With effect from 19 March 2026, new, nationally coordinated regulations for locally defined HX airspaces of classes C, D (outside of control zones) and for transponder mandatory zones will come into force. For the first time, Deutsche Flugsicherung is summarising these regulations in a standardised announcement, replacing the previous regulation from 2025. Several busy regions in Germany are affected, including Leipzig, Berlin, Dresden, Hanover, Erfurt, Hamburg and Friedrichshafen. For the general

From January 2026, a further area with flight restrictions will be established in the Bremen flight information region. The ED-R Lindenberg serves to safeguard a research project and is valid until the end of 2027. The restrictions apply to all manned and unmanned aircraft, with the vertical extent varying depending on the time. For general aviation, the area must be permanently taken into account when preparing flights.

A further area with flight restrictions will be established in the Bremen flight information region from January 2026. The ED-R Peenemünde serves to safeguard a research project and will apply for a period of almost three years. The restrictions affect all manned and unmanned aircraft and are active on a daily basis for a limited period of time. For general aviation, the measure has a significant impact on flight planning in the north-eastern coastal region.

At the turn of the year 2025/2026, a new area with flight restrictions will be established in the Bremen flight information region. The ED-R Klixbüll serves to safeguard a research project and is valid for a period of one year. The measure affects all aircraft, including drones and model aircraft, and must be permanently taken into account in flight planning for general aviation.

From 19 March 2026, new regulations for conducting gliding and visual flights in selected class C and D airspaces outside of control zones will come into force in Germany. By defining special gliding sectors, the aviation administration is responding to the need for better integration of gliding operations in heavily frequented, controlled airspaces. The new regulation creates clearly defined framework conditions under which gliding is temporarily possible in areas that were previously only authorised to a limited extent or not at all.

With a comprehensive announcement dated 15 December 2025, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs has redefined numerous areas with flight restrictions or updated existing regulations. The measures will come into force on 19 March 2026 and affect large parts of the federal territory - from individual protected areas to industrial and research sites to large-scale military training areas on coasts and near coasts. For general aviation, this will have a significant impact on flight planning,

With effect from 19 March 2026, the airspace structure around Berlin Airport will be fundamentally redefined. This is based on an announcement by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs, which provides for a detailed reorganisation of Class C controlled airspace. The changes relate in particular to the vertical and lateral layout of the controlled airspace as well as the introduction of several sub-areas that can be flexibly activated at different times. For general aviation, this results in new requirements for flight preparation, altitude planning

With effect from spring 2026, new airspaces with mandatory transponder switching will be established or existing regulations will be significantly expanded in several regions of Germany. The so-called Transponder Mandatory Zones (TMZ) affect visual air traffic in particular and have a noticeable impact on flight preparation, equipment requirements and the practical implementation of VFR flights. The following article categorises the new announcements, explains the purpose and function of TMZs and shows what private pilots will have to pay particular attention to in future.

Night flying holds a special fascination for many private pilots. Glowing cities, clearly structured light axes and an often calm atmosphere in the airspace make flying after sunset a very special experience. However, a special additional qualification is required so that flights at night can be carried out safely and in accordance with visual flight rules: the VFR night flight authorisation. The following article explains in detail the legal requirements, the training process and the practical requirements, and categorises

Medical fitness testing has become the central topic of conflict in general aviation in Germany. Long processing times, non-transparent decisions and de facto unequal treatment of professional and private pilots are causing growing resentment. At the same time, international examples show that a fundamentally different approach to medical fitness to fly is possible - with more personal responsibility, less bureaucracy and no demonstrable loss of safety. A look at the USA, the UK and European regulations makes it clear that the question is no longer whether

In the period from the end of November 2025 to mid-March 2026, a newly defined, temporary area with flight restrictions will apply in the Bremen flight information region in the Annaburger Heide area. The establishment of the Annaburger Heide ED-R entails clear and far-reaching restrictions for general aviation, model flying and the operation of unmanned aerial systems. A change made shortly after publication particularly affects the vertical extent of the area and has practical consequences for flight planning. The

The turn of the year 2025/2026 marks the end of a long transition phase: fire extinguishers with halon extinguishing agents may no longer be used in aviation from 1 January 2026. What has already been in preparation for some time in commercial aviation will now also hit general aviation (GA) with full force. Owners and operators of ELA-2 aircraft in particular are facing considerable regulatory, practical and financial challenges. This article sheds light on the background to the halon ban, categorises

With a comprehensive new announcement, the Federal Ministry of Transport is adapting the requirements and procedures for low-level military flights over Germany. The regulations not only affect military flight operations themselves, but also have considerable significance for civil aviation, especially for VFR pilots, glider pilots, motorised pilots and operators of small airfields without a control zone. The following article explains the new regulations on low-flying areas, minimum altitudes, operating times and protective measures for aerodromes. It also shows,

With a new announcement, the Federal Ministry of Transport is creating a clear legal framework for gliding sectors within airspaces C and D outside the control zones for the first time. These areas can be activated temporarily and allow gliding and other VFR operations under simplified conditions - in airspaces that are normally reserved for IFR traffic. The regulation facilitates air sports, improves the interaction between controlled and uncontrolled traffic and is an important component of the

With a new announcement, the Federal Ministry of Transport is creating the basis for special VFR sectors within the controlled airspaces of classes C and D. These areas, which can be activated temporarily, allow flights under visual flight rules under special conditions and are intended to meet the increasingly diverse requirements of general aviation. The measure supports gliding, parachuting, air sports events and special localised forms of operation, while at the same time relieving the burden on air traffic control. The following article explains the background, mode of operation and effects

A new regulation by the Federal Ministry of Transport will create standardised sectors in control zones in Germany for the first time, in which the operation of unmanned aircraft - such as professional drones - is permitted under defined conditions. This measure represents an important step towards harmonising the growing drone operations with existing manned aviation. The following article explains the background to the regulation, describes how these new sectors work and what they mean, and shows how they

German Air Traffic Control (DFS) has published new regulations on the vertical separation of controlled flights from airspace boundaries. This adjustment affects numerous commercial airports in Germany as well as the approach and area control service. The aim is to clarify the procedures in the transition area between controlled and uncontrolled airspace and to define the interaction between IFR traffic and activities in neighbouring airspace more clearly. The article explains the background, describes the practical significance of the new requirements and categorises them into

With effect from 1 January 2026, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) will end the mutual recognition of Austrian hang glider, paraglider and paragliding licences for persons resident in Germany. This ends a regulation that has been in place for almost three decades and allowed the simple exchange and use of Austrian licences in German airspace. From the new year, pilots trained in Austria who are resident in Germany must hold a German pilot's licence.

The aeromedical requirements for private pilots are changing worldwide. While countries such as the UK and the USA are modernising their regulations and focusing more on personal responsibility, Germany continues to struggle with rigid requirements, slow authorities and overburdened structures. The consequences range from unnecessary stress for pilots to regional supply gaps and an increasing migration of licences abroad. This article takes a detailed look at why the existing system is no longer fit for purpose, which international

From 27 November 2025, new, standardised procedures for flight operations in low visibility will apply in Germany. DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH has revised the existing regulations for conducting instrument landing approaches (ILS) and for the protection of sensitive system signals and summarised them in an updated announcement. These relate in particular to large commercial airports such as Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg, where take-offs and landings regularly take place under extremely restricted visibility conditions. The aim of the new procedures is to,

The Federal Ministry of Transport has established a new, temporary flight restriction area over Bremerhaven. The measure applies from 27 October 2025 to 18 March 2026 and affects all flights, including drones and model aircraft. The airspace designated ED-R Bremerhaven is to remain completely closed for a period of almost five months. Only certain government and safety-related flights are exempt. The aim of the restriction: to ensure public safety in a

The Federal Ministry of Transport has announced a temporary flight restriction area in the Bremen flight information region for the end of November and beginning of December 2025. The measure relates to the Stendal area in Saxony-Anhalt and is intended for special military or security-related activities. Flights are temporarily prohibited within the defined area in the period from 27 November to 9 December 2025. The regulation applies to all aircraft, including drones and model aircraft, and is intended to ensure safety in the airspace during

From 27 November 2025, new, detailed procedures will apply in Germany in the event of a radio failure in controlled airspace. The revised announcement from the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services (BAF) specifies how pilots and air traffic controllers must proceed in the event of communication failures in accordance with instrument flight rules (IFR). It replaces the previous regulation NfL 2025-1-3452 and makes specific adjustments at several commercial airports, including Frankfurt, Munich, Leipzig/Halle and Hanover. The aim is to increase flight safety, harmonise procedures and

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