Exploring Karlovy Vary from the Air: Flying to the Controlled Airspace

Karlovy Vary is a stunning location, with its lakes and buildings appearing even more breathtaking from a bird’s eye view.

As part of my private pilot training curriculum, I had the opportunity to fly to the CTR (control zone) today, and I was taken aback by the high workload. Although the flight was almost identical to my previous ones, there were clearances instead of advisories, and I felt somewhat uncomfortable. Perhaps it was just the unfamiliar environment.

Before delving into my experience at the CTR, I feel the need to explain some aspects of my home base. We do not have a real controller, but we do have a tower – I mean, the real building, which is manned during working hours by someone who assists with traffic and weather. In Canada, such places are typically referred to as Aerodrome Traffic Frequencies (ATFs) or Mandatory Frequencies (MFs) and have well-defined procedures.

In Europe, they do not have a clear legal status and are simply uncontrolled aerodromes in Class G with a dedicated frequency. Some airports may have an assigned person who acts as a controller but is not allowed to issue clearances since it is still uncontrolled airspace. Most uncontrolled airports are unattended, and their frequencies work like CTAFs in the US.

As I said, we’re lucky to have a guy on tower during daytime. While our tower is not bad compared to some airfields in the vicinity, where sometimes only Czech is spoken, I wish more operators would speak the international aviation language, which is English, at least at a basic level. I remind myself that I am in Czechia though and try to do my best.

In contrast, the person on the frequency at Karlovy Vary, where we flew to, is a real controller since the airport is controlled, and he spoke much better English than our tower. Karlovy Vary is an international airport where some airlines operate, so it is no surprise.

The person on the frequency at Karlovy Vary, where we flew to, is a real controller since the airport is controlled, and he spoke much better English than our tower. Karlovy Vary is an international airport where some airlines operate, so it is no surprise.

During the flight, we made several landings on the way, providing valuable practice. I am growing more confident and making increasingly better landings, even on sloped runways.


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Milestones

04/09/2017: My First Flight
04/25/2017: EASA PPL written exam (6 exams passed)
05/21/2017: Radio Operator Certificate (Europe VFR)
05/22/2017: EASA PPL written exam (all passed)
05/26/2017: The First Solo!
05/28/2017: Solo cross-country >270 km
05/31/2017: EASA PPL check-ride
07/22/2017: EASA IFR English
08/03/2017: 100 hours TT
12/04/2017: The first IFR flight
12/28/2017: FAA IR written
02/16/2018: FAA IR check-ride
05/28/2018: FAA Tailwheel endorsement
06/04/2018: FAA CPL long cross-country
06/07/2018: FAA CPL written
07/16/2018: FAA CPL check-ride
07/28/2018: FAA CPL ME rating
08/03/2018: FAA HP endorsement
06/03/2019: EASA ATPL theory (6/14)
07/03/2019: EASA ATPL theory (11/14)
07/15/2019: FAA IR IPC
07/18/2019: FAA CPL SES rating
08/07/2019: EASA ATPL theory (done)
10/10/2019: EASA NVFR
10/13/2019: EASA IR/PBN SE
11/19/2019: Solo XC > 540 km
12/06/2019: EASA CPL
12/10/2019: EASA AMEL
02/20/2020: Cessna 210 endorsement
08/30/2021: FAVT validation
05/27/2022: TCCA CPL/IR written
05/31/2022: Radio Operator Certificate Canada