The Federal Ministry of Transport has established a temporary flight restriction area in the Bremen flight information area for the period from 21 to 23 October 2025. The area is known as "ED-R Mahlwinkel" and affects all flights from the ground up to 7,000 feet. The aim is to safeguard special military activities. For civilian pilots, this means that the airspace is closed during this period - only certain government or security-related flights are authorised.

Between 1 October and 31 December 2025, a temporary flight restriction will apply over Ottobeuren in Bavaria. The reason for this is night-time laser testing carried out on behalf of industry or research. The Federal Ministry of Transport has designated the "ED-R Ottobeuren" area to ensure airspace safety. The regulation affects all manned and unmanned flights - only mission and rescue flights are permitted under certain conditions.

The Danish Aviation Authority's plans to establish a new, permanent restricted area along the border with Germany are causing unrest in general aviation. The measure is justified by the use of police drones for border surveillance. However, pilots and aerodrome operators fear serious restrictions on flight operations that are disproportionate to the drones' actual area of use. The Tønder and Padborg airfields in particular would be massively affected.

The idea of flying without an air traffic controller - also known in specialist circles as "flying without an operations manager" - has developed from a long-standing demand from aviation associations into a serious reform step. While framework conditions have existed internationally and at EU level for some time, practical implementation is now also beginning in Germany. The first airfields are showing that operations without permanent supervision by an air traffic controller are not only possible, but also efficient and safe. Examples such as Porta

Aviation medicine at the Federal Aviation Authority (LBA) has been heavily criticised. Former employees and medical professionals report systematic wrong decisions, a lack of transparency and an authority that unnecessarily complicates procedures. While other countries in Europe and around the world are simplifying the medical requirements for pilots, Germany is increasingly losing the trust of the aviation community due to bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of willingness to reform. Associations, pilots and doctors are calling for a fundamental new start - if necessary through direct intervention by politicians.

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) has announced several temporally and spatially limited flight restriction and danger areas in the northern and eastern airspace of Germany for the beginning of November 2025. The background to this is a large-scale military exercise by the German Armed Forces. Both the Bremen flight information centre and parts of the upper airspace in the Karlsruhe/Rhine area are affected. This article summarises the details, explains the impact on general aviation and provides information for pilots on how to

From 1 October 2025, the Heide-Büsum airfield (EDXB) will be the first airfield in Schleswig-Holstein to introduce the concept of "flying without an operations manager". Private pilots will then be able to use the airfield much more flexibly, provided they observe certain rules and reporting procedures. The article sheds light on the background, the process and the significance of this innovation for general aviation in Germany.

The Danish Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is planning to establish a large-scale restricted area along the entire Danish-German land border. The aim is to monitor the border using drones. However, the plan has been met with massive criticism, as it would significantly restrict the operation of two Danish airfields and severely impair visual air traffic across the border. In addition to protests from pilot associations and local flying clubs, the plans also raise questions about proportionality and possible alternatives.

At the end of August 2025, the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services published new guidelines that define the requirements for visual departures under instrument flight rules (IFR). These so-called visual departures are intended to give pilots and air traffic controllers more flexibility when standardised instrument departure procedures are not available or only available to a limited extent. The article explains the framework conditions, the restrictions at large airports and the significance for general aviation.

On 12 August 2025, the Federal Ministry of Transport published a comprehensive announcement on the definition of new areas with flight restrictions. The changes will come into force on 2 October 2025 and affect numerous regions in Germany, including Garching, Geesthacht, Wannsee, Biblis, Brokdorf, Brunsbüttel, Emsland and the large-scale military training area Todendorf-Putlos. The article sheds light on the background, the specific regulations and the impact on general aviation pilots.

On 4 September 2025, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung will convert several airspaces around major regional airports in Germany to a flexible "HX" regime. Class C and D areas (not CTR) and several transponder-mandatory zones (TMZ) will be affected. Depending on the operating runway, sub-sectors are temporarily activated or deactivated and announced via VFR ATIS or via Langen Information. The article explains what is behind "HX", which aerodromes are specifically affected, how the activation works and

From 2 to 5 September 2025, a military exercise will be carried out in the south-west German airspace around Ramstein. The Federal Ministry of Transport has defined a flight restriction zone for this exercise, which is limited in time and space. Both civilian aircraft and unmanned systems are affected. Exceptions only apply to state and operational flights. For general aviation, this means that pilots must carefully adjust their flight preparations during these days.

In September 2025, the airspace over parts of Bavaria will be temporarily restricted. This is due to a military exercise for which the Federal Ministry of Transport has defined an area with flight restrictions - the so-called ED-R "Grafenau". For general aviation pilots, but also for operators of drones and model aircraft, this means that certain times and altitude ranges may not be flown. The article explains the background, the geographical layout of the area and the

On 7 August 2025, the Schleswig-Holstein Aviation Authority issued a general decree regulating firefighting and rescue services at airfields. This is based on the uniform nationwide "Common Principles of the Federal Government and the Federal States" from 2023 and aims to harmonise fire protection and rescue capacities at airfields, special landing sites and glider airfields and bring them into line with international ICAO standards. This primarily affects smaller aerodromes, where different regulations have applied to date.

From 4 September 2025, new regulations of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH will come into force concerning operations in low visibility at major German commercial airports. The aim is to increase the safety of approach and departure procedures under restricted visibility conditions and to protect the integrity of the ILS systems (instrument landing systems). The article explains the background, the airports affected, technical definitions and the impact on pilots and airlines. It also shows how Germany

Important changes to the European Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA) and adjustments to the German radiotelephony regulations came into force on 1 May 2025. The new provisions concern, among other things, the handling of loss of orientation at the airport, the obligation to specify rescue systems in the flight plan, deviations from flight speeds, new transponder codes and the permissibility of different call signs. For pilots, this results in both practical simplifications and additional obligations that ensure the safe

For several years, incidents involving Rotax 912 S aircraft engines have been a concern for authorities, manufacturers and operators alike. Repeated performance losses and engine-related malfunctions have prompted the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the German Federal Aviation Authority (LBA) and the manufacturers to implement a coordinated package of measures. The latest revision of Rotax Service Bulletin SB-912-079 R2 from February 2025 specifies binding requirements. The LBA has now published supplementary information to support owners, pilots and maintenance organisations in implementing the requirements.

The long-running customs dispute between the USA and the EU, with the possibility of drastic import tariffs on aircraft and components, has caused uncertainty in the aviation industry. However, the latest agreement spares the sector completely - an important step towards maintaining stable supply chains and avoiding massive cost increases. Even if other sectors of the economy remain critically affected by the trade agreement in some cases, the protection of the aviation industry offers clear planning security for manufacturers, operators and suppliers.

With the new MOSAIC regulations, the US aviation authority is fundamentally reforming the light aircraft segment. Rigid weight classes are being replaced by performance-based criteria. Pilots are being given new freedoms and manufacturers significantly more room for manoeuvre in terms of design and technology. The reform has the potential to change aviation beyond US borders.

The long-discussed future of the leaded aviation fuel Avgas 100LL in Europe has reached a decisive turning point. Just a few months ago, it was unclear whether the fuel product containing the controversial additive tetraethyl lead (TEL) could still be produced or used at all after 1 May 2025. It is now clear that the supply of 100LL is secured in Europe until April 2032 for the time being - at least for Shell products.

A new regulation of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH for so-called HX airspaces will come into force on 24 July 2025. These are class C and D airspaces (not CTRs) and TMZs (Transponder Mandatory Zones) that can be activated or deactivated on a flexible basis depending on the use of certain runways. The change affects seven larger airspaces in Germany and replaces the previous Notice to Air Navigation (NfL

On 1 July 2025, the Federal Ministry of Transport published a new general ruling that applies to all pilots flying in Germany under visual flight rules at night (VFR Night) - especially in the area of the aerodrome circuit. The order replaces the previous announcement from 1 October 2014 (NfL 1-249-14) and brings with it a practical simplification: radio contact during night circuits is regulated more clearly.

As part of a military exercise, the Federal Ministry of Transport published an announcement on 11 June 2025 regarding the temporary establishment of a flight restriction area in south-western German airspace. The affected area around the US Ramstein Air Base lies within the area of responsibility of the Langen Flight Information Region (FIR) and particularly affects general aviation, drone operators and model aircraft in the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland region. The measure was officially announced under the name ED-R Ramstein in the news for

In connection with a large-scale military exercise in north-eastern German airspace, the Federal Ministry of Transport issued an announcement on 11 June 2025 designating several temporary and geographically limited areas with flight restrictions (ED-R) as well as danger areas in the Bremen flight information region and the upper Rhine flight information region. The measure primarily affects airspace over Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and parts of Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein - with implications for civil air traffic, particularly for general aviation.

In the course of planned military activities, the Federal Ministry of Transport has established a temporary flight restriction area in the Bremen flight information region with effect from 26 May 2025. This affects the airspace around Bückeburg, where flight operations for civilian and unmanned aircraft will be significantly restricted between 25 and 28 June 2025. The measure was published in the aviation bulletin (NfL 2025-1-3497) and particularly affects general aviation (GA), drone operators and model aircraft in

In an announcement dated 23 May 2025, the Federal Ministry of Transport specified two temporary areas with flight restrictions (ED-R) in the Bremen flight information region (FIR). The temporally and spatially limited airspace closures particularly affect the north-west German area around the North Sea coast and the Jagel area in Schleswig-Holstein. The background to this measure is military activities as part of Bundeswehr training programmes and the associated safety requirements for civil air traffic. The details of the flight restrictions can be found below

With the publication of an updated Safety Information Bulletin (SIB 2024-10), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has once again drawn attention to the considerable risks that can be posed by lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries - especially when improperly transported or used on board aircraft. The reason for the new bulletin is an increase in safety-related incidents in civil aviation in connection with these widely used energy sources.