Geographical location and extent
The restricted flight zone is called "ED-R Klixbüll" and lies in the Flight Information Region (FIR) Bremenin the immediate vicinity of the Danish border and west of Flensburg. The exact position is:
- Centre: 54°48'22 "N, 008°51'53 "E
- Lateral expansion: Radius from 0.8 nautical miles (approx. 1.5 km)
- Vertical limitation: GND up to 2,500 feet above ground
This altitude separation affects the lower airspace - primarily the area in which general aviation visual flights and drone and model aircraft traffic operate.
Validity period
The flight restriction applies from:
- 30 April 2025, 00:00 UTC
until - 31 December 2025, 23:00 UTC
This means that the zone has been active for more than eight months - an unusually long period for an ED-R area that was not activated for military reasons. The extended period emphasises the importance and durability of the project behind it.
Background: Research project with SkySails Power GmbH
The reason for the establishment of the ED-R zone is an ongoing Research projectwhich, in conjunction with the Company SkySails Power GmbH stands for. SkySails is known for innovative technologies for the generation of Wind energy from autonomous towing kites (kites)that convert high-altitude wind into electrical energy.
These kites often rise several hundred metres into the sky and fly dynamic cycles - a potential danger for any air traffic in the immediate vicinity. A safety-relevant shelter is therefore required to prevent collisions or interference.
Who is allowed to fly into the restricted airspace?
In principle, a Flight ban for all aircraftincluding unmanned aircraft - with a few exceptions. Permitted flight movements are
- State aircraft
- Military mission flights of the Bundeswehr
- Police flights
- Rescue and disaster control operations
- Ambulance flights
- Flights explicitly ordered by SkySails Power GmbH
But even these authorised flights are subject to strict conditions:
- Previous vote with the research project's deployment centre
- Authorisation by the responsible air traffic control authority (e.g. Bremen Radar)
- Radio contact during the flight, if necessary
Spontaneous transit is therefore not possible even for privileged user groups.
Integration in flight preparation and navigation
The new ED-R zone is integrated into the daily updated NOTAMs and in digital VFR and IFR flight planning tools such as SkyDemon, ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot or the DFS AIS portal. Due to its small lateral extension, it can easily be overlooked during short cross-country flights. Therefore:
- Regular NOTAM briefings
- Updated ICAO maps (1:500,000)
- If necessary, course adjustment already during flight planningto ensure flying round
If you are flying by sight, you should avoid the zone over a wide area to avoid unintentional intrusion due to navigational inaccuracies.
Conclusion: Small zone - big effect
The temporary exclusion zone "ED-R Klixbüll" may be small in size, but it is strictly regulated by law and technically safety-critical. Its establishment demonstrates how innovative energy generation projects place the same demands on airspace as conventional aircraft. For pilots, it is another example of why Careful flight preparation, up-to-date maps and precise route planning are essential - even for supposedly simple regional flights.
If you want to be on the safe side, plan a small arc - and maintain radio contact in case of uncertainty.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)
