Rules around non-controlled aerodromes and SLZ fields

Flying in the vicinity of sports aerodromes

At sports aerodromes where the conventional air traffic control service is not provided, a so-called Aerodrome Traffic Zone - ATZ is established, which serves to protect local aerodrome air traffic, and AFIS or RADIO information service is usually provided here. Sports aerodromes and ATZs are graphically represented in DronView application. The following decision diagram can assist the pilot in planning drone operations near sports aerodrome. The ATZ is defined horizontally by a circle with a radius of 5.5 km from the airport reference point and vertically by the earth's surface and an altitude of 1200 m. Some ATZs may be reduced in shape and height, depending on whether they extend into another type of airspace.

An ATZ is an airspace of specified dimensions that serves to protect aerodrome traffic. If the dimensions of the ATZ interfere with the space with a higher priority (CTR, TMA, TRA, TSA, ...), the ATZ is limited by this space.

Information on individual ATZs of non-controlled aerodromes in the Czech Republic can be found in the VFR Manual of the Czech Air Traffic Control Service; the link to the information on a specific aerodrome can be found directly in DronView application.

Flying in the ATZ is allowed only on the basis of:

• Compliance with the conditions set by the Aerodrome operator, a;
• in coordination with the Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) or the Known Traffic Information Unit or the Aerodrome operator (if neither of the previous services are provided).

Certain controlled airports (e.g. Karlovy Vary Airport or Kunovice Airport) have their own operating hours. Outside these operating hours the adjacent area switches from CTR to ATZ mode.

If you want to operate drone lighter than 0.91 kg MTOM in the ATZ, the flight can be carried out without prior coordination, but only up to the height determined by the grid displayed in the Dronview application. Unless otherwise specified, the operation of drones in the ATZ at a height higher than 120 m above the ground is only possible if the AFIS service is provided or the Provision of information to known traffic is ensured. However, for such a flight, an operational authorization issued by CAA is not required.

The following flowchart can help a pilot plan the operation of an unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of sports aerodrome.

Flying on SLZ fields

A special type of airfield is the so-called field of Sports Flying Equipment (SLZ). It is not directly an aerodrome in the true sense of the word, but a field used for take-offs and landings of SLZ, which are e.g. ultralight aircraft or powered hang gliders. SLZ fields are divided into registered and unregistered, as well as public and non-public.

The list of registered SLZ fields can be found in the VFR manual (section VFR-SLZ). They are then shown graphically in the DronView application. However, in addition to the registered SLZ fields, there are also unregistered fields, which are shown in AisView as non-guaranteed SLZ fields.

For flights in the area around a registered SLZ field, the operation of an unmanned aircraft is possible only on the basis of meeting the conditions, set by the operator of such a field.

To use non-public fields, remote drone pilots must obtain the consent of the operator of the field.

The Aviation Amateur Association of the Czech Republic sets the conditions for the use of SLZ fields, registers the fields, keeps records of registered fields, their operating rules and approves the eligibility of registered fields.