Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA)

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, or LBA, is the federal aviation office of Germany. It oversees civil aviation matters such as aircraft safety, air carriers, flight crew, aviation security and drones. The office is based in Braunschweig.

In the technical field, the LBA covers the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. Its topics include aircraft continuing airworthiness monitoring, airworthiness review certificates, continuing airworthiness management organisations and combined airworthiness organisations. It also deals with design organisations, production organisations, maintenance organisations, maintenance programmes and airworthiness directives. Other areas include type approvals, technical personnel, environmental protection and traffic approval.

The LBA has a section for air carriers. It covers the entry of foreign air carriers into Germany, occurrence reports, conflict zones, flight operations, dangerous goods and approvals for German air carriers. It also looks at air traffic safety and the economic fitness of carriers.

A section for aviation personnel covers training organisations, recognised flight examiners, flight operations advisers, aeromedicine, flight simulation devices, licensing, language requirements and theory exams. Another section deals with aviation security. It covers security equipment, security programmes, regulated agents, known consignors and the secure supply chain in third countries.

For drones, the LBA handles remote pilot rules, operator registration, test bodies, market surveillance and operating permits. It also covers security authorities and civil protection users, cross-border operations and the Light UAS Operator Certificate. A user guide helps UAS operators write a manual for the specific category. A leaflet explains how drone operators report safety events. In 2026, the office also published a recall notice for a parachute system for a drone and began billing again for drone services from 2022.

The office also helps air passengers. Its pages cover rights after cancellation, denied boarding or delay, help for passengers with reduced mobility, price transparency and the identity of the operating airline. It offers conciliation, a complaint process and complaint forms. The LBA publishes online forms through the federal portal, runs a newsletter and lists hotlines and consultation hours. It also recruits staff and offers training and internships.

Services

• Continuing airworthiness oversight
• Approval of maintenance and CAMO organisations
• Type approvals
• Air carrier approvals
• Pilot licensing and examiners
• Aviation security oversight
• Drone operator registration
• Light UAS Operator Certificate
• Passenger rights complaints
• Online forms