Tailor-made for UL pilots: The new Airfield Guide Ultralight 2025
The Airfield Guide Ultralight is the first special chart system for §6 ultralight airfields - i.e. for airfields that are explicitly authorised for the operation of ultralight aircraft and are often not included in the official AIP or in standard ICAO charts. The guide is aimed at a steadily growing target group: in Germany alone, there are over 500 such UL airfields, which are mainly used by hobby and recreational pilots.
What exactly does the new guide offer?
- Visual flight and aerodrome charts of all §6-UL places that are not already included in the classic Airfield Guide Germany are included.
- A AIP-like design with true-to-scale representation, geographical heights, obstacles, aerodrome heights (usually in feet above MSL), misdirected courses and UTC times.
- An alphabetically sorted AD part (Aerodrome Directory) with contact details, telephone numbers, websites and QR codes that enable quick digital access to further information.
- Physical equipmentThe guide is designed as a DIN A5 ring binder with sturdy pages (80 g/m²), scratch-resistant film lamination and a mechanism that can be opened manually.
The data originates from the ifos GmbHinformation from official sources such as the NfLthe DULV database and own research. Updates will be not delivered within one editionbut are available as online updates on the Eisenschmidt website.
Price: The complete folder with all available cards costs 47.90 euros.
Detailed orientation in complex airspaces: the new AAC250 maps
In addition to the UL Guide, a new generation of maps also celebrated its premiere: the Aeronautical Area Chart 1:250,000 (AAC250). These charts supplement the previously established ICAO charts at a scale of 1:500,000 by being specially designed for Highly complex airspace structures focus - ideal for VFR flights in areas with intense traffic density.
Target group and area of application: AAC250 charts provide pilots operating in the vicinity of large commercial airports with a significantly better overview of controlled airspaces, flight restriction areas and relevant radio frequencies. Particularly in regions with dense airspace utilisation, this can help to Increased safety and simplify navigation planning.
Two editions are currently available:
- AAC250 Rhine-RuhrThe airspace around Düsseldorf (EDDL) and Cologne/Bonn (EDDK).
- AAC250 Rhine-MainThe area around Frankfurt am Main International Airport (EDDF) is covered.
According to Eisenschmidt, further sheets for other German conurbations are in preparation. The maps are published in the classic folding format and are, as usual with Eisenschmidt, Laminated and robust.
Price: 25 euros per card.
Significance for general aviation
Both products are aimed at the central challenges of general aviation: safety, clarity and efficiency. While the UL Guide takes particular account of the large number of non-standardised sites and offers UL pilots a sound basis for planning, the AAC250 charts help with orientation in complex airspaces - an aspect that is becoming increasingly relevant, particularly in conurbations with military, commercial and leisure air traffic.
Source references:
Aviation magazine