Geographical zones and the dipul map
Geographical zones are areas where drones may only fly under certain conditions – around airports, over nature reserves, along railway lines and in many other places. They are defined in § 21h of the German Air Traffic Order (LuftVO) and drawn on the free dipul map of the federal government. A look at that map belongs before every first flight at a new spot.
As of October 2026. Not legal advice. The dipul map shows the zones; reading their conditions is still up to you.
Step by step
- Open the map: maptool-dipul.dfs.de.
- Go to your spot: search for the place or zoom in. In the FPV Spot Finder you can copy a spot’s coordinates with one tap and paste them there.
- Check the layers: coloured areas are zones. Tap an area to see which zone it is.
- Read the condition: not every zone is a ban – many require consent, a distance or a certain height. What matters is what applies to your flight: hobby, open category, with a camera.
- Think beyond the take-off point: a 5-inch quad is 300 metres away in seconds. Check the whole area you intend to fly in.
The zones that matter most for FPV
Nature reserves, national parks, Natura 2000 sites. Practically off limits for sport and leisure flights. Only with consent of the nature conservation authority, or where state law says otherwise.
Residential properties. Overflight only with consent of the owner or user. The exception for light drones applies only without camera and without radio transmission – an FPV drone never qualifies.
Federal highways, federal waterways, railway lines. 100 m lateral distance. Closer only if your height always stays below the lateral distance and that distance exceeds 10 m – or with the operator’s consent.
Airfields and airports. 1.5 km around airfields; 1 km around airports plus 5 km along the extended runways. Control zones only with clearance from air traffic control.
Industrial sites, hospitals, authorities, accident and emergency scenes. 100 m distance, otherwise consent required.
Outdoor pools and bathing beaches. Only outside bathing and opening hours.
What the dipul map does not show
- Whether people are there. The map knows nothing about walkers, cyclists or a barbecue on the meadow. Distances to uninvolved people are yours to keep on site.
- The 150-metre rule of subcategory A3. It applies to residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas – regardless of zones.
- Who owns the meadow. Taking off and landing on private land needs the owner’s permission.
How the finder and dipul work together
The FPV Spot Finder searches your area for places with few people and open ground, and already blocks points in nature reserves, near airfields, and too close to roads, railways and residential areas. Every spot has a “Check on dipul.de” button that takes you straight to the map for the binding check.