Drone flight coordination
State joint stock company “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” provides coordination of pilotless aircraft flights within the Riga Airport air traffic control zone (RIGA CTR) and the Liepāja traffic information zone (LIEPAJA TIZ) where flying of pilotless aircraft is prohibited or restricted.
All operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) must be coordinated with SJSC “Latvijas gaisa satiksme”, if these operations are being planned to be conducted closer than 5km from threshold of the runway of Riga International airport or Liepaja international airport. The same coordination must be done if UAS operations are planned for altitude which exceeds 50 meters above surface in RIGA CTR or LIEPAJA TIZ.
Since 2021 September, 20 there is a procedure how UAS operations are being coordinated in RIGA CTR and LIEPAJA TIZ. This procedure was reviewed and approved by CAA. UAS operator must submit request for coordination in order to initiate the procedure.
There are several modes of coordination. The applicability of each one depends on date and location of planned UAS operations.
RIGA CTR
All the UAS operations must be done in accordance with commands obtained from coordinator. This type of coordination is applicable for those cases, when flight geometry of intended UA flight is located closed than 5km from thresholds of Riga International airport or in cases, when altitude of planned UAS operations exceeds 50m above surface in RIGA CTR.
UAS operations are being conducted in time intervals between inbound and outbound traffic. The real-time information and instructions is being obtained from dispatchers of Riga tower via coordinator.
Process of application
- UAS operator must submit filled “Form A” to bgk@lgs.lv at least 3 bussines days prior intended date of UAS operations. The aforementioned rule is applicable to cases, when UAS operations to be conducted on weekdays from 08:30 am till 5:00 pm.
UAS operator must submit filled “Form A” to bgk@lgs.lv at least 10 days prior intended date of UAS operations. The aforementioned rule is applicable to cases, when UAS operations to be conducted on public holidays, weekends and on weekdays from 5:00 pm till 08:30 am.
LIEPAJA TIZ
All the UAS operations must be done in accordance with commands obtained from coordinator. This type of coordination is applicable for those cases, when flight geometry of intended UA flight is located closed than 5km from thresholds of Liepaja International airport or in cases, when altitude of planned UAS operations exceeds 50m above surface in LIEPAJA TIZ.
UAS operations are being conducted in time intervals between inbound and outbound traffic. The real-time information and instructions is being obtained from Liepaja AFISO via coordinator.
Process of application
UAS operator must submit filled “Form A” to bgk@lgs.lv at least 7 days prior intended date of UAS operations.
If UAS operator agrees to perform UAS operations at time, when Liepaja AFISO does not provide services, it is subject of negotiations, how to make necessary arrangements about agreements on usage of available time periods.
Important: it is a mandatory requirements of UAS operator to contact LGS in accordance with instructions mentioned in Form B.
Process of application
- UAS operator must submit filled “Form B” to bgk@lgs.lv at least 7 days prior intended date of UAS operations.
Additional limitations and conditions of coordination procedure:
- UAS operations are being conduct in accordance with VLOS conditions (Visual Line of Sight);
- UA flights are conducted up to 120m altitude above surface as a general rule for Open category. UAS operations above 120m altitude are being done in Specific category and it is a must to get authorisation for such activities from CAA.
UAS operations do not last long.
The special rule is applicable for UAS operations in “open” category with UA, which MTOM is equal or greater than 2 kilograms. In such cases UAS operator must hold operational authorisation for UAS operations in the “specific” category. This rule is applicable to UAS operations within RIGA CTR and LIEPAJA TIZ.
Prices
| Provision of aeronautical information (fixed rate per day) | 18.15 EUR per day, (VAT incl) |
| LGS coordination | 36.30 EUR per hour, (VAT incl) |
| 72.60 EUR per hour, (VAT incl) |
Additional information
+371 67300961
Usefull information
General information about UAS operations (in Latvian):
Operations in open category: https://uas.caa.lv/atverta-kategorija/
Operations in specific category: https://uas.caa.lv/specifiska-kategorija/
Latest information
Airspaces restrictions and constraints:
NOTAM publications: https://ais.lgs.lv/notam
AIP: https://ais.lgs.lv/aiseaip
Actions in case of distress
Remote pilot must inform immediately SJSC “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” if he/she losts control over UAS.
The phone numbers to reach LGS are: +371 67300645, +371 67300642 or +371 67783761. Remote pilot must provide following information:
- Maximum takeoff mass of UA
- The last known coordinate of UA
- The last known altitude of UA and reference (above ground level (AGL) or above mean sea level (AMSL)
- Direction of flight
- Endurance of UA with available fuel or battery charge level
- Maximum flight speed
- Maximum endurance of UA
- Theoretical maximum flight distance
- Altitude ceiling (theoretical maximum possible altitude).