In air traffic at night: BER flights to Hanover and Leipzig turned off

In air traffic at night: BER flights to Hanover and Leipzig turned off

The night flight ban and its effects on aviation

The strict regulations regarding the night flight ban at Berlin Brandenburg (BER) Airport are increasingly being discussed after recently late flights were redirected to Hanover. This situation about the fairness and appropriateness of the existing regulations that were introduced two decades ago to protect residents from aircraft noise.

delays and diversions

On Saturday, August 2, the Eurowings flight 5831 from Alicante experienced a significant delay, which was single-sidedly due to limited lands on BER. The flight was originally supposed to take off at 8:25 p.m. and land in Berlin at 11:25 p.m. Due to considerable delays, the machine only started at 9:33 p.m. and reached the airport shortly after midnight, which resulted in the night flight ban. At 84 meters, the pilots decided to redirect to Hanover because landing was no longer possible at this time. The 212 passengers ended up unexpectedly in the Lower Saxony state capital, 300 kilometers west of Berlin.

The night flight ban: Why is it important?

The night flight ban on BER applies from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., with only limited exceptions for government and rescue flights. This regulation was introduced to protect the residents from nightly disorders from aircraft noise. Robert Ertler from German Air Traffic Control (DFS) explains that complaints from residents are widespread at many airports. This leads to the fact that the appropriateness of such rules is discussed again and again.

shift in flight destinations: a common practice

According to Ertler, the detour of aircraft is an exception for delays, while frequent changes occur much more frequently due to weather conditions. Airlines often use Hanover and Leipzig as alternating airports because they are near Berlin and have no night flight bans. In bad weather, however, further distant airport can also be flown on, which illustrates the flexibility of airlines during unfavorable conditions.

reactions of the airlines

In a statement, the spokesman for Eurowings, Florian Gränzdörffer, emphasizes that the company always strives to minimize delays and to bring passengers to the intended goal. Since the night flight ban is a legally defined regulation, airlines must follow them. Several flights had to be redirected by similar situations, after later times into alternative airports.

The detour of another Eurowings flight from Heraklion On the following days, only confirmed the challenges that air traffic brings especially during the high-trip time. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the existing night flight ban and whether future adjustments to the legal regulations are conceivable.

conclusion: flying in the area of ​​tension between regulations and reality

The discussion about the night flight ban and the diversion of late flights illustrates the complex relationships between safety regulations, residents and the requirements of the aviation industry. While the regulations ultimately serve to ensure the quality of life of the residents, they are currently in the area of ​​tension with the practical challenges of aviation. The question remains whether an adjustment of the guidelines is necessary to ensure satisfaction both the travelers and residents.