Frankfurt Airport to conduct nocturnal landing system surveys

Frankfurt Airport will undergo Instrument Landing System (ILS) surveys on the northwest runway from September 24 to September 27, 2026. The Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) announced that a specially equipped Beechcraft Super King Air 350 will perform these measurements between 23:00 and approximately 03:00 each night.

These nocturnal flights are a permitted exception to the airport's standard night flight ban. Conducting the checks at night allows for more constant conditions by avoiding interference from regular commercial flight traffic. The surveys are required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure the precision of landing signals, which provide pilots with correct approach paths and glide angles.

To minimize noise impact, the DFS stated that the aircraft will avoid flying over residential areas whenever flight profiles permit. In the event of technical issues or unfavorable weather, backup dates are scheduled for the nights between October 1 and October 3, 2026.