A large-scale review is necessary for more efficient use of airspace and limitation of nuisance and emissions. Safety is paramount. New users such as drones are given a place. In “the Airspace Review Draft Preference Decision”, Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructure and Water Management) and State Secretary Visser (Defense) indicate how Dutch airspace is ready for the future.

The core of this revision is that closer cooperation between civil and military aviation can make use of space in the airspace much more efficient. This leads to shorter 'highways' in the air and shorter routes to and from the airports. This ensures less fuel consumption and CO2 and nitrogen emissions. By climbing and descending faster, the nuisance on the ground also decreases.

An independently drawn up environmental impact report shows that, based on current insights, positive effects can be expected from the greater capacity of the airspace. By handling air traffic in a new way, a limitation of the noise profile on the ground (order of magnitude 20%), reduction of CO2 and nitrogen emissions (approximately 8% less fuel consumption per flight) and reduction of flight time (approximately 9% ), in combination with an expansion of the capacity in the airspace. The precise effects depend on the further elaboration that will take place up to and including 2023.   

The main parts of the new airspace:

• Redevelopment of the (south) eastern part of the Dutch airspace. This provides scope for making the airports of Schiphol, Rotterdam-The Hague and Lelystad more accessible with direct, shorter routes. This limits CO2 emissions.
• Refurbishment of the approach area in front of Schiphol so that aircraft on fixed routes can continuously climb and descend. This allows them to approach airports higher and they are also more likely to be at a higher altitude when they take off. This reduces the nuisance on the ground.
• Expansion of the existing military exercise area in the north of the Netherlands, so that an exercise area in the south-eastern part may be discontinued. This makes it possible to set up the vacant part for civil air traffic and to practice in the north with the new generation of fighter aircraft, such as the F-35. The aim is to make this exercise area part of a cross-border exercise area with Germany.
• Step-by-step renewal of the handling of air traffic. This is mainly about continuous climbing and descending as much as possible, and flying according to fixed and shorter routes. This can limit CO2 emissions and noise pollution on the ground.

With the draft Preference Decision, the Cabinet has established the main points for the new Dutch airspace. A review procedure will start today for this decision. The further elaboration will take place this year and next. Airspace users, provinces, municipalities, social and residents' organizations are closely involved in this process. The revision will be implemented step by step from 2023. The national government recently reported this to them in the above message website.

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