Flight Areas

All operations conducted at the Dutch Drone Centre Aviolanda (DDC Aviolanda) must fulfil certain basic requirements and must adhere to certain technical and operational restrictions and limitations.

Operations conducted by Dutch Drone Centre Aviolanda take place within class D airspace (during Air Base operational hours), class G/RMZ airspace (outside operational hours), Temporary Segregated Areas or Temporary Reserved Airspace. Depending on the Flight Area the related procedures and approvals shall be applied.

Operations may only be conducted within the Operational Volumes depicted in the respective Flight Area. Flight and Contingency volumes will be limited within the flight geography and defined during preplanning phase of the (test)flight.

The operational limits are basic limits and must not be exceeded under any circumstances unless the UAS manual allow other limits. Safe operation can be guaranteed at all times by adhering to the specified operational limits. This is ensured by the operating limits defined in this Operations Manual not exceeding or contradicting those defined by the UAS manufacturer (see UAS manual).

Flight Area 1 – DDC Aviolanda Dronelab

Flight area 1 is located next to the indoor testing hall of Dutch Drone Centre Aviolanda Dronelab at Aviolanda Aerospace, Hoogerheide, The Netherlands and fulfils the requirements for the following operational volume and facilities:

A controlled ground area with dimensions depicted below for VLOS
An Operational Volume with a height of 120 meters for VLOS
Various office facilities, workshop and a conference room with high speed internet access
An indoor testing hall for safe (static) tests
Controlled access to Aviolanda Aerospace

Only VLOS operations may be conducted herewith multicopters as well VTOL hover test flights.
Because of the limited size of the operational volume at flight area 1 operations must/will be conducted within VLOS conditions. The operation will be performed in accordance with the procedures stated in the user manual of the UAS and/or within the limitations as set out in the Operations Manual of RPAS Services or the operator.
The operator must make sure that the Flight and Contingency volume will be within the controlled ground area i.e. flight area and altitude is adapted to the available Ground Risk Buffer.

Flight Area 2 – DDC Aviolanda Woensdrecht Airbase

Flight area 2 is located next to Business Park Aviolanda Aerospace at Military Airbase Woensdrecht (EHWO) and fulfils the requirements for the following operational volume and facilities.

Facilities at Dutch Drone Centre Aviolanda Dronelab (refer to Flight Area 1)
An 8014 feet (2442 meters) long runway
A controlled ground area with a dimension of 3000 x 550 meters for VLOS/EVLOS/BVLOS operations
An Operational Volume of 3000 x 550 x 120 meters for VLOS/EVLOS/BVLOS operations¹
EHWO CTR for BVLOS operations over sparsely populated area
Controlled access to the military airport (airside)
Military Air Base emergency services

¹Or altitude 914 meter / 3000 ft based on ATC approval according to Operational Authorization.

VLOS operations will be performed in accordance with the procedures stated in the user manual of the UAS and/or within the limitations as set out in the Operations Manual of RPAS Services or the operator.
EVLOS operations may only be conducted in accordance with the EVLOS procedures described in the Operations Manual of RPAS Services or the operator.

Flight area 2 consist on three operational volumes:

Flight volumes defined for BVLOS experiments over sparsely populated areas within the controlled airspace class D.
Flight volumes defined for EVLOS experiments over sparsely populated areas within the controlled airspace class G / RMZ.
Over controlled ground area which is situated over airside at the Woensdrecht Air Base and fulfils the requirements for the operational volume stated below. VLOS, EVLOS and BVLOS operations may be conducted here. The operator must make sure that the Flight and Contingency volume will be within the controlled ground area i.e. flight area and altitude is adapted to the available Ground Risk Buffer.

Flight Area 3 – DDC Aviolanda Deelen Airbase

Flight area 3 is located at Military Airbase Deelen (EHDL) which is operated by DHC Airbase Gilze-Rijen and fulfils the requirements for the following operational volume and facilities.

An 3431 feet (1045 meters) long runway
A controlled ground area with a dimension of 2500 x 1500 meters for VLOS/EVLOS/BVLOS operations
An Operational Volume of 2500 x 1500 x 120 meters for VLOS/EVLOS/BVLOS operations¹
EHDL CTR for BVLOS operations over sparsely populated area supported by ATC EHDL
EHTSA 85 for BVLOS operations over sparsely populated area activated by NOTAM
Controlled access to the military airport (airside)
Military Air Base emergency services

¹Or altitude 914 meter / 3000 ft based on ATC approval according to Operational Authorization.

Flight area 3 consist on four operational volumes:

Flight volumes defined for BVLOS experiments over sparsely populated areas within the controlled airspace class D.
Flight volumes defined for EVLOS experiments over sparsely populated areas within the controlled airspace class G / RMZ.
Flight volumes defined for BVLOS experiments over sparsely populated areas within the controlled airspace EHTSA 85 activated by NOTAM.
Over controlled ground area which is situated over airside at the Deelen Air Base and fulfils the requirements for the operational volume stated below. VLOS, EVLOS and BVLOS operations may be conducted here. The operator must make sure that the Flight and Contingency volume will be within the controlled ground area i.e. flight area and altitude is adapted to the available Ground Risk Buffer.