Internal Market Assessment Shows Compatibility with the Proposed Aid Measure
The German pilots' association (VC) has unveiled a revamped airport evaluation approach for 2025, focusing on a risk-based system that prioritises safety measures based on their effectiveness. This new methodology aims to level the playing field for smaller airports with structural constraints, making the system fairer and more internationally comparable.
In the 2025 ranking, Leipzig airport takes the top spot, thanks to its exemplary lighting systems and partial 24/7 operation of stopbars. Mannheim, previously languishing at the bottom, has managed to climb out of the cellar, thanks to good cooperation and the installation of Runway Guard Lights. Munich, last year's winner, slips to second place, while Luebeck finds itself at the bottom of the table.
The updated airport check for 2025 places a particular emphasis on preventing runway incursions, in response to tragic incidents like the one at Tokyo-Haneda airport in January 2024 and the crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in December 2023. GPS jamming has also been included in the check for the first time, due to increasing disruptions resulting from geopolitical tensions like the war in Ukraine.
For the first time, the airport check was conducted in cooperation with the Swiss pilots' association Aeropers, expanding the scope to Switzerland. The evaluation is based on a continually adapted catalog of criteria and uses a points system that yields percentage results, with safety-critical measures like permanently active stopbars or Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) given more weight.
Since 1996, regional airports with scheduled flights have also been considered in the evaluation. The Airport and Ground Environment (AGE) working group of the German pilots' association has been conducting an annual safety check on German commercial airports since 1978.
While specific details about the key safety improvements and changes in the updated 2025 airport check are not yet available, it is generally known that the German pilots' association typically assesses airports using criteria such as safety infrastructure improvements, efficiency and procedures in passenger and aircraft handling, security measures, and pilot feedback on ground handling and air traffic control cooperation. For 2025, key improvements often focus on enhanced emergency response protocols and staff training, upgraded runway and taxiway lighting and surface conditions, increased digitalization and automation in air traffic management, and improvements in passenger screening while balancing speed and safety.
Airports that maintain redundant navigation systems not only improve their safety but also their ranking in the airport check. Paderborn improves to tenth place through strong backup infrastructure, while Erfurt climbs to fourth place, thanks to dynamic "Follow the Greens" taxiway lighting.
For more information on the results of the VC airport check 2025, visit www.vc-airportcheck.de. Consulting the official German pilots' association (VC) communications or their 2025 report directly would be necessary once published for precise, authoritative information on this topic.
Financing for potential technology upgrades might be crucial for airports aiming to increase their safety measures and improve their rankings in the VC airport check. For instance, investing in enhanced emergency response protocols, digitalization, and upgraded lighting systems could bring about significant improvements.
In light of the increasing instances of GPS jamming due to geopolitical tensions, it is essential that airports and the associated technology employed are resilient and equipped to handle such disruptions. This necessitates ongoing investment in advanced technology solutions to ensure safety and maintain international competitiveness.
