← News · Approvals · 22 July 2026 · 7 min
New CTR Rules for Drone Flights: What Applies from 6 August 2026
From 6 August 2026, DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung, the German air navigation service provider) is introducing new procedures for UAS flights in the control zones (CTR) of 15 German commercial airports. For the first time, control zones will be divided into four clearly defined zones – each with its own altitude limits and its own rules for when a clearance applies automatically and when you need to apply for one individually. We summarise the key points from the DFS announcement of 14 July 2026.
What it's about
For UAS flights in controlled airspace – such as within a control zone – an air traffic control clearance is generally required under § 21 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 LuftVO. For flights that meet certain conditions, this clearance applies automatically as a "general clearance". All other flights require an individually requested clearance. The relevant rules have been revised and published in NfL 2026-1-3960; once it takes effect, DFS will repeal the previous general order NfL 2023-1-2705.
This affects the control zones of: Berlin Brandenburg, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Erfurt-Weimar, Frankfurt Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Köln/Bonn, Leipzig/Halle, München, Münster/Osnabrück, Nürnberg, Saarbrücken and Stuttgart.
The 4 zones of a control zone
New is the division of each control zone into an inner and an outer area – four zones in total. The CTR inner area corresponds to Zone 1, while the CTR outer area comprises Zones 2 to 4.
Zone definitions
- Zone 1 (CTR inner area): the area above the airport, within 1 km laterally from its boundary, and 5 km beyond the start or end of the runways, over a width of 1 km on each side of the runway centreline.
- Zone 2: within a 4 km radius of the airport reference point, outside Zone 1.
- Zone 3: within a 6 km radius of the airport reference point, outside Zones 1 and 2.
- Zone 4: the entire remaining area of the control zone outside Zones 1 to 3.
When you need an individual clearance
In the CTR inner area (Zone 1), an individual clearance is always required, regardless of the planned flight altitude. You apply for it online at ais.dfs.de; processing usually requires a lead time of 14 days.
In the CTR outer area (Zones 2–4), the new general order means a general clearance applies automatically, provided all requirements from NfL 2026-1-3960 Section 2 are met – above all, the following altitude limits.
Maximum flight altitudes with general clearance
- Zone 2: 25 m above airport elevation or above ground – whichever is lower applies.
- Zone 3: 45 m above airport elevation or above ground – whichever is lower applies.
- Zone 4: 100 m above airport elevation or 50 m above ground – whichever is higher applies. If the launch site is below airport elevation, a flat 100 m above ground applies.
- Flying near obstacles (anywhere in the outer area): max. 30 m laterally and 15 m above an obstacle – regardless of its height.
If these altitudes are exceeded, or if the requirements from NfL 2026-1-3960 cannot be met, an individual clearance must be applied for in the outer area as well, just as in Zone 1.
Worked example: flying near obstacles
An example from the DFS announcement makes the rule tangible: a 150 m tall wind turbine in Zone 4 is to be flown at a maximum distance of 30 m laterally and 15 m above the turbine. Because this counts as flying near an obstacle, the general clearance applies independently of the "normal" Zone 4 limit, up to the height of the obstacle plus 15 m – in this case, up to 165 m above ground.
Worked example: altitude depending on terrain profile
In Zone 4, the higher of the two values – "100 m above airport elevation" and "50 m above ground" – applies, which means the permitted altitude shifts depending on the launch location. For an airport elevation of 48 m above mean sea level (MSL), this produces, for example:
- Launch at 55 m MSL (7 m above airport elevation): 100 m − 7 m = 93 m above ground permitted, since 93 m > 50 m.
- Launch at 105 m MSL (57 m above airport elevation): 100 m − 57 m = 43 m; since this is less than 50 m, a flat 50 m above ground applies instead.
- Launch at 40 m MSL (below airport elevation): the full 100 m above ground applies.
Because this isn't immediately obvious, DFS recommends determining the terrain elevation at the launch site in advance using dipul's Maptool (maptool-dipul.dfs.de).
Further obligations in the control zone
The new regulation generally enables UAS flights within visual line of sight (VLOS), beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), and as swarm flights. Regardless of this, the following applies to every remote pilot in the control zone:
- Check before the flight that all other requirements are met (operating authorisation, no flight restriction or no-fly zones, geographical zones under § 21h LuftVO, no autonomous operation).
- Expect other manned and unmanned air traffic at all times, even without traffic information from the aerodrome control unit.
- Be responsible for collision avoidance yourself – you must give way to manned aircraft.
- Ensure at least 800 m of ground visibility.
- Be aware: there is no entitlement to an individual clearance. Depending on traffic volume, the aerodrome control unit may impose conditions, refuse clearances, or withdraw them again.
Where to find the exact zones and altitudes
The exact zone and airport elevations are published as a supplement (SUP) in the Aeronautical Information Publication Germany (AIP, aip.dfs.de/basicAIP) as well as on the Digital Platform for Unmanned Aviation (dipul.de) run by the Federal Ministry of Transport. For further questions, DFS can be reached at futureairmobility@dfs.de.
As of: July 2026, without guarantee. This article summarises the DFS announcement of 14 July 2026 and is intended for general orientation. Only the complete requirements and conditions in NfL 2026-1-3960 are legally binding. If you have questions about your specific use case in the CTR inner or outer area, we're happy to support you as part of our STS training and consulting services.