Background to the measure
Temporary flight restrictions - known in aviation as „ED-R“ (Restricted Area) - are regularly issued by the Federal Ministry of Transport in cooperation with German Air Traffic Control (DFS). They are used to temporarily close certain areas to civil air traffic if safety-relevant or military activities are taking place there.
The area now published ED-R Bremerhaven is the responsibility of the Flight Information Centre Bremen. It covers a radius of only 0.5 nautical miles (around 900 metres) around the coordinate point 53°32’50‘‘N, 008°35’10‘‘O and extends vertically from the floor (GND) to 1 000 feet above ground level (AGL) - i.e. around 300 metres high.
This relatively small area suggests that it is a localised protected area, possibly in connection with military installations, security-relevant infrastructure or special operations in the area of the harbours and shipyards on the North Sea coast.
Duration and temporal validity
The flight restriction applies over an unusually long period - from 27 October 2025 at 00:00 UTC until 18 March 2026 at 23:59 UTC. This means that the measure extends over almost five months, well beyond the typical period of short-term closures.
Such long-term restrictions are often associated with extensive projects or security measures that do not only affect short-term events. These can include military tests, construction activities in safety-critical areas, surveillance operations or infrastructure measures in the vicinity of harbours and energy plants.
Type of flight restrictions
Within the area ED-R Bremerhaven are all flights prohibited - regardless of the type of aircraft or altitude. The flight ban also expressly applies to the operation of Drones and model aircraft, which are generally subject to visual flight rules (VLOS) in Germany.
The only exceptions to this general flight ban are:
- Military aircraft and flights on behalf of the Bundeswehr
- State aircraft, machines of the federal government or other state institutions, for example
- Police flights
- Flights in rescue or disaster control
- Ambulance flights
These exceptions only apply if the flights in question are part of official missions or if express authorisation has been granted.
Significance for general aviation and drone operations
Although the new area is small for general aviation, it is relevant to safety. Pilots and drone operators should pay particular attention to the publication, especially in the Bremerhaven region, which is characterised by lively air sports activities, helicopter operations and coastal flights.
Drone pilots are obliged to check whether the planned flight location is within a restricted airspace before every flight. Many modern drones automatically recognise ED-R zones and refuse to take off. Nevertheless, the legal responsibility always remains with the pilot. Violations can have serious consequences: After § Section 62 Air Traffic Act unauthorised operation in a restricted area prosecuted under criminal law and may result in fines or imprisonment.
Why Bremerhaven?
The choice of Bremerhaven as the location for a longer flight restriction is no coincidence. The city on the North Sea coast is an important logistical and military hub. Several facilities of the German Armed Forces, the Coast guard system and the German Navy, as well as strategically important harbour facilities for the export and import of military equipment.
In the past, temporary no-fly zones have been established in the region on several occasions, for example during naval exercises, special transport operations or to safeguard international shipping movements. The proximity to sensitive offshore structures - such as wind farms and submarine cables - can also play a role when it comes to protecting against interference from drones.
Communication and sources of information
Pilots can check the current status of the restricted flight area via Langen Information on the frequencies 119.825 MHz and 132.650 MHz request. In addition, activation is updated daily in the NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) published.
As with all ED-R areas, the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP SUP) is crucial for legally compliant flight planning. German Air Traffic Control (DFS) points out that the closure only applies in the specified coordinates and altitude ranges and that there are no restrictions outside these limits.
Conclusion
With the establishment of the ED-R Bremerhaven the Federal Ministry of Transport has introduced a temporary but safety-related ban on flying over a limited area in northern Germany. The measure serves to protect state and military activities in the coastal region and primarily affects civil and unmanned aviation.
The following applies to private pilots and drone operators: Anyone wishing to fly in the Bremerhaven region between the end of October 2025 and mid-March 2026 should check particularly carefully whether the planned flight location is within the active exclusion zone. Consistent compliance with such flight restrictions makes a decisive contribution to ensuring safety, order and the protection of sensitive infrastructure in German airspace.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)
