Amiens, France (PG City)

The Flight Experience Known as the "Venice of the North," Amiens offers a sophisticated VFR experience in the heart of the Hauts-de-France region. While the surrounding terrain of Picardy is relatively flat and agricultural, the city itself is a dense tapestry of canals, floating gardens, and Gothic grandeur. In the simulator, the World Update IV (France & Benelux) photogrammetry captures the city's unique layout, where the Somme River splinters into a maze of waterways that thread through the urban environment. It is a location that rewards low-altitude flying, allowing you to inspect the architectural transition from medieval masterpieces to post-war reconstruction.

Amiens-Glisy Airport (LFAY) Located just 5km east of the city center, LFAY is a charming regional hub perfect for General Aviation and lighter business aircraft (think TBM 930 or King Air). It features a 1,300m concrete runway (12/30) and a parallel grass strip. The airport sits on a plateau slightly elevated above the Somme valley. Because the surrounding terrain is open farmland, the approach is often subjected to brisk crosswinds rolling off the plains. It lacks the complex instrument procedures of larger hubs, making it a pure "stick and rudder" destination where a smooth landing depends entirely on your visual judgment and wind correction.

Visual Highlights

• Notre-Dame d'Amiens Cathedral: This is the absolute crown jewel of the scenery. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in France by volume (you could fit two Notre-Dame de Paris inside it). In the sim, its sheer scale is imposing; the spire reaches over 360ft, serving as your primary anchor point from miles away.

• Tour Perret: Rising like a concrete needle near the train station, this residential skyscraper was one of the first built in Europe (1948). Its blocky, illuminated top acts as a modern counterpoint to the Cathedral’s spire, creating a distinct "twin peaks" silhouette for the city skyline.

• Les Hortillonnages: Just northeast of the cathedral, look for a vast, intricate network of small canals and green islands. These are the famous "floating market gardens." The water masking and vegetation generation here create a unique, patchwork texture that looks fantastic from 1,000ft.

• Stade de la Licorne: Located to the west, the home of Amiens SC is architecturally striking. It features a high, transparent glass roof that curves dramatically. It reflects the sunlight during the day and glows brightly during night flights, marking the western edge of the city.

• The Citadel: A pentagonal fortress designed by Jean Errard (a precursor to Vauban). Its geometric star shape is perfectly captured by the aerial imagery and sits distinctly north of the city center, surrounded by green parkland.

Pilot’s Note: The "Jules Verne" Loop Jules Verne spent a significant portion of his life here, and the local landscape inspired some of his writings. For a scenic "writer’s tour," depart LFAY Runway 30 and immediately pick up the Somme River. Follow it west into the city. You will fly directly over the Hortillonnages (marsh gardens). Bank left to orbit the Cathedral at 1,500ft, aligning yourself with the Tour Perret. Continue west to the Stadium, then execute a 180-degree turn to fly back over the city center at sunset, when the shadows of the cathedral spire stretch long across the slate rooftops.