Drones (UAS – Unmanned Aircraft Systems) are becoming increasingly popular for recreational and commercial use. However, people often oversee numerous regulations and rules governing the ownership, operation and flight use of drones, on which sufficient account should be taken. At Munich Airport and in the immediate vicinity, the operation of drones is genereally prohibited. Use may be permitted under certain conditions in the airport's control zone.
Drones
Safe through the air
Drone sighting at Munich Airport (October 2025)
Further information can be found in our press releases:
Press: Drone sighting at Munich Airport
Press: Another drone sighting at Munich Airport
The most important rules at a glance
In control zones at German airports, the regulations are divided into two different areas in accordance with the Air Traffic Regulations (LuftVO for short; Section 21h):
- Zone subject to approval
- Prohibited area
On this page, you will find the most important information and rules regarding drone zones at Munich Airport so as not to endanger flight safety.
Prohibited area - No Drone Zone
In the prohibtied area, a drone flight is genereally not allowed. This “no drone zone” (in accordance with §21h LuftVo – German Law) is valid to the following dimensions:
- Above and within a lateral distance of 1 km from the airport boundary
- Within a lateral distance of 1 km in each case, extending the approach and departure baselines of both runways at Munich Airport by 5 km in each case.
Prior approval must be obtained from the relevant state aviation authority for the operation of drones in the "open" category on the Munich Airport campus and in the immediate vicinity of the airport boundary. The South Bavarian Aviation Authority is responsible for Munich Airport. Without this approval, the operation of drones in this area is not permitted. The zone extends (in accordance with §21h LuftVO) to the following dimensions:
Permit requirement for flights in the control zone
In the control zone of Munich Airport, i.e., the control zone of airspace D ("Delta"), the operation of drones is only permitted if the NfL requirements are met. Otherwise, approval in accordance with §21 of the LuftVO (German Air Traffic Regulations) is required. This means that before using drones, air traffic control clearance must be obtained from DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH.
For information on operating drones outside the control zone, please refer to the additional rules and regulations in accordance with the LuftVO and relevant laws.
True-to-scale visualization of the drone flight prohibition zone in accordance with LuftVO (German Air Traffic Regulations) at Munich Airport. The exact parameters can be accessed here in accordance with the currently applicable specifications: Unifly (dfs.de)
Further regulations
Further and general information about drones from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency can be found on their webpage.
Further regulatory requirements regarding the ownership, proof of competence, and licensing of drones are comprehensively regulated in the European Union Regulation (2019/947: EUR-Lex - 32019R0947 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)).
You can view a list of drone classifications in a compact summary from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) here: Guide - drone operators | EASA (europa.eu)
Further rules and information on drone use in Germany can be found on the platform for unmanned aviation and on the website of German Air Traffic Control:
dipul | Digital Platform for Unmanned Aviation | dipul
Applications and approvals | DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH