New regulations for flights over cities. The government introduces “R zones”


According to the assumptions of the new regulation, which is to enter into force on April 16, 2026, flight bans and restrictions will apply only to designated R zones. The Ministry explains that the existing regulations also covered non-urbanized areas, which requires correction. The introduction of new rules is aimed at adapting national regulations to the needs of airspace users and harmonizing them with EU regulations.
The new R zones will cover the largest cities in Poland, such as Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław and Łódź, as well as the Silesian agglomeration, including: Bytom, Katowice, Gliwice and Zabrze. The zone boundaries will be determined on the basis of data from the Central Office of Geodesy and Cartography, using simple geometric figures.
The ministry emphasizes that the changes are aimed at improving the safety of general aviation operations. As indicated in the project justification, the new regulations will allow for better adaptation of flight restrictions to actual needs, eliminating inaccuracies resulting from the existing regulations.




