A new instrument to make airspace more flexible
The German airspace structure has been under pressure for several years: dense IFR traffic at large and medium-sized commercial airports, growing air sports activities and the increasing use of drones require flexible solutions. The Federal Ministry of Transport is responding to these requirements with the newly introduced VFR sectors within airspaces C and D.
In future, sectors can be temporarily removed from certain areas of these controlled airspaces, in which flights are possible according to visual flight rules under defined special conditions. Such removal will create space for special VFR activities without permanently restricting regular control zone operations.
Characteristics of the new sectors
Activation as required
The sectors are not set up permanently, but are only activated when they are needed. This can be for individual days or for longer periods - depending on the type of operations and local conditions.
Fallback to the background airspace
If such a sector is active, the airspace classification of the underlying airspace E or G applies. This means that the control requirements of airspace C or D are temporarily suspended for this sector. In addition, specific rules can be defined, such as
- Reporting points or mandatory reports
- Height or distance limits
- Operating regulations for flight schools or clubs
- Airspace clearances for events or seasonal activities
Two ways to determine
These sectors can be created in two ways:
- Nationwide determination:
The ministry defines sector-specific rules, which are then published via the aviation news. - Local operating agreements:
The responsible air traffic control organisation - usually DFS - makes agreements with the local airspace users. This model is particularly suitable for recurring local activities, such as flight operations by clubs, flight days or special forms of training.
Protection of IFR traffic - a central task
As the sectors will be removed from control zones, a key concern of the new regulation is the safety of IFR traffic. The air navigation service provider is obliged to manage IFR flights in such a way that there is sufficient lateral and vertical separation from the active VFR sectors.
This requirement is directly linked to the announcement published at the same time on the vertical separation of controlled flights from airspace boundaries, in which DFS defined standardised safety margins - typically 500 feet - for IFR flights in the transition area.
This combination ensures that:
- IFR flights must never unintentionally enter the special sectors,
- VFR activities have no influence on the staggered IFR routes,
- the overall structure of the airspace remains transparent and safe.
Application areas of the new sectors
The new VFR sectors are particularly relevant for air sports and special forms of operation. Typical applications are
Gliding and wave flying
In some regions, gliding sectors climb close to controlled airspace boundaries. Temporarily authorised sectors allow additional altitudes or spatial expansion.
Skydiving operations
Jump zones are often located around controlled areas. Temporarily released areas facilitate coordination and increase buffer zones.
Aviation events
Flight days, competitions or formation flights can be assigned a clearly limited VFR sector without completely disrupting regular control zone operations.
Training operations and course rounds
Some flying schools benefit from temporary sectors that allow for aerodrome circuits or training manoeuvres under simplified conditions.
Special VFR flights according to special regulations
These include photo or observation flights, rescue missions under VFR or official overflights.
Effects for pilots
There are several practical consequences for general aviation:
- In future, VFR pilots must pay more attention to activated sectors that may lie within controlled airspaces.
- Pre-flight briefings are becoming increasingly important, as activation times and sector rules can vary.
- Flight schools and clubs are given new opportunities to organise their operations more flexibly.
- IFR pilots should be aware of the existence of these sectors, even if they are automatically guided by ATC.
Overall, the measure ensures greater transparency and at the same time relieves the control zones, as certain local flights no longer have to be authorised by air traffic control.
Classification in the future development of airspace
The introduction of temporary special sectors is part of a larger trend: Germany is making its airspace more flexible and adaptable. In addition to traditional airspace structures, dynamic elements are becoming increasingly important - both for manned and unmanned air traffic.
Such flexible airspace concepts are also in line with international developments, in which temporarily activatable segments are becoming increasingly common in order to integrate new user groups and forms of transport.
Conclusion
With the introduction of temporarily activated VFR sectors within airspaces C and D, the Federal Ministry of Transport is creating a modern and flexible instrument to equalise air traffic. The measure will benefit air sports and local specialised companies in particular, without compromising the safety of IFR traffic.
General aviation will benefit from more room for manoeuvre and clearly defined structures - a step that will make German airspace fit for the future and at the same time take into account the diversity of aviation activities.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)
