The AERO slot assignment procedure
used in the past is now going to be improved. A meeting of experts including
representatives from the Friedrichshafen Airport, Austro Control, Skyguide,
AOPA, the leading industry publications in Germany and Messe Friedrichshafen
was focused on common efforts to optimize landing procedures for
Friedrichshafen Airport.
As in the past, visitors to the AERO (April 5 – 8, 2017) who wish to fly themselves to the show will use an online-supported slot allocation system for the Bodensee Airport Friedrichshafen, available at https://aero-ppr.bodensee-airport.eu. Starting at 9 a.m. (local time) on March 18, 2017, it will be possible to reserve PPR slots for a fee of 35 Euros, which will be counted towards payment of the package deal offered to visitors who fly themselves to the AERO (the package includes landing fees, parking fees and a shuttle to the entrance of the AERO). According to the rules governing landing at Friedrichshafen Airport during the AERO, which will be published in the German IFR and VFR SUP, a slot will be mandatory. Pilots who approach the airport between 8:00 a.m. and 7:20 p.m. without reserving a slot should expect to be refused permission to land. If they are nevertheless given permission to land, they will have to pay an additional post-slot fee of 50 Euros at the entrance to the AERO; this amount cannot be counted towards the cost of the AERO package deal mentioned above. Pilots who get an early start and land at Friedrichshafen between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. local time using visual flight rules (VFR) do not need to reserve a slot. This also applies after the close of the show for the evening, from 7:20 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Ultralights and powered gliders
will once again have an additional possibility to land at the Markdorf glider
field without a slot assignment. The nearby Leutkirch and Mengen airfields are
also available for licensed private pilots who spontaneously decide to fly to
the AERO. The two airfields will be connected to the fairgrounds in
Friedrichshafen by shuttle bus.