Applications and approvals

Drone flights at airports and aerodromes

Special regulations apply to drone flights in the vicinity of airports and aerodromes: There are differences, particularly when it comes to the question of which authorities you need to get an authorisation from:

For flights in the geographical zones (geo-zones) of aerodromes, you will require the permission of the aerodrome operator. For flights in the geo-zones of airports (Verkehrsflughäfen), however, you will need the approval of the competent aeronautical authority of the German federal state affected (zuständige Landesluftfahrtbehörde).

Important: Airports, such as Frankfurt, Munich or Berlin, are located in largescale control zones. For flights within such control zones, you will also require an air traffic control clearance from the competent air traffic control unit. Smaller regional airports, such as Memmingen, Friedrichshafen or Dortmund, also have a control zone.

Geo-zones and control zones are shown in the Map Tool of the Digital Platform for Unmanned Aviation (dipul).
List of aeronautical authorities of the Federal States (Landesluftfahrtbehörde)
Application form: Aeronautical authorities of the Federal States (Landesluftfahrtbehörde, German only)

Flying in control zones

For flights within a control zone, you will require an air traffic control clearance from the local air traffic control service (control tower).

You can submit your application using our application form. We will process your application for airports where DFS operates. For all other control zones, we will forward your application provided we have the contact details of the competent air traffic control unit.

Note: These clearances are currently being granted very restrictively. We recommend operating your flights in compliance with the requirements of the general decree (Allgemeinverfügung).

DFS online form

Charts and airports
General directive (German only)
All other general decrees can be found on the Digital Platform for Unmanned Aviation (dipul).

Further restrictions

For the following flights, please contact the competent aeronautical authority of the Federal State (Landesluftfahrtbehörde) only.

Above nature reserves or residential properties
At a distance of less than 150 metres from groups of people
At a distance of less than 150 metres from specific buildings or facilities
At a distance of less than 150 metres from specific locations and pieces of infrastructure
Above 120 metres
Beyond the visual line of sight

On the websites of the respective aeronautical authority of the Federal State (Landesluftfahrtbehörde), you will find the specific regulations for that Federal State.

Airspace restrictions and weather conditions

You will need to find out about the current situation in the airspace before flying a drone. There may be short-term restrictions at airports as well as in airspace. Check the weather situation, too. The German Meteorological Service (DWD) provides civil aviation with weather information and also offers aviation weather products for unmanned aviation.

German Meteorological Service (DWD)