Engelsdorf Start und Landung West (1)

Engelsdorf West is a winch-tow flatland site between Aldenhoven and Jülich, close enough to two military installations that pilots need to plan around them: the NATO airbase at Geilenkirchen and its controlled airspace sit roughly 5 km away, with a mandatory reporting point about 5.7 km off, and a restricted zone (ED-R 111) with a ceiling around 700 m sits about 4 km to the east — entering either airspace is never allowed. The whole area also lies inside Germany's general military low-flying zone, so jet, propeller and helicopter traffic can appear at low altitude on weekday daytimes, and every pilot is briefed on that before flying here. Flying operations are registered with two nearby air traffic control towers each day before launching and again once flying ends. A radio link between the launch point, the tow vehicle and the pilot is mandatory, and the tow route may only be used for paraglider launches and landings outside the field-bird breeding season, from 1 September to the end of February.

Launch & conditions

A radio link between the launch point, tow vehicle and pilot is mandatory, and the tow operation must abort if a vehicle or person approaches the route. The tow route is only open for paraglider launches and landings from 1 September to the end of February, outside the field-bird breeding season.

Local rules & hazards

The site sits close to Geilenkirchen NATO airbase's controlled airspace (roughly 5 km away) and a restricted zone (ED-R 111, ceiling around 700 m) about 4 km east — entering either is never permitted, and daily flying is registered with the two nearest air traffic control towers before and after operations. The area also lies inside Germany's general military low-flying zone, so jet, propeller and helicopter traffic can appear at low altitude on weekday daytimes. Keep well clear of the A44 motorway at all times.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Engelsdorf Start und Landung West (1), read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Engelsdorf Start und Landung West (1) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.