These regulations are particularly relevant for the organisation of air traffic in Germany and influence various airports and their operating procedures.
Basis of the new regulation
The regulation is based on sections 31 (2) and 22 (1) sentence 1 of the German Air Traffic Regulations (LuftVO), which were last updated in June 2021. The aim is to create specific framework conditions for the issuing of air traffic control clearances for visual departures that deviate from the standardised instrument flight rules (IFR).
Definition and requirements for visual take-offs
Visual departures, also known as visual departures, allow pilots to deviate from the specified IFR departure procedures while maintaining visual contact with the ground. This flexibility is granted under certain conditions:
- The weather conditions must be sufficiently good, especially with regard to the main cloud base and ground visibility.
- This is only permitted during the day.
- The pilot is responsible for avoiding obstacles until the specified altitude is reached.
Special provisions at certain airports
The regulation stipulates that visual take-offs at certain airports may only be carried out under restricted conditions. For example, at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB), visual take-offs are only permitted for certain aircraft types and under certain meteorological conditions. Similar restrictions also apply to other airports such as Dresden, Dortmund and Düsseldorf, where visual take-offs are limited to certain aircraft categories or operating times.
Implementation and monitoring
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS) is responsible for implementing and monitoring these regulations. It will ensure that all affected parties, including pilots and airport operators, are informed of the new requirements in a timely and comprehensive manner. In addition, DFS will provide significant weather information to ensure safety during visual departures.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)
