Flying drones near controlled airports using grids
Controlled airports are those airports where the air traffic control (ATC) service is provided and they are located in the so-called Controlled Area - CTR (in the case of military airports, it is MCTR). All these controlled airports are shown in the DronView app, which also integrates the GRID map layer. This layer is displayed by default when the application is launched and provides users with a simplified graphical representation of the protected zones with height restrictions on structures in a specific location within the controlled airspace.
Since September 1, 2025, the rules for flying unmanned systems near controlled airports are based on the General Measure establishing the restricted area LKR314, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. This legal document defines the method of ensuring airport protection within a controlled district, whose boundaries vary depending on the specific airport.
The introduction of the GRID map layer for pilots does not represent any new rules for the operation of drones, but in the case of controlled airports, it introduces them graphically to the course of these protective zones, which in some cases are not easily accessible. Ignorance of the actual course of flight height restrictions in a given location is one of the causes of violations of drone operation rules in the vicinity of airports and can thus pose a threat to operational safety.
Grids do not take into account the risks of drone operation to persons, buildings, infrastructure, etc. located on the ground, which are described in the applicable legislation, specifically in the general measures LKR310-LKR320. These measures define permanent geographical zones, whose graphical representations can be found in DroneMap.
Operating rules
The shape of the inner zone of Prague/Ruzyně Airport (LKPR) is defined by a circle with a 5.5 km radius from the airport reference point (ARP). Both the inner and outer boundaries of the controlled district can be found in the application. DroneMap.
Airport reference point (ARP)
The determined geographical location of the airport, focused close to the original or planned geometric center of the airport, which usually does not change even during the subsequent development of the airport.
Drone rules near Prague/Ruzyně Airport (LKPR)
- Flying within the grid up to 5.5 km from the airport reference point (ARP) is permitted after entering the flight plan into the DroneMap application, without the need for further coordination.
- Flying above the grids within 5.5 km of the ARP is permitted only after coordination with the airport operator and air traffic control. The flight plan must be entered into the application DroneMap.
- Flying within the grid at a distance greater than 5.5 km from the ARP is permitted without additional conditions.
- Flying above the grids at a distance greater than 5.5 km from the ARP is permitted after entering the flight plan into the DroneMap application and coordinating with air traffic control.
The shape of the inner and outer boundaries of the CTR varies for each airport. The exact boundary layout can be viewed in the application DroneMap.
When flying in controlled districts (CTR), it is crucial to know whether you are in the inner or outer zone and whether your flight will remain below the grid altitude or require flying above it. The rules are as follows:
- Flying within the grid in the inner part of the CTR is permitted after entering the flight plan into the DroneMap application, without the need for further coordination.
- Flying above the grids in the inner part of the CTR is permitted only after coordination with the airport operator and air traffic control. The flight plan must be entered into the application DroneMap.
- Flying within the grid in the outer part of the CTR is permitted without additional conditions.
- Flying above the grids in the outer part of the CTR is permitted after entering the flight plan into the DroneMap application and coordinating with air traffic control.
The following airports fall into this category: Prague Kbely (LKKB), Čáslav Airport (LKCV), Náměšť Airport (LKNA), and Pardubice Airport (LKPD).
The inner boundary is drawn 2.5 km parallel to the runway centerline, with the length of this boundary extending 1.5 km beyond the runway threshold and 1 km parallel to the extended runway centerline up to 5 km from the runway threshold. The outer boundary is defined in the AIP.
The exact layout of the boundaries can be viewed in the application DroneMap.
When flying near military airports, it is crucial to know whether you are in the inner or outer zone and whether your flight will remain below the grid altitude or require flying above it. The rules are as follows:
- Flying in the inner part of the MCTR is permitted only after coordination with the airport operator and air traffic control. The flight plan must be entered into the application DroneMap.
- Flying within the grid in the outer part of the MCTR is permitted after entering the flight plan into the DroneMap application, without the need for further coordination.
- Flying above the grids in the outer part of the MCTR is permitted after entering the flight plan into the DroneMap application and coordinating with military air traffic control.
Coordination is carried out according to the procedure described in detail here: Procedure for coordinating drone flight with the airport.
The evaluation of the displayed value is done by comparing the digital data of the terrain relief and airport protective zones with the height limitation of the buildings in the given rectangle. The rounded difference of these two values then defines the maximum flight height above the ground in a given rectangle, if it is observed, there will be no violation of the protective zones. For a basic overview, colour maps with maximum grid heights of controlled airports can be downloaded here: Maps of controlled airports with grids.