

We’ve interacted with Skydemon in the months in advance to the rally and they have now Turkey embedded in the VFR charts system, which proved to be very practical

final comments - 2

Georgia

Absence of VFR charts, whilst we had the obligation to fly in a corridor via Batumi to our final destination Natakhtari. All flights need to be submitted to a central dispatching unit days in advance. However, they have proven to be very flexible and by the time we left Georgia, giving them a call was sufficient. Georgians are doing their utmost best to welcome European pilots as they are integrating with Europe.

We’ve insisted to Skydemon to add Georgia as well in the VFR charts offering, but they have no plans in this regard unfortunately.

sportive character rally

Because of the route restrictions in Turkey and Georgia and narrow corridors which had to be flown, we decided to skip the sportive part of the MEMORIAL HANS GUTMANN TOURIST RALLY FLIGHT GEORGIA 2016 and focus rather on the tourist part of the event.

A new destination for general aviation

One can clearly state that Turkey and Georgia are new general aviation destinations which we can recommend without any hesitation

Georgia is a hidden gem for tourists

Local tour operator Vanilla Sky setup a full tourist program spanning over four days for our 44 person group. It included a visit of visit of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, but also a visit of the Khazbegi castles. It further included a flight high in the European Caucasus whilst a two day tour in Svaneti with overnight stay in Mestia. And finally, the eastern part of Georgia (the Kakheti wine region) was visited as well.

The food we enjoyed has always been amazing! A great farewell dinner was organized in the “Shadow of Metekhi”, overseeing the valleys of Tbilisi. We’ll always remember the great cultural heritage and absolutely exceptional hospitality and friendship one finds everywhere in Georgia. This is unseen!

The official part ended on August 12th. Some teams extended their stay in Georgia for another week and discovered the country with rented jeeps, some other crews flew to Antalya, where the local authorities offered free half board hotel stayover for several days. Some other crews flew home over the Black sea.

welcome event setup by Vanilla Sky and the Georgian government

A formal welcome for the European aviators was setup on August 9, in presence of multiple TV and radio crews. Georgian State Minister for EU and Atlantic integration David Bakradze as well as Giorgi Chogovadze, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration held warm speeches as Georgia feels itself as a part of the European house. A further speech was held by Guram Jalaghonia, head of the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia, who’s team helped a lot to facilitate flying in to Georgia was private pilots

We distributed the rare bottles of “Chateau de Schengen” wine we brought from Luxembourg. This was highly appreciated as Georgia is preparing to join the European Union.

Amiran Ivanidze , Peter Sodermans and Niko Tsiklauri 

Peter Sodermans and Jean Birgen

The Peterzelka family

Peter Sodermans, Jean Birgen, Georgia State Minister David Bakradze and  Giorgi Chogovadze (head of Tourism in Georgia)

State Minister David Bakradze talks about Georgian's EU and atlantic integration

Peter Sodermans and Jean Birgen with the picture of Minister Goebbels of Luxembourg

Speech Peter Sodermans and Jean Birgen

Georgia State Minister David Bakradze and  Giorgi Chogovadze (head of Tourism in Georgia) actively supporting to attract general aviation into Georgia

some 120 persons attended the welcome event

Peter Sodermans hands over the (very rare) Chateau de Schengen wine to Georgian State Minister David Bakradze 

a memorable event