By Yvonne Gerster
13. March 2024

In close cooperation with the national aviation authority Austro Control, the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG, innovative developments and applications of drones in Austria are being tested in the various airspace restriction areas of AIRlabs.

The AIRlabs test areas enable ideal specific conditions for drone tests flights in a protected environment due to the reduced ground and air risk. Through successful flight tests, AIRlabs Austria plays a leading role in testing innovative and sustainable drone technologies for the general public.

Below, you will find an overview of our airspace restriction areas that serve as testing grounds for innovative drone applications.

LO-R 9 Steinalpl

The drone test flight area LO-R 9 is located at Steinalpl an der Mürz in Styria. For reference, take a look at the map below:

Gebietsübersicht Steinalpl, Austro Control

Facts and Figures

  • 102 km² area in the Mürzsteg Alps
  • permitted flight altitude: GND – 7500 ft AMSL
  • Relatively high flight altitudes, e.g. altitude tests possible
  • Mountain range with the highest elevation at 1862 m above sea level
  • Test in alpine weather conditions (remote region for testing mobile communications, long distances possible for BVLOS)
  • Mostly forested and uninhabited
LO-R 10 Reichersberg

The drone test flight area LO-R 10 Reichersberg is located in the Innkreis region near the German border. For reference, take a look at the map below:

Gebietsübersicht Reichersberg, Austro Control

Facts and Figures

  • 79 km² area
  • permitted flight altitude: GND – 4000 ft AMSL
  • Relatively high flight altitudes, e.g. altitude tests possible
  • Agricultural
  • The area has only small differences in height (358 m – 370 m).
  • Industrial infrastructures
  • Higher-level traffic routes (state roads and federal highway)
  • Mixture of unpopulated and populated areas (sparsely populated and suburban)
LO-R 11 Frauschereck

The drone test flight area LO-R 11 is located in Upper Austria near Sankt Johann am Walde. For reference, take a look at the map below:

Gebietsübersicht Frauschereck, Austro Control

Facts and Figures

  • Approximately 116.7 km² area
  • Maximum permissible flight altitude: GND – 3500 ft AMSL
  • Forested
  • Highest elevation: Wienerhöhe at 755 m
  • Test in remote forestry region (remote region for long distances and BVLOS)
  • The lowest location is the outermost northwest area, which lies southeast of Mattighofen (444 m above sea level).

If you are interested in using our test areas or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working with you and driving the future of drone technology.

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