Preventing airspace infringements AirspaceAVOID – free assistance in preventing airspace infringements When in doubt you can also inquire with Amsterdam Planning Information or Dutch MIL Info. On request of the Dutch easy to determine whether or not Download and use • Use the most recent maps available. They will prove government and GA sector a specific NOTAM will impact your NLAA is very similar to the popular PREVENT AIRSPACE INFRINGEMENTS their money’s worth. During flight parties, the PocketFMS Foundation flight. The NOTAMs in NLAA are EasyVFR app, a product from the • Your electronic maps / databases should be current • Use a mode S transponder, have developed the Netherlands close to real-time, due to a direct PocketFMS Foundation as well. as well. • Call Flight Information: that is what they are for! AirspaceAVOID application (“NLAA”). link with Eurocontrol. Easily applied NLAA however is free to download • Prepare your flight thoroughly, including the latest • Under Schiphol and Rotterdam TMAs: Its purpose is twofold: to reduce filters keep you in control; NOTAMs and use for all users of the Dutch weather info, read the NOTAMs and avoid taking Amsterdam Information 124.300, amount and severity of airspace you mark as irrelevant can be airspace. It can be downloaded in risks. Have a ‘bad weather route’. • In MIL airspace: Dutch MIL Info 132.350, infringements, and to make NOTAM hidden permanently. This makes the Google Play Store and Apple’s • Plan together with another pilot, and hone your • Inside the Rotterdam TMAs: Rotterdam Approach information easier to digest. The for a compact briefing consisting AppStore – no registration is planning and navigation skills frequently. 127.025 app is aimed towards all users of of only flight relevant NOTAMs. A required. For more information, • Consider alternative routes, and be aware of where • Where possible, avoid flying very close to the the Dutch airspace, and can be NOTAM push function ensures you please visit www.airspaceavoid.nl they will lead you. boundary of any controlled airspace. downloaded at no cost for your can receive NOTAM updates for the • You cannot expect to receive a CTR crossing • On approaching a CTR: contact ATC. iPhone, iPad and Android devices. region you selected, even when clearance at all times! Have a backup plan. • Contact ATC whenever you have problems the NLAA app isn’t active on your • Share your experiences in your flight club. concerning navigation, transponder settings, when AeroData device at the time. • Know your limitations, especially when you are you are uncertain of your position or when you are The NLAA airspace database somewhat low on current hours. in distress. is updated free of charge. The information is updated every 28 Tips for flights around Amsterdam and Rotterdam Useful links days as part of the AIRAC cycle. In Contact Amsterdam Information (124.300), when Airspace Infringements -Skybrary flight, the position of your aircraft flying underneath the Schiphol TMA 1 or Rotterdam www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Airspace_Infringement is clearly indicated in relation to TMAs. the airspace that surrounds you, • You will always receive the latest QNH, Air Safety Institute - AOPA making you a better informed and • FIC will alert in case of distress or missing, www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Air-Safety-Institute more aware pilot. You also know • FIC will provide traffic information on other known which ground based station you traffic, Fly On Track - NATS UK should call at your local position, • FIC can provide you with information on active flyontrack.co.uk including the proper frequency. areas, weather conditions and glider activity. With a single tap on the moving Airspace Infringement Initiative - Eurocontrol map you can see in detail all of Contact Rotterdam Approach (127.025). For flights www.eurocontrol.int/articles/airspace-infringement- the relevant information on an within the Rotterdam TMAs (Class E) you will receive initiative airspace, such as its type, class, flight information on other known traffic. lateral and vertical dimensions as Link for reporting incidents and accidents well as contact information. For crossing CTRs and TMAs / special use airspace www.ilent.nl/onderwerpen/transport/luchtvaart/ Contact the responsible ATC unit; you will need ATC ilt_en_luchtvaart/analysebureau_luchtvaartvoorval- NOTAMs clearance. Operating hours of MIL CTRs and special len__abl/ You can also display the current use airspaces are found in the AIP and NOTAMs. NOTAMs on the map, making it Airspace Infringements Leaflet – edition 1, spring 2016 What is an airspace infringement? Who causes the majority of infringements? CTR Schiphol Approaching Schiphol traffic for runway 27 is found Airspace infringements are incidents in which General aviation traffic is responsible for over 87% of Because of the high traffic density near Schiphol here at 2000 feet. an aircraft enters a controlled airspace without airspace infringements. This is usually traffic operating airport, infringements in the CTR will almost permission. They primarily occur in the vicinity of visually in uncontrolled airspace (class G). Radio immediately pose a threat to flight safety. - South side of Schiphol, below the approach route to the control areas of Amsterdam, Eindhoven and communications are not mandatory in this class of These infringements are often the result of an the Kaagbaan (06) and Aalsmeerbaan (36R). Maastricht airports and in areas where restrictions airspace, which increases the odds of unintentional incorrect lateral position, caused by the lack of apply. penetration of controlled or restricted airspace. current documentation detailing the Schiphol CTR Maastricht Aachen Airport The graph below shows the division of the number boundaries, or of insufficient pilot attention during The airspace surrounding Maastricht Aachen airport Causes of airspace infringements: of infringements by type of aircraft for the year VFR navigation. is complex due to the unique shape of the southern • Incorrect interpretation of the airspace / chart / 2015. It shows that powered aircraft, helicopters, Netherlands state border. It is therefore not fully location, (powered) gliders, free balloons and drones (RPAS) are TMA Schiphol Alongside the Schiphol CTR boundary, the most unexpected that this region is prone to a significant • Insufficient pilot awareness, responsible for the majority of infringements The majority of airspace infringements involve common choke points are: number of infringements. • Distraction, situations where the pilot unknowingly enters the - On the north side: the Noordzeekanaal is a significant • Complexity of the airspace / chart / region, Infringements per 2015 per aircraft type Schiphol TMA. The lower limit for the Schiphol TMA VFR landmark. However, the major part of that TMA Maastricht • Insufficient flight preparation, Type�luchtvaartuig�[291] 1 is 1500 feet. Traffic in the TMA can be at 2000 feet, channel resides inside the Schiphol CTR. In the Maastricht airspace, you will encounter a wide 5% 3% 4% • Incorrect interpretation or use of navigational aids. 2% particularly in the close vicinity of the airport itself, diversity of aircraft types (MIL, gliders, free balloons, 1% where 2000 feet is the default approach altitude for - Along the coastline: a lot of VFR operations take helicopters, parapenters and even unmanned Airplane arriving Schiphol traffic. place here, all of which can potentially conflict with aircraft), all of which on occasion enter controlled CTR Eindhoven Helicopter approaching Schiphol traffic flying towards runway airspace without permission. In the southeast, most Infringements for the Eindhoven CTR are commonly What is the importance of preventing airspace 18% (motor)glider 18R at 2000 feet. infringements occur by aircraft taking shortcuts. North located near the towns of Valkenswaard, Boxtel infringements? balloon RPAS of the CTR, unauthorized traversing of controlled and Bladel. In particular the region near Bladel is The effects of an infringement can be quite diverse, Paraglider - East side near Pampus and VRP Victor: intense VFR airspace occurs by flights between Belgium and considered critical, as it is positioned on the extended and in the worst of cases lead to a midair collision. 67% OnbekendUnknown traffic from and to Lelystad and Hilversum airports. Germany. Causes are often incorrectly set QNH values, Eindhoven runway centerline. Possible effects, increasing in magnitude, are: where in the southern part (vicinity Eijsden) and in the southwest, causes primarily seem to be navigational CTR Niederrhein Where do the majority of infringements errors. In the Dutch part of the Niederrhein CTR (Germany), a lot of infringements are made as well. The German occur? CTR Maastricht Air Safety Office has voiced its concerns on these Most infringements take place inside a Terminal Particularly north and south of the CTR there is a infringements in the Dutch segment of this CTR. Manoeuvring Area (TMA, 42%), followed by a Control considerable chance of conflicts with approaching A recurring pattern emerges: pilots follow the outline Zone surrounding an airport (CTR, 38%). traffic for runways 03 or 21. Approaching traffic in that of the Volkel and de Peel CTR contours closely and The remainder largely consists of special use airspace region will typically be at 2000 feet or lower. wind up in the Niederrhein CTR, which extends from such as Restricted, Danger or Prohibited Areas. ground up to 3000 feet. Inadvertently they cross