GEN 1.2  Entry, Transit and Departure of Aircraft

1   IN BELGIUM

1.1   Civil
1.1.1   General

Aircraft registered in a member state of ICAO and aircraft registered in foreign states with which reciprocal agreements concerning aircraft and aircrews have been concluded, may be navigated in Belgium, subject to the observance of the applicable rules, conditions and limitations set forth in this document and in the legislation described in GEN 1.6 (§ 1).

1.1.2   Noise certification

Take-off and landing on Belgian aerodromes of civil subsonic jet aeroplanes is forbidden unless granted noise certification to the standards specified in Part II, Chapter 3, Volume 1 of ICAO Annex 16.

This prohibition applies only to civil subsonic jet aeroplanes with a by-pass ratio of less than two and with a MTOW of 34 000 KG or more, or with a certified maximum internal accommodation for the aeroplane type in question consisting of more than 19 passenger seats, excluding any seats for crew only.

This prohibition does not apply to:

  • take-off and landing performed by aircraft carrying members of the Belgian Royal Family, the Belgian government, the regional and community governments and foreign Royal Families and heads of state or leaders of foreign governments, presidents and commissioners of the European Union, on official missions;
  • take-off and landing performed with regard to missions in case of disasters or for the purpose of medical assistance
  • take-off and landing concerning military missions;
  • take-off and landing performed in exceptional conditions such as:
    • flights on which there is immediate danger to the life or health of persons, as well as animals;
    • flights diverted for meteorological reasons.

Exceptionally and on explicit justified request, the Minister of Transport may authorize a take-off or landing of a non-compliant aircraft. The operator of a flight seeking an exemption shall obtain prior permission from the CAA (see GEN-1.1).

Between 2200 and 0500 (2100 and 0400), flights of re-certificated civil subsonic jet aircraft are only authorized in clean configuration (landing gear and wing flaps retracted).

1.1.3   Crossing of the External Borders of the Schengen Area

Title II, Chapter I, Article 5 of Regulation 2016.399 of the European Parliament and of the European Council imposes restrictions on the crossing of the external borders of the Schengen Area. They may be crossed only at the official border crossing points notified by the EU Member States to the European Commission.

The Schengen Area, within which no restrictions to air travel apply, currently consists of 27 countries:

AustriaBelgiumCroatiaCzech RepublicDenmark
EstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreece
HungaryIcelandItalyLatviaLiechtenstein
LithuaniaLuxembourgMaltathe NetherlandsNorway
PolandPortugalSlovakiaSloveniaSpain
SwedenSwitzerland

Flights arriving from any other country should only use the official border crossing points when landing in Belgium. Likewise, flights departing to any country outside the Schengen Area shall take-off only from the official border crossing points.

The official border crossing points are EBAW, EBBR, EBCI, EBKT, EBLG and EBOS. Incoming persons may travel freely in the Schengen Area after the border check at the official border crossing point.

When travelling by air in Belgium, entering or leaving the Schengen Area from any other aerodrome than the official border crossing points mentioned above, is illegal. Active surveillance will be carried out by the Belgian Federal Police and violations will be subject to law enforcement measures.

Further information can be obtained from:

Post:

Federal Police
Aviation Police – Operations
Ruiterlaan 2
1040 Etterbeek
BELGIUM

TEL: +32 (0) 2 554 48 27

FAX: +32 (0) 2 642 60 60

Email: DGA.LPA.Ops@police.belgium.eu

1.1.4   Submission of the General Declaration to Belgian Air Border Guards

Additionally, according to the Schengen Border Code Regulation EU 2016/399 a General Declaration is a mandatory immigration document for general aviation flights leaving or entering the countries of the Schengen Treaty.

Belgian border guards of the Federal Police require a General Declaration in advance, prior to take-off, by means of a submitted General Declaration (inbound and outbound).

A Federal Police website www.generaldeclaration.be allows to create and submit automatically and secured the General Declaration to the competent Border Guards.

Further information can be obtained from:

Federal Police – Aviation Police
Belgian General Aviation Information Bureau

Email: DGA.LPA.GenDecCenter@police.belgium.eu

TEL: +32 (0) 56 36 07 98 (0500-2000)

TEL: +32 (0) 59 34 00 05 (2000-0500)

1.2   Military

Note: These regulations concern only DIPLOMATIC CLEARANCES. The underneath mentioned planned authorizations can absolutely not replace the normal ATC clearance, which must always be obtained following the national rules in force.

1.2.1   General

Overflight of Belgium by foreign military and governmental aircraft is subject to the approval of the Minister of Defence. No military and governmental aircraft of another State shall fly over the territory of Belgium or land thereon without prior authorisation, and in accordance with the terms thereof.

Standing diplomatic clearances can be obtained on an annual basis. The request for standing diplomatic clearance has to be introduced via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The standing diplomatic clearances, and the terms thereof, are notified to the requesting countries via diplomatic channel.

1.2.2   Designated Authorities

Within the Ministry of Defence, the designated authorities concerned with diplomatic clearances are as follows:

The MTCC (Movement Transport Coordination Center), as part of ACOS Ops & Trg, is stationed at Evere. The MTCC, Cell Diplomatic Clearance, is responsible for the overall regulation of the diplomatic clearances, and administer the standing diplomatic clearances for foreign countries’ military aircraft.

The ADNC, as part of CRC, is stationed at Beauvechain and provides, under delegation of the MTCC, Cell Diplomatic Clearance, occasional diplomatic clearances for foreign countries’ military and governmental aircraft.

1.2.3   Procedures

The standing diplomatic clearances numbers, and the terms thereof, are notified to the concerned countries via diplomatic channel.

The terms of those standing clearances depends of the bilateral or multilateral agreements. Those terms are:

  • The reference numbers of the standing diplomatic clearances;
  • The aircraft that are covered by the standing clearances;
  • The airfields that can be used with the standing clearances;
  • The notification delays that must be respected;
  • The addresses to which the notification must be sent.
1.2.3.1   Reference of Clearances and Type of Flight

For all nations:

  • Transport of VIP;
  • Transport of passengers and general cargo.

Additionally, for EU and NATO members:

  • Transport of dangerous cargo, arms and ammunitions;
  • Overflight and landing of military fighter and helicopter aircraft.
1.2.3.2   Type of Aircraft

For all nations:

  • All military and governmental transport aircraft.

Additionally, for EU and NATO members:

  • Chartered military aircraft (commercial transport aircraft on military missions);
  • All military fighter aircraft;
  • All military helicopter aircraft.
1.2.3.3   Suitable Airfields

For all nations:

  • Airfields open to civil air traffic;
  • EBMB (for VIP flights).

Additionally, for EU and NATO members:

  • Military airfields.

Operational clearance must always be obtained from the appropriate airfield authority.

1.2.3.4   Requests

All flights, except those who are covered by a standing diplomatic clearance, are subject to an occasional diplomatic clearance request. This request has to be sent at least 5 (five) working days in advance using the European Union Diplomatic Clearance (DIC) form and its validity frame is -24 HR until +72 HR from the scheduled overflight time of the entry point.

The Diplomatic Clearance (DIC) form may be downloaded in WORD format from the following address:

An example of a filled out form may be found from the following address:

1.2.3.5   Notification

For all nations:

  • Reference of clearance has to be inserted in the ICAO flight plan;
  • Each notification has a validity frame of -24 HR until +72 HR from the scheduled overflight time of the entry point;
  • VIP flights with planned landing in Belgium have to be notified at least one working day prior landing, with use of the European Union Diplomatic Clearance form.

Additionally, for EU and NATO members, they shall follow the rules, according to the information found on:

All missions which are not covered by items in §1.2.3.5 are automatically subject to a requests, according to § 1.2.3.4.

1.2.3.6   Addresses

Requests for standing diplomatic clearances, occasional requests and notifications, have to be sent through diplomatic channel to FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, International Transport Directorate.

For EU and NATO members who have agreed on a simplified communication procedure, notifications and occasional requests may be sent directly to the Belgian Air Defence Notification Center.

Email: CRC-11SQN-ADNC@mil.be

TEL: +32 (0) 2 443 86 59

1.2.4   Flights of Foreign Military Aircraft over Belgian Territory

All foreign MIL flights within the Brussels FIR/UIR may be conducted according GAT or OAT rules, depending upon operational requirements of the mission. OAT flights are only possible during the Steenokkerzeel ATCC operating hours (see GEN 3.3) and, other than transit flights, are forbidden on SAT, SUN and national HOL. COMOPSAIR can grant exceptions to this rule.

Aircraft flying according GAT shall establish radio contact with Brussels ACC/APP/FIC on frequencies stated in ENR 2.1 (§ 3).

Aircraft flying according OAT shall establish radio contact with Steenokkerzeel ATCC, call sign ‘Belga Radar’, on frequencies stated in ENR 2.1 (§ 3).

Foreign OAT flights requesting

  • airspace for Tactical Air Ops or other than Tactical Air Ops shall follow the booking procedures as described in ENR 5.2 (§ 1.3)
  • the use of danger areas or restricted areas shall follow the reservation specifications as described in ENR 5.1 (§ 5)
  • the use of Helicopter Training Areas (HTA) or Low Flying Areas (LFA) shall follow the booking procedures as described in ENR 5.2 (§ 2.2) and ENR 5.2 (§ 3.2)

Combined OAT missions with BEL and foreign military aircraft shall follow the domestic booking procedures.

EUROAT rules are applicable as described in ENR 1.1, § 2.1.2.2.

OAT and GAT flight plans shall be submitted according to the rules laid down in ENR 1.10.The use of tactical call signs within the Belgian airspace is prohibited for non-Belgian military aircraft. QRA missions (training and real) are exempted from this rule. Other exception requests for the use of tactical call signs within the Belgian airspace need prior approval and can be sent, at least 5 working days in advance, to:

Post:

Defence
Air Component - COMOPSAIR
Air Operations Support (A 3.2)
Kwartier Koningin Elisabeth
Bldg 1
Eversestraat / Rue d’Evere 1
1140 Brussels
BELGIUM

TEL: +32 (0) 2 441 66 42

Email: comopsair-a3-air-ctrl-ops@mil.be

1.2.5   Landing of Military Aircraft at EBBR
1.2.5.1   Conventional and Jet Transport Aircraft

Aircraft of the 15W: No restrictions.

Liaison aircraft: must file an IFR FPL and be able to select the appropriate radio frequencies stated in ENR 2.1 (§ 3).

1.2.5.2   Jet Fighter Aircraft

Jet fighter aircraft will only be allowed to land at EBBR in exceptional circumstances. When a jet fighter aircraft is authorised to land, the same prescription as in above will apply. The authorisation to land at EBBR must be obtained via COMOPSAIR Air Operations Support.

2   IN LUXEMBOURG

2.1   Submission of the General Declaration to Luxembourg Air Border Guards

According to the Schengen Border Code Regulation EU 2016/399, a General Declaration is a mandatory immigration document for general aviation flights leaving or entering the countries of the Schengen Treaty.

Border guards from the Luxembourg Airport Police require a General Declaration in advance, prior to take-off, by means of a submitted General Declaration (inbound and outbound).

The required General Declaration Form can be downloaded via the following link: https://police.public.lu/fr/votre-police/services-et-unites/upa.html.

For all aircraft being subject to mandatory handling at the Business Aviation Center (see section 6.1 and 6.2 HANDLING OF GENERAL AVIATION FLIGHTS) the completed form must be sent to following email recipients:

For aircraft which are exempted from handling (see section 6.3 HANDLING OF GENERAL AVIATION FLIGHTS) the General Declaration Form must only be sent to the competent border guards: upa.gendec@police.etat.lu.

Further information can be obtained from:

Unité de la Police de l’Aéroport
Luxembourg Airport

Email: upa.gendec@police.etat.lu

TEL: +352 244185040

2.2   Other

See relevant services, GEN 1.1.