Luftbild BER © Guenter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
Luftbild BER © Guenter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH

Surveying flights

during the night 11 to 12 August

Published: 07 August 2023, 11:00

German Air Traffic Control (DFS) has announced survey flights on the southern runway of BER for the night of 11 to 12 August. A quiet twin-engine propeller aircraft of the type Beechcraft Super King Air 350 will be used for the survey flights, which will take off and land in a westerly direction, frequently flying over certain regions in succession and at low altitudes. Overflights of towns and villages are avoided as far as the given flight profiles allow.

The survey flights will check the runway’s instrument landing system (ILS) for accuracy and error-free operation. The ILS assists the pilot in daily flight operations with navigation during the approach. This is basically done using signal transmitters on the ground that send information about the approach route and gliding angle to the aircraft’s cockpit during landing.

Luftbild BER © Guenter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH

The specially equipped survey aircraft checks the precision of the signals required for safe landings. As usual, the survey flights will take place at night, as air traffic does not permit them during the day and the ILS cannot be used operationally during the flight survey. 

Therefore, the flights are generally exempt from night flight restrictions. Measuring the ILS at regular intervals is prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The information published on this page is current as of the date of publication or update.