Drones

When used improperly or in a controlled area, drones pose a risk to air traffic safety. For that reason, we have developed the GoDrone app and the website godrone.nl to show drone operators where you can and cannot fly your drone in the Netherlands. This is an example of how we enable aviation together. The free app is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play store.

This page on lvnl.nl, as well as in the GoDrone app and on godrone.nl, offers more information about how to use drones safely, so unsafe situations involving drones can be avoided. The following links provide information about the consequences if you fail to follow the rules for flying a drone.

If a pilot reports seeing a drone, the air traffic controllers:

• Warn any pilots flying in the area;
• Determine whether changes need to be made to the runway use and possibly the routes of aircraft in the surrounding area – should the information provided by the pilot call for this;
• Notify the Police Aviation Service for law enforcement purposes.

Reports

Air traffic controllers are informed of drone sightings by pilots. These pilots give an approximation of where they spotted the drone. They often indicate in this context that it is difficult to give an accurate estimate of the altitude that the drone is flying at and its distance from the aircraft. Drones are so small that they cannot be seen from the control tower. Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) does not have any information that can be used for further investigation into a drone sighting. The only details at its disposal are those provided by the pilots.

Legislation and regulations

The law prohibits the operation of drones in controlled airspace. In the case of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, this involves an area of some 15 km around the airport. This area includes recreational areas like Amsterdamse Bos, Spaarnwoude and Vinkeveense Plassen.

Further information on regulations relating to drones can be found at: www.rijksoverheid.nl/drones.

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