Procedures for the Use of the Airspace of the Republic of Latvia in Relation to Certain Activities

Issued pursuant to Section 40, Paragraph two
and Section 117 of the law On Aviation

I. General Provisions

1. The Regulation prescribes the procedures by which natural persons and legal person shall receive a permit to use the airspace of the Republic of Latvia and the procedures by which it shall be used (hereinafter - the airspace):

1.1. for flights of aircraft, except for passenger, baggage, cargo, and postal air services;

1.2. for activities connected with light, radio, and all types of electromagnetic radiation which may cause threats to the safety of the flights of aircraft and other material objects;

1.3. for activities related to the rising, moving or lowering of material objects within the airspace;

1.4. for firing and use of explosives that could endanger the safety of the flight of aircraft or other material objects;

1.5. for military aircraft flights.

2. Valsts aģentūra "Civilās aviācijas aģentūra" [State agency Civil Aviation Agency] (hereinafter - the Civil Aviation Agency) shall issue permits for:

2.1. the aircraft flights referred to in Sub-paragraph 1.1 of this Regulation;

2.2. the activities related to light radiation which may cause threats to the safety of the flights of aircraft and other material objects;

2.3. the activities related to the rising, moving or lowering of material objects within the airspace;

2.4. the firing and use of explosives that could endanger the safety of the flight of aircraft or other material objects.

3. Valsts akciju sabiedrība "Elektronisko sakaru direkcija" [State joint stock company Electronic Communications Office] (hereinafter - the Electronic Communications Office) shall, in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the issuance of permits for the use of radio frequency, issue permits for activities connected with radio and all types of electromagnetic radiation which may cause threats to the safety of the flight of aircraft and material objects. The Electronic Communications Office shall issue a permit only after it has received a resolution from the Civil Aviation Agency that the relevant activities will not cause any threats to the security and safety of aviation.

4. If the permit is not necessary for the relevant flight in accordance with the national or international legal acts regarding aircraft flights, the pilot-in-command shall submit a flight plan to valsts akciju sabiedrība "Latvijas gaisa satiksme" [State joint stock company Latvian Air Traffic] (hereinafter - the Latvian Air Traffic) not later than 30 minutes before the start of the flight if border crossing is not intended, and one hour before the start of the flight if border crossing is intended, without prejudice to the relevant national and international legal acts. If in accordance with national or international legal acts the permit is not necessary for the performance of the activities referred to in Sub-paragraphs 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 of this Regulation, the performer of the activity shall submit a brief summary on the planned activities to the Civil Aviation Agency prior to the planned activity, without prejudice to the relevant national and international legal acts. The Cabinet instruction determines the procedures for cooperation (including the procedures for receiving the permit, without prejudice to the national or international legal acts governing the use of the airspace) between the Civil Aviation Agency and the National Armed Forces in respect of the activities of the National Armed Forces when using the airspace referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Regulation.

II. Flights of Aircraft, Except for Passenger, Baggage, Cargo and Postal Air Services

5. When using airspace for civil aviation aircraft non-commercial voyages, recreational, corporative or sports flights, the pilot-in-command shall submit the flight plan to the Air Traffic of Latvia:

5.1. not later than 30 minutes before the start of the flight, if the flight is intended within the controlled airspace or within the range of 15 km along the border of the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation, along the border of the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Belarus or along the outer edge of the territorial sea of the Republic of Latvia and if a border crossing is not intended during the flight;

5.2. not later than an hour before the start of the flight, if border crossing is intended.

[21 July 2008]

6. [21 July 2008]

7. In order to receive a permit for aircraft flights for aerial work, the aircraft operator shall submit a submission to the Civil Aviation Agency at least 30 working days prior to the commencement of works. The submission shall include the following information:

7.1. the name of the aircraft operator, legal address, uniform registration number and the document which attests the right to perform the activity applied for;

7.1.¹ further type of use of the material (product) on the territory of the Republic of Latvia obtained during aerial work and the acquirer of the final product;

7.2. the type of aerial work, planned area of flight, the height required for performance of works (in feet), the date and time of commencement and termination of works expressed as Universal Time Co-ordinated (UTC);

7.3. the aircraft type intended for the performance of work, aircraft's state and registration mark, and also the given name and surname (name) of the owner;

7.4. the given name and surname (name) of the contracting entity and contractor (including the aircraft operator), address of the place of residence or legal address, uniform registration number or personal identity number, date of issue and number of aerial work certificate of the aircraft operator, date of issue and number of licence for the right to perform aerial work;

7.5. the type of aerial surveying and aerial photography applied for and justification for performing them (for example, a copy of the contract);

7.6. the given name, surname of all aircrew members (including substitutes), number and term of validity of civil aviation personnel licence;

7.7. the aircraft type intended for performing aerial surveying and aerial photography, aircraft's state and registration mark, aircraft's colour and marking, the given name and surname (name), place of residence or legal address, uniform registration number or personal identity number of the aircraft's owner;

7.8. the method of aerial surveying and aerial photography (description, specification);

7.9. the name, model of apparatus to be used for aerial surveying and aerial photography (installation, devices, equipment), name of the manufacturer and description of technical capabilities, the type and resolution of obtained materials (products);

7.10. the user of the material (product) obtained during aerial surveying and aerial photography and the acquirer of the final product;

7.11. the region of aerial surveying and aerial photography (indicate the geographic coordinates of four points describing this region with a precision of 5'' (five seconds) and the area of the respective region (in square kilometres));

7.12. the height (in feet) required for the performance of aerial surveying and aerial photography, the date and time for the commencement and completion of works (expressed as the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)), the aerodrome or landing area from which the flights will be performed, and the flight route;

7.13. a written confirmation that the person undertakes to comply with the restrictions on the use of information determined by the Ministry of Defence, if any will be determined.

[21 July 2008; 9 December 2025]

8. If the rights or interests of the third persons are affected without substantiation while performing areal work, the submitter shall append to the submission the document which certifies that the performance of the abovementioned works has been agreed upon with these persons.

9. If the information indicated in the submission is incomplete or imprecise, the Civil Aviation Agency shall request the submitter in writing within two working days after the receipt of the submission to submit updated information.

10. If the submitter fails to submit the updated information within five working days after receipt of the request referred to in Paragraph 9 of this Regulation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall take the decision to refuse to issue the permit and shall inform the submitter thereof in writing.

10.¹ Immediately after receipt of the information referred to in Paragraphs 7 and 8 of this Regulation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall send the information referred to in Sub-paragraphs 7.1, 7.1.¹, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, and 7.13 of this Regulation to the Ministry of Defence. After receipt of the information required for taking the decision, the Ministry of Defence shall, within 15 working days, take the decision to agree upon or to not agree upon aerial surveying and aerial photography.

[9 December 2025]

10.² The Ministry of Defence shall not agree upon aerial surveying and aerial photography:

10.²1. if it endangers national security;

10.²2. if the submitter or contractor (including the aircraft operator and aircrew members) has previously violated the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia related to the use of airspace and therefore there are reasonable doubts that the performance of the abovementioned activities may endanger national security.

[21 July 2008]

10.³ If the Ministry of Defence agrees upon aerial surveying and aerial photography, it shall immediately send the decision to the Civil Aviation Agency.

[21 July 2008]

10.⁴ When taking the decision, the Ministry of Defence has the right to determine restrictions on the use of information if the material (product) on the territory of the Republic of Latvia obtained during aerial surveying and aerial photography contains information which is important for the national security and the free access to which may create a threat to national security.

[9 December 2025]

11. If the intended activities do not pose a threat to the security or safety of civil aviation, the Civil Aviation Agency has received the information referred to in Paragraphs 7, 8, and 9 of this Regulation, and the Ministry of Defence has taken the positive decision referred to in Paragraph 10.¹ of this Regulation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall, within three working days, issue the permit to perform the relevant activities.

[21 July 2008]

12. Following the issue of the permit referred to in Paragraph 11 of this Regulation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall inform the Latvian Air Traffic of the information referred to in Sub-paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3 of this Regulation and shall send to the Air Force Air Operations Centre of the National Armed Forces the copies of such permits according to which an aircraft operator has been granted the right to perform aerial surveying and aerial photography.

[21 July 2008]

13. Prior to the commencement of the aircraft flights for aerial work, the pilot-in-command shall submit the flight plan to the Latvian Air Traffic at least 30 minutes before the start of the flight where the number of the permit issued by the Civil Aviation Agency shall be indicated.

III. Activities Connected with Light Radiation

14. In order to receive a permit for activities connected with light radiation which may cause threats to the safety of the flights of aircraft and other material objects, a submitter shall submit a submission to the Civil Aviation Agency at least five working days before the commencement thereof. The submission shall include the following information:

14.1. the given name, surname (firm name), personal identity number (uniform registration number), the address of the place of residence (legal address);

14.2. the type of activities and place of performance (region), date and time for the commencement and termination of activity, expressed as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC);

14.3. the power of the ray of light, radiation angle in the horizontal and vertical plane;

14.4. the technical characteristics and the name of the manufacturer of the light radiation equipment.

15. If the rights or interests of third persons are affected without substantiation while performing a specific activity, the submitter shall append to the submission the document which approves that the performance of the abovementioned activity has been agreed upon with these persons.

16. If the intended activities do not pose a threat to the security or safety of civil aviation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall, within three working days after receipt of the documents referred to in Paragraphs 14 and 15 of this Regulation, issue the permit to perform the relevant activities.

17. Following the issue of the permit referred to in Paragraph 16 of this Regulation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall inform the Latvian Air Traffic of the information referred to in Sub-paragraphs 14.2 and 14.3 of this Regulation.

IV. Rising, Moving or Lowering of Material Objects in the Airspace

18. In order to receive a permit for activities connected with the rising, moving or landing of material objects in the airspace within a period shorter than 90 days, a submitter shall submit a submission to the Civil Aviation Agency at least 10 working days prior to the commencement of the abovementioned activities. The submission shall include the following information:

18.1. the given name, surname (firm name), personal identity number (uniform registration number), the address of the place of residence (legal address) of the submitter;

18.2. the type of activities and place of performance (region), the height (in feet), date and time of commencement and termination of the activity, expressed as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC);

18.3. the technical characteristics of the object intended for raising, moving or lowering in the airspace.

19. If the rights or interests of third persons are affected without substantiation while performing the specific activities, the submitter shall append to the submission the document which certifies that the performance of the abovementioned activities has been agreed upon with these persons.

20. If the intended activities do not pose a threat to the security or safety of civil aviation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall, within five working days after receipt of the documents referred to in Paragraphs 18 and 19 of this Regulation, issue the permit to perform the abovementioned activities.

21. Following the issue of the permit referred to in Paragraph 20 of this Regulation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall assign the Latvian Air Traffic to develop, within three working days, a temporary restriction on the use of the airspace required for the performance of the relevant activities, to receive a confirmation on it from the Civil Aviation Agency, and to issue a notification on any air navigation device, service, and introduction of rules, changes or information on danger (hereinafter - the NOTAM notification). NOTAM notification shall be sent using electronic means of communication. The relevant activities for the raising, moving or lowering of material objects in the airspace shall be commenced not earlier than seven days after sending the NOTAM notification.

22. If the raising, moving or lowering of material objects is intended to be performed within a period which exceeds 90 days, a submitter shall propose the change of the airspace structure in accordance with the intended activities in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the airspace structure and procedures for the change thereof. In such case, the raising, moving or landing of material objects shall be performed in accordance with the exploitation procedures for the airspace structure element.

V. Firing and Use of Explosives that could Endanger the Safety of the Flight of Aircraft or Other Material Objects

23. Any firing or use of explosives is prohibited in the aircraft take off and landing sectors of aerodrome zones.

24. In order to receive a permit for firing or use of explosives within a period shorter than 90 days, a submitter shall submit a submission to the Civil Aviation Agency not later than 20 working days prior to the commencement of the abovementioned activities. The submission shall include the following information:

24.1. the given name, surname (firm name), personal identity number (uniform registration number), the address of the place of residence (legal address) of the submitter;

24.2. a document attesting the submitter's right to fire or use explosives;

24.3. the type of firing or use of explosives, the place of performance (region), date and time of commencement and termination of activity expressed as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC);

24.4. the maximum height in feet and radius of the danger area caused by explosion;

24.5. the maximum height and range of firing;

24.6. the type of firearm used for firing.

25. If the rights or interests of third persons are affected without substantiation while performing certain activities, the submitter shall append to the submission a document which certifies that the performance of the agreed upon with these persons.

26. The Civil Aviation Agency shall, within three working days after receipt of the documents referred to in Paragraphs 24 and 25 of this Regulation, send the copies thereof to the Ministry of Defence for the provision of an opinion.

27. The Ministry of Defence shall examine the copies of documents within five working days and submit an opinion to the Civil Aviation Agency on the conformity of the planned activities with the interests of national defence.

28. If the intended activities do not pose a threat to the security or safety of civil aviation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall, within five working days after receipt of the positive opinion referred to in Paragraph 27 of this Regulation, issue the permit to perform the abovementioned activities.

29. Following the issue of the permit referred to in Paragraph 28 of this Regulation, the Civil Aviation Agency shall order the Latvian Air Traffic to develop, within three working days, a temporary restriction on the use of the airspace required for the performance of the relevant activities, to receive a confirmation on it from the Civil Aviation Agency, and to issue the NOTAM notification.

30. A submitter shall commence the firing works not earlier than seven days after the issue of the NOTAM notification.

31. If the firing or use of explosive is intended to be performed within a period which exceeds 90 days, a submitter shall propose the change of the airspace structure in accordance with the intended activities in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the airspace structure and procedures for the change thereof. In such case, the firing or use of explosives shall be performed in accordance with the exploitation procedures for the airspace structure element.

Prime Minister A. Kalvītis

Minister for Transport A.Šlesers

Translation © 2025 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)