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Airspace in Hamburg and Bremen now expected to be open until 8:00 hrs / lower limit for IFR flights raised / weather forecast promising
20/4/2010- Due to the current development of the volcanic ash cloud, the lower airspace at the airports of Hamburg and Bremen is now expected to be open until Wednesday, 8:00 hrs, for flights under instrument flight rules (IFR). In the rest of Germany, the IFR flight ban in lower airspace remains in place until further notice. However, the weather forecasts suggest that it may be possible to extend the opening time for Hamburg and Bremen and also lift restrictions on other airspace. IFR flights in upper airspace are still possible. They must, however, be conducted at a higher level than up until now. DFS can continue to clear flights in lower airspace at the airports of Hamburg and Bremen. This regulation has been effective since Tuesday, 23:00 hrs, and is expected to continue until Wednesday, 8:00 hrs. Current weather forecasts suggest that it may be possible to extend this regulation. Based on the current meteorological information, IFR flights may not be conducted in the rest of Germany for the time being. But the weather forecasts in this case also indicate that more airspace may be opened to IFR traffic in the course of Wednesday. IFR flights may already be conducted at high levels where there is a low ash concentration. Over the past few hours, however, the ash cloud has spread to higher air layers, making it necessary to raise the lower limit for IFR flights. Previously, the minimum level for IFR traffic had been 6 kilometres. Now IFR flights are only possible at a level of 7.5 kilometres or higher until further notice. Irrespective of the restrictions for IFR flights, it is still possible to conduct take-offs and landings under visual flight rules (VFR) at German airports. This applies 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. Updated on: 20/4, 23:00 hrs Find up-to-date information about disruptions in air traffic on our website: www.dfs.de
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