Dutch-German AOPA Fly-In

A successful AOPA Fly-In at Stadtlohn-Vreden brought together pilots, organisations and aviation businesses from both sides of the Dutch-German border. On 4 July, Flugplatz Stadtlohn-Vreden (EDLS) hosted a well-attended AOPA Fly-In that demonstrated both the diversity of General Aviation and the value of cooperation across national borders.

Located in Germany just a short distance from the Netherlands, Stadtlohn was a natural venue for the event. The airport has long-standing links with Dutch aviation, with an estimated 35 to 40 per cent of its users coming from the Netherlands. For many Dutch pilots, EDLS is effectively part of their regional GA network.

The Fly-In was organised by airport manager Rob Zeevalk together with AOPA Netherlands board member John van Asperen. Favourable summer weather brought visiting aircraft to the apron, while exhibitors, presentations and demonstrations attracted pilots and visitors throughout the day.



A successful AOPA Fly-In at Stadtlohn-Vreden brought together pilots, organisations and aviation businesses from both sides of the Dutch-German border.

The event offered a broad cross-section of today’s GA community. Touring aircraft, light sport aircraft and training machines were joined by companies and specialists active in maintenance, avionics, insurance, training, simulation and digital services. Presentations addressed practical developments in cockpit technology, automation, safety, maintenance and the continuing digitalisation of aviation.

A central theme of the day was Dutch-German cooperation. AOPA Netherlands was strongly represented, while AOPA Germany also participated. AOPA Netherlands chairman Mark Rademaker met with AOPA Germany managing director Michael Erb, who travelled from Frankfurt together with treasurer Bülent Emekci. AOPA Germany board member Clemens Bollinger was also present.



Beyond aircraft and presentations, the Fly-In was above all an opportunity for pilots, owners, instructors, engineers and aviation organisations to meet and exchange experience.

Their participation reflected a wider European reality. Many of the major challenges facing General Aviation – including airspace access, regulation, airport infrastructure, fuel availability, rising costs and sustainability – increasingly extend beyond national borders. Close cooperation between national AOPA organisations therefore remains essential to effective advocacy for GA pilots and aircraft owners.

Stadtlohn itself illustrates the cross-border nature of European General Aviation. Although located in Germany, the airport has served Dutch pilots for decades. Its 1,240-metre paved runway accommodates a wide range of GA aircraft, and the airport records approximately 40,000 to 45,000 movements annually.

Beyond aircraft and presentations, the Fly-In was above all an opportunity for pilots, owners, instructors, engineers and aviation organisations to meet and exchange experience. There was also attention for increasing the visibility and participation of women in aviation.

The Stadtlohn Fly-In offered a practical reminder of what European General Aviation can achieve through cooperation. From the air, national borders are often barely visible. On the ground, shared interests in safety, access, innovation and the freedom to fly provide an equally strong basis for working together.

Source: IAOPA