DFS - Air Traffic Control

Airspaces are turning blue: ICAO chart with new look

From 2010, the airspaces in German ICAO charts and in other VFR charts will be depicted in blue. In addition, the designation of levels will change. The German air navigation service provider DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH is thus implementing the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and is making a contribution to implementing standards for the uniform look of aeronautical charts.

Changed look of airspaces and levels
Up until now, airspaces C and D have been shown by a hatched green line, with airspace E enclosed by a blue or red band. In the future, all airspaces will be depicted in blue, and to aid differentiation will be labelled with the letter of the class and altitude information of the upper and lower limits. The control zones will continue to look the same.

Airspaces C and D are depicted by a blue line and a blue band. The band emphasises the fact that these airspaces can only be entered after obtaining a clearance. Areas which contain several sectors are additionally grouped by using a broader blue band. Airspaces E, on the other hand, are only enclosed by a somewhat thicker line. This makes clear that under the appropriate weather conditions they may be entered without clearance. The airspaces which are lowered to 1,000 and 1,700 feet above ground are only distinguished by altitude information.

Airspace class F, in conformity with ICAO, is already identified with a blue line. Uncontrolled airspace class G is not depicted on the charts as it is the airspace outside and below the other airspaces.

Airspaces that commence on the ground will continue to have the label "GND" (ground). The limits of airspaces which refer solely to the ground will have the label "AGL" (above ground level). Altitude information which refers to sea level will be shown without the label "MSL" (mean sea level). The term "MSL" is omitted completely.

Restricted and danger areas
In the future, restricted and danger areas will be enclosed by a red line and a red hatched band. Up until now, the areas have been enclosed in blue and hatched blue. The label for these areas (ED-R, ED-D), including the altitude information, will be in red in the future. The colour red emphasises the potential hazard of these areas.

Areas with flight information service
From 2010, the areas with flight information service, which up until now have been depicted in blue, including radio call sign and frequencies, will be shown in green.

For more safety in Europe
Uniform European standards for VFR charts aim to ensure more safety when flying in Europe. According to investigations by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol), the number of penetrations by VFR pilots of restricted airspace without clearance is increasing. This poses an increased hazard for all airspace users. This was the conclusion of Eurocontrol’s Airspace Infringement Safety Improvement Initiative, which drew up a plan to reduce the number of airspace infringements. One of the most important measures is the harmonisation of charts for VFR pilots.

DFS is also committed to uniform European charts. Most standards will be reflected in the charts by DFS from 2010 – many other European States have already implemented them. Admittedly not all ICAO regulations can be viewed as up-to-date, according to Jürgen Mies, head of the German Aeronautical Publication Agency, which is responsible for the production of charts at DFS. For this reason, Eurocontrol set up the “ICAO Chart Harmonisation Focus Group” last year. This group will standardise VFR charts in Europe. Currently, DFS chairs this work group.

Other charts will also be adjusted
These changes not only apply to the 2010 ICAO charts which will be published on 11 March. DFS will also update all other charts which show airspace structures, such as the "Visual 500" chart series for flights to neighbouring countries (currently Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland) and the charts of the Aeronautical Information Publication AIP VFR.

Examples of the depiction of the new chart and changes are available upon request. For detailed information refer to the Aeronautical Information Circular No. 6 please click here.

For further information, please contact:
Nanda Geelvink, Tel. +49 (0)6103 707 – 1308,
Fax: +49 (0)6103 707 – 1395, E-mail: Nanda.Geelvink@dfs.de