21-Apr-2010 10:56 AM

Airspace in Hamburg and Bremen open for instrument flights from 23:00 hrs

Direct News Source

20-Apr-2010 Due to the current development of the volcanic ash cloud, it will be possible to reopen the airspaces at the airports of Hamburg und Bremen for flights under instrument flight rules (IFR) with effect from Tuesday, 23:00 hrs local time.

Lower airspace in the rest of Germany will, for the time being, remain closed for IFR flights. But the weather forecast suggests that it may be possible to lift further restrictions soon.

In lower airspace (up to a level of six kilometres), DFS can temporarily clear IFR flights in the airspaces of the airports of Hamburg and Bremen as a result of the current meteorological data. Take-offs and landings under IFR will be possible at these two airports from Tuesday, 23:00 hrs local time. Due to the current meteorological information, IFR flights may not be conducted in lower airspace in the rest of Germany. This regulation is expected to be in place until Wednesday, 02:00 hrs local time. Thanks to the current weather forecast, however, it may be possible to lift at least some of the remaining restrictions during the next hours. For the time being, IFR flights are possible at levels higher than six kilometres.

Irrespective of the current restrictions for IFR flights, take-offs and landings under VFR may still be conducted at German airports, both during the day and at night, provided that the applicable conditions are met. VFR take-offs and landings may be conducted if the visibility at the airport is good and if the statutory conditions are fulfilled; i.e. there is no night-time curfew at the airport.

The arrangements of DFS are based on the current information of the German meteorological service DWD. It is continuously assessed whether the IFR restrictions must be extended or can be temporarily relaxed. The DFS contingency management team is closely consulting with the experts of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS), the German Meteorological Service (DWD), the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services and EUROCONTROL. Due to the fact that the ash cloud is moving and the weather situation constantly changing, it is possible that the airspace at some airports can be opened up temporarily for IFR flights in the course of the day.