Austria: Federal Council passes amendment to aviation law

The Federal Council has given the green light for two projects by the Austrian federal government. In the future, airfields should be able to be used around the clock for rescue flights and wind turbines will no longer have to flash continuously at night, but only when necessary.

An amendment to the Aviation Act provides for changes to the “obstacle lighting” of aviation obstacles. In the future, wind turbines and other systems will only have to be illuminated at night when necessary, for example when a flying object approaches them. Austro Control will be responsible for implementation. Military air traffic also has the option of remote control for night marking as required. Another aspect of the amendment stipulates that in the future it will be possible to use civil airfields for 24-hour rescue flight operations outside of operating hours. The amendment passed the Federal Council with unanimous votes.

The amendment will implement a long-standing wish of Styrian state politics, Christian Buchmann (ÖVP/St) welcomed the amendment. Emergency medical helicopters are an essential medical element for the people in the regions, which are now also better available to them at night.

The constant flashing of wind turbines at night does not contribute to the acceptance of wind power, Adi Gross (Greens/V) also supported the change, not least in view of the high level of safety ensured and the manageable ground-level air traffic at night.