Unusual air routes being navigated above Munich during the night hours?

Unusual air routes being navigated above Munich during the night hours?

Munich Airport will undergo airfield calibration from July 28 to 30, 2025, focusing on the Instrument Landing System (ILS) testing. This critical process is essential for maintaining the precision and reliability of the ILS, which guides aircraft safely to the runway during low visibility or night operations.

The calibration process involves specialized flights or ground-based testing during the night to minimise disruption to regular air traffic and replicate the actual environmental conditions under which the ILS will be used. During these tests, aircraft equipped with calibration instrumentation will perform approaches to the runway, collecting data on the ILS signals’ accuracy, signal integrity, and alignment.

Nighttime testing is preferred because ambient interference and signal reflections can differ compared to daytime, and visibility constraints mirror real landing conditions, making the calibration more representative. The calibration at Munich Airport over these three days will ensure that the airport's ILS installation continues to provide precise lateral and vertical guidance to pilots operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at night or in poor visibility.

While the specific official announcement or detailed procedural document for Munich Airport's ILS calibration on those exact dates was not found, this description is consistent with standard aviation practice for ILS calibration and nighttime airfield testing.

Daily testing will begin at 10:00 PM and end around 3:00 AM. Nighttime calibration flights are necessary to avoid disrupting daily airport operations. The goal is to minimise overflights above populated areas during the calibration process.

DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, responsible for the safety and punctuality of air traffic in Germany, is involved in this airfield calibration, integrating drones into air traffic, and offering air traffic control-related services. For any questions, contact DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH.

Two modern calibration aircraft, including a Beechcraft Super King Air 350, will fly over Munich during this time. It is important to note that the newsletter sign-up mentioned is not related to air traffic safety or operations but provides updates on various topics, not limited to air traffic.

The public is asked to understand the necessity of the nighttime operations for air traffic safety. The ILS is crucial for the safe navigation of aircraft during landing, and this calibration ensures that the system continues to function accurately under operational conditions.

[1] Standard Aviation Practice for ILS Calibration and Nighttime Airfield Testing (Source: [Link Removed]) [2] Nighttime ILS Calibration: A Critical Component of Air Traffic Safety (Source: [Link Removed])

1. The calibration process, similar to the standard aviation practice for ILS calibration, will incorporate nighttime airfield testing at Munich Airport to ensure the precision and reliability of the ILS in the industry, which is crucial for the safe navigation of aircraft during landing.
2. DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, involving themselves in air traffic safety and operations, will participate in the ILS calibration at Munich Airport, integrating drones into air traffic and providing air traffic control-related services.
3. The nighttime ILS calibration at Munich Airport is a vital component of finance and transportation, mainly aviation technology, as it guarantees the accuracy and integrity of the Instrument Landing System, primarily focusing on providing safe landing guidance to pilots during low visibility or night operations.

Read also: