Background to the measure
The Federal Ministry of Transport has set up such an area in the Munich flight information region for the period from 15 to 25 September 2025. It bears the designation ED-R "Grafenau" (ED-R = "Restricted Area") and affects a region in the east of Bavaria.
Geographical extent and height limit
The lateral boundaries of the area run between coordinate points that describe a polygon south-east of Nuremberg and east of Regensburg. This primarily affects the airspace over the Upper Palatinate and the Bavarian Forest.
The vertical limit extends from the floor (GND) up to a height of 8,000 feet above sea level. This means that both visual flights in lower airspace and IFR flights at medium altitudes are affected by the restrictions.
Temporal effectiveness
The flight restrictions do not apply permanently, but only during certain time windows in September 2025. Specifically, eight days are affected on which periods between 06:00 UTC and 20:00 UTC are closed.
The longest restrictions last up to nine hours at a time. On some days, the closure ends at 11:00 UTC, on others it extends into the evening hours. Pilots must therefore adjust their flight planning carefully and observe the current NOTAMs.
Type of flight restrictions
During the activation periods, all civil air traffic within the area is prohibited. This applies to both:
- Motorised and glider aircraft
- Microlight aircraft
- Helicopter
- Drones and model aircraft
Exceptions exist only for:
- Aircraft on behalf of the Bundeswehr and allied armed forces
- State aircraft
- Police flights
- Rescue and disaster control operations
- Ambulance flights
Pilots who require an exemption or a transit permit can obtain this from the responsible air traffic control centre after prior consultation by radio.
Significance for general aviation
The temporary ED-R means a significant restriction for general aviation in southern Germany. Recreational pilots, gliding clubs and flying schools in the region are particularly affected. Especially in late summer, when the weather is good, there is usually a high volume of flights.
To avoid planning uncertainties, DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung) recommends that all pilots check the current airspace status messages (AUP/UUP) before departure and obtain information on the daily activation.
Classification in an international context
Due to its geographical location and NATO membership, Germany is regularly the scene of military exercises. Similar airspace restrictions also exist in other European countries, such as France, Poland and Italy. For civil aviation, they represent a routine intervention that may result in short-term restrictions but ensures a high level of safety.
Conclusion
The establishment of the temporary flight restriction ED-R "Grafenau" in September 2025 shows once again how important coordination between civil and military aviation is. For general aviation pilots, this means planning their routes flexibly and taking into account short-term closures.
If you study NOTAMs in good time, use flight advisories and find out about activation times, you can fly around restrictions safely - and avoid the risk of legal consequences.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)