The Dutch government is working on a revised airspace in which aircraft will fly short routes to and from airports and fly at higher altitudes, producing less noise nuisance and emissions. As of today, you are able to submit your opinion on the ‘Draft Proposal for the Redesign of Dutch Airspace’ via a special platform.
Published on: 15 January 2021
More efficient use of airspace
In the ‘Draft Proposal for the Redesign of Dutch Airspace’, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Van Nieuwenhuizen, and State Secretary for Defence, Visser, reveal how Dutch airspace is ready for the future. At the heart of this airspace overhaul is a closer collaboration between civil and military aviation in order to make much more efficient use of space in the skies. As a result, noise nuisance experienced at ground level will decrease, emissions will be reduced and flight times will be shortened.
Less noise nuisance and emissions
The key elements of this proposal for the redesign of the airspace are:
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Redesign of the (south)eastern part of Dutch airspace. This will allow Schiphol, Rotterdam-The Hague and Lelystad airports to become more accessible with more direct and shorter routes, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.
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Reform of Schiphol’s approach area so that aircraft flying fixed routes can make continuous ascents and descents. This means that they will be able to make continuous descent approaches and reach greater heights more quickly when taking off. This will lead to a reduction in nuisance experienced at ground level.
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Expansion of the current military practice area in the north of the Netherlands, leading to a reduction in the size of the practice area in the south east of the country. The space that will be opened up can be used for civil air traffic, while in the north the new generation of fighter planes, such as the F-35, can be thoroughly tested. The goal is for this practice area to become part of a cross-border practice area with Germany.
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Gradual reform of air traffic handling. This is mainly focused on increasing continuous ascents and descents, and on flying via fixed and shorter routes. This will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions and noise nuisance experienced on the ground.
Share your opinion
With this draft proposal, the government has established the main features of the new Dutch airspace. As of today, 15 January, people are able to submit their opinions on this proposal, which will take further shape over the course of this year and the next. Airspace users, provinces, municipalities, and social and residents' organisations are all closely involved in this process. The reform will be implemented step-by-step, starting in 2023.
Read more about submitting your opinion here (in Dutch): platformparticipatie.nl/luchtruimherziening.