Geographical and vertical expansion
The temporary restricted area is called ED-R Bückeburg and includes:
- Lateral boundary:
A circle with 5 nautical miles radius around the point 52°16'42" N / 09°04'54" O - This roughly corresponds to the airspace over the city of Bückeburg and surrounding areas in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, including parts of the Schaumburg and Minden-Lübbecke regions. - Vertical limit:
Ground (GND) to flight level 100 (FL100) - i.e. up to around 3,000 metres above sea level. The restricted area is therefore relevant for both VFR and IFR traffic.
Temporal activation of the restricted flight area
The airspace restriction is Not permanently activebut is temporarily armed within the following periods:
- 25 June 2025: 06:00 UTC - 16:00 UTC
- 26 June 2025: 06:00 UTC - 16:00 UTC
- 27 June 2025: 06:00 UTC - 11:00 UTC
- 28 June 2025: 06:00 UTC - 16:00 UTC
The concrete activation times within this framework can be requested at short notice from the responsible air traffic control centre BÜCKEBURG RADAR on 123.300 MHz can be requested. Pilots are required to keep themselves informed about NOTAMs and ATIS announcements on a daily basis.
Type of flight restrictions
Within the activated times, a Flight ban without exception for:
- All civil aircraftregardless of drive type or authorisation
- Model aircraft and drones (UAS) - both in recreational and commercial operation
Exceptions are only permitted after Prior clearance by the responsible air traffic control authorised. The authorisation applies exclusively to:
- Military aircraft and those on behalf of the Bundeswehr
- State aircraft
- Police flights
- Rescue and disaster control flights
- Ambulance flights
- IFR flights with appropriate coordination
Background: Why an ED-R over Bückeburg?
The Bückeburg site has been a centre of military aviation in Germany for decades. It is home to the International Helicopter Training Centre (IHTC) Bundeswehr, where both national and international helicopter pilots are trained. Temporary airspace restrictions in the vicinity of the Bückeburg Army Airfield (ETHB) are frequently used for Intensive training sessions, Large-scale manoeuvres or special military air operations utilised.
Conclusion: Clear planning and coordination are essential
The temporary flight restriction area "ED-R Bückeburg" is an example of how military requirements can have a short-term impact on civil aviation. It is crucial for airspace safety that all parties involved - especially in general aviation - respect the restricted periods and adapt their activities accordingly.
Pilots can find up-to-date information via:
- NOTAM briefings (DFS/AIS)
- Flight preparation apps such as SkyDemon, ForeFlight or VFRnav
- Frequency 123.300 MHz - BÜCKEBURG RADAR
This keeps the airspace safe - even in times of special military use.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)