The new regulations at a glance
The new guidelines, published as News for pilots (NfL) 2024-1-3240regulate the use of aeronautical radio at aerodromes without a tower or AFIS centre. They supplement the previously published Principles for the management of landing sites and glider airfields (NfL 2024-1-3106). Together, they form the regulations for the majority of aerodromes in Germany that have to manage without air traffic services.
The central innovation is the clear separation between the tasks of the operations manager and the responsibilities of the pilots. While operations managers continue to take on organisational tasks on the ground, they are not allowed to interfere in flight operations. Pilots must now communicate their position and intentions independently and make decisions autonomously - an approach that reflects international practice in many countries.
What will change for operations managers
The new regulations significantly restrict the powers of company managers. They are prohibited from:
- traffic information with position or altitude data,
- landing sequences or take-off instructions,
- pass on specific weather data such as QNH values or wind speeds,
- coordinate aircraft movements.
Only general instructions are permitted, such as a recommendation on landing direction or a request for data for the main flight log. Even the justification of instructions with reference to "hazard prevention" is no longer permitted if they are in fact instructions. This ensures that operations managers do not exercise competences that are only reserved for certified air traffic services such as tower controllers or AFIS employees.
The new requirements for pilots
Independent separation and communication
In future, pilots will have sole responsibility for communicating their position and intentions by radio and separating themselves independently from other aircraft. This requires precise position reports that indicate the current location in relation to prominent, generally known points. Messages such as "five minutes north of the aerodrome" are no longer sufficient.
In addition, regular reports must be made in the aerodrome circuit, including the landing sequence and the planned manoeuvre (e.g. landing, touch-and-go). This promotes situational awareness and transparency between all parties involved.
New speech groups
The NfL specifies which phrases may be used in future. Frequently used phrases such as "ready for take-off" or "take-off at own discretion" are a thing of the past. Instead, the initial contact with the ground radio station will be as follows:
"[aerodrome name] radio, [identifier], [aircraft type], [position], [intention], [additional information]."
There are clear rules for indicating the intended landing direction: Pilots should adapt to the operations of other aircraft, observe the wind or - if there is no wind - make a sensible decision. If the operations manager recommends a different runway direction, this should be carefully considered.
Challenges and changes
Assumption of responsibility
The new regulations demand a greater degree of personal responsibility from pilots. Where previously operations managers gave instructions or made decisions, pilots must now act independently. This requires not only flying expertise, but also a solid understanding of the procedures applicable at the aerodrome.
Communication
One of the biggest challenges is consistent and precise communication. Pilots must be prepared for the fact that radio silence or vague messages will no longer be tolerated. Instead, they should proactively and clearly communicate their intentions in order to avoid conflicts.
Safety culture
The regulations emphasise the personal responsibility of pilots, which requires a culture of mutual consideration and professional behaviour in the aerodrome circuit. Misunderstandings or misjudgements can otherwise quickly lead to critical situations.
Potential benefits of the new regulations
- More personal responsibility: Pilots learn to make independent decisions, which strengthens their flying skills.
- Efficiency: The clear separation between ground organisation and air traffic can lead to smoother processes.
- Standardisation: The regulations create a standardised framework that improves safety and transparency at airports without air traffic services.
Conclusion
The new regulations for radiotelephony at small aerodromes mark a significant step forward in general aviation. They require pilots to take a greater degree of personal responsibility and communicate precisely, while the role of operations managers is strictly limited to organisational tasks. This change represents a challenge, but has the potential to make flight operations safer and more efficient - provided that everyone involved adapts to the new requirements. The implementation of these guidelines will require a learning curve, but could strengthen the quality and safety of flight operations in Germany in the long term.
Source references:
Aviation magazine
