On 16 and 23 July, Schiphol and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) will be carrying out test flights on the Aalsmeerbaan Runway between 15:00 and 23:00. These flights, lasting around 4 to 5 hours, allow us to test the runway's updated landing systems. While these test flights are going on, the Aalsmeerbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways are not available to air traffic and so other runways will be deployed.
Published on: 11 July 2022
Special test aircraft
At the aforementioned times, you might see a special test aircraft flying towards the Aalsmeerbaan from different directions, heights and distances. This test plane, a Cessna with the registration number PH-LAB, will be flying different routes to those usually taken by regular air traffic. This is in order to test the updated Instrument Landing System (ILS) from all positions.
Backup dates 17, 19 and 24 July
The exact times of the test flights depend on factors including the weather conditions and air traffic volumes. If the test flights cannot take place on Saturday 16 and 23 July, backup dates are 17, 19 and 24 July.
Landing when visibility is limited
After the test flights have taken place, the Aalsmeerbaan Runway will be available to air traffic again. However, international safety regulations state that the updated landing system must have been working properly for 30 days before planes can land at times of limited visibility. Only then will the Aalsmeerbaan be available in all visibility conditions. During this period, another runway will be deployed for landings at times of poor visibility.