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IFR in Germany Class G

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but if so, a search hasn’t revealed the answer.

Flying Oostende (EBOS) to Schwäbisch Hall (EDTY). Autorouter suggests a route ending MND DCT XINLA DCT, which appears to take me out of Class E between the edge of Frankfurt Class E and the EDTY CTR.

Having read elsewhere on here that IFR in Class G is not permitted, how will this route work out in practice?

EGBJ / Gloucestershire

The route won’t take you out of class E, only during approach which is normal.

Don’t worry, there is no “OCAS” trap in German IFR. It is not even possible to validate a flight plan that has any OCAS portions and ATC will never let you down below the MVA (minimum vectoring altitude) besides performing the approach to an uncontrolled airfield like EDTY.

EDTY doesn’t have a CTR.

Mainz (EDFZ) & Egelsbach (EDFE), Germany

uncontrolled airfield like EDTY

We are fully controlled… by foreign standards…

EDTY doesn’t have a CTR

True, it has gone a bit weird on paper since the changes, but in reality nothing has changed. Although I think we are gearing up for full ATC. We have full traffic lights between EDTX and EDTY now, some of the electricity windmills have been removed from IFR circling areas for the VOR/ILS approach, and there is talk about a runway extension, also strobes and all sorts of additional runway/apron protection lighting are going in as well…

EDHS, Germany

Which altitude were you planning on flying at?

Germany has class E, unless there is some other airspace published, everywhere from either 1.000, 1.700 or 2500 ft AGL up, depending on the airspace structure on top of E. From FL 100 / FL 130 over the Alps there is generally airspace C.

IFR in Germany in airspace G is now permitted as per EASA-regulations but has been restricted again, IIRC, per some order of the DFS / Ministry of Transport to published procedures in G. So, there is no “free flying IFR in G”, but one can take off and land in G while on an official and published instrument approach or departure. On your route you will be in E until 1.000 ft AGL prior to landing in EDTY. From then on you are in G but on a published procedure.

The German ATC has published a poster in pdf-format depicting the airspace structure which is quite good. Please follow the link below and then click on the underlined “Luftraumstruktur”

Link

RXH
EDML - Landshut, Munich / Bavaria

That is interesting to look at, but the print is far too small for actually reading the text… Fortunately, it seems to be the same illustration as on the verso of the DFS VFR maps.

Thanks for posting the link, though, RXH!

EBZH Kiewit, Belgium

Jan – you’re an IT guy. It’s not the document that’s too small – it’s your device. The document is fine if zoomed at 100%. I have the exact same document as a poster printout at home and it’s pretty good. Having said that, the depiction on wikipedia (far from official) is (albeit with less detail) more readable on average screens:

Hungriger Wolf (EDHF), Germany

And oh – it’s not been updated since December and hence contains the obsolete F(HX).

Hungriger Wolf (EDHF), Germany

The file is in pdf-format. You may have to enlarge the view or zoom in with your pdf-reader until the print is readable.

RXH
EDML - Landshut, Munich / Bavaria

What determines whether class E starts at 1000, 1700 or 2500 AGL?

LFPT, LFPN
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