A flying holiday without long queues at Schiphol or Eindhoven Airport? Jean-Paul Sablerolle and his partner Andrea from Steenbergen are no different. They fly themselves to their dream destination. “Perhaps a bit decadent but I can recommend it to everyone”, Andrea laughs.
Today the journey goes from Breda International Airport to Milan Bresso Airport. While Jean-Paul (55) checks the oil level, Andrea (57) distributes the suitcases in the back of the plane. The single-engine aircraft is owned by Vliegclub Seppe. Jean-Paul and Andrea regularly use it for their trips at home and abroad.
The two are all too aware of their privileged position. “When we see images of Schiphol, we sometimes chuckle. But I also feel sorry for these people. They want to go on holiday with their saved money and then they have to wait four hours until they can finally board a plane. So they just have to hope that their flight goes ahead,” said Jean-Paul.
“I do miss the flight attendant with duty-free products on the way.”
Andrea and Jean-Paul plan to stay in Milan for five days. “Then Andrea can enjoy shopping, it doesn’t get any worse than this,” says Jean-Paul. Flying is his great passion, so he is especially looking forward to the journey. “It’s so cool to fly through the valleys of the Alps and then do a lap around Mont Blanc. The view and the experience are indescribable.”
“I do miss a flight attendant with duty-free products or a cup of coffee on the way,” jokes Andrea, who has now sat down next to her pilot in the plane. “We also have a nice time on the road. When it’s busy, we listen to the radio traffic or watch the traffic jams we fly over.”
“We were allowed to fly past Schiphol’s control tower.”
In recent years, Andrea and Jean-Paul flew to various places in England, Germany, Ireland and Spain, among others. Usually they use smaller airports, but occasionally they call at a larger airport. “At Maastricht Aachen Airport I sometimes parked our aircraft next to a large Aeroflot box. Those pilots were a bit surprised,” says Jean-Paul.
The two were allowed to continue flying when all planes had to stay on the ground because of corona. “We were even given permission to fly past Schiphol’s control tower. The air traffic controllers liked it so much that they waved at us.”
“For us it’s super luxury.”
Jean-Paul and Andrea don’t have to worry about the suitcases. Andrea: “We have them with us, so we never have to wait or worry about losing them. It’s sad for those other people, but for us it’s super luxury.”
Jean-Paul spins the propeller and taxis the plane to the start of the runway. Moments later, he skilfully ascends and heads south. “I would never want it any other way.”
