Welcome to PORTUGAL!!

FLYING VFR IN PORTUGAL

FLIGHT PLAN

The Flight Plan is mandatory when crossing country borders in accordance with ICAO Doc 4444 and also Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1185 of 20 July 2016 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 as regards the update and completion of the common rules of the air and operational provisions regarding services and procedures in air navigation (SERA Part C) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 730/2006

Portugal has establish the common rules of the air and operational provisions regarding services and procedures in air navigation that shall be applicable to general air traffic and also additional NATIONAL REGULATIONS IN FORCE.

Pilot should fill in Item18 FPL the Estimated En-route Time since departure until the Lisboa FIR/border entry point  (EET/Elvar XXXX).
In case of a Formation Flight of two or more aircarft, pilot must fill in Item18 the registration of all aircraft (REG/GXXXX, ECXXX, OHXXX).
Pilots must complete all fields / items of the Flight Plan not forgetting the Pilot´s Name and phone number, preferably mobile.

General Aviation departing in Golf Airspace TRANSPONDER CODE 7000.


AIRSPACE

Prior entering in Portugal, pilots should check if there is any Restricted Airspace (R) or Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) active. Remember that Portugal has Flexible Use of Airspace. Pilots should check also NOTAMs so that there will be no airspace violations.

You can CHECK IT HERE. Just click at the area and you will get area, altitudes and activation times

In Portugal’s Golf Airspace (non-controlled airspace) ATS Providers are divided in:
LISBOA INFORMATION providing Flight Information Service from GND/SFC up to 5,500ft AMSL, from Sunrise until Sunset;
LISBOA CONTROL providing Flight Information Service from 5,500ft up to FL095, and all country from Sunset until Sunrise.


FREQUENCIES

All aircraft flying GOLF AIRSPACE, non-controlled Airspace, below Fl095 should fly SEE AND AVOID.

When crossing the Portuguese border flying below 5500ft pilots shall: SQUAWK 7000 and CONTACT one of these Lisboa Information frequencies (see map below) :

  • LISBOA INFORMATION (Northern sector) 130.905 MHz
  • LISBOA INFORMATION (Center Sector) 123.755 MHz
  • LISBOA INFORMATION (Southern sector) 131.055 MHz
  • …. and state your Callsign, Position and Altitude.

Pilot will receive instructions regarding new transponder code, instructions and or suggested routes due any airspace reservation or activation.


EMERGENCY

When a pilot flying VFR in Golf Airspace has an emergency situation he should report MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY (when and if possible) on Lisbon Information frequencies (with radar service available) or any other ATS provider:

Lisboa Information (Northern sector) 130.905 MHz
Lisboa Information (Center sector) 123.755 MHz
Lisboa Information (Southern sector) 131.055 MHz
Or 121.50 MHz and report his :

  • Aircraft callsign
  • Emergency type
  • People on board
  • Position ground (if relevant)
  • Altitude (if relevant)
  • Fuel (if relevant)
  • If possible or suitable enter transponder code 7700.

NOTE: Remember that by making the reporting/communications with FIS or ATC, facilitates en-route flight assistance and also contributes to a faster arrival of assistance vehicles or emergency on arrival or landing in emergency situations, thus contributing to a better and faster aid should it be necessary.

HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT AND WELCOME TO PORTUGAL


USEFUL HYPERLINKS 

General Aviation Manual (PORTUGAL AIP)

UL/LSA Association APAU, Associação Portuguesa de Aviação Ultraleve

Portuguese Authority  ANAC, Autoridade Nacional Aviação Civil

Portuguese ATS provider. NAV PORTUGAL


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José Rocha. Checked 11 december 2023. This article uses hyperlinks.