Aalen-Elchingen Airport | Opening Hours & EDPA

The Aalen-Elchingen Airport is much more than just a point on the map: it is a developed airfield with its own club history, an active flight school, clear operational procedures, and a location that uniquely combines aviation, nature, and club life. The operator is the Luftsportring Aalen e.V., which mentions around 560 members on its official website and describes the development of the airfield since the first flights on March 7, 1954. The site is located in the Neresheim-Elchingen area on the Härtsfeld, about 14 kilometers southeast of Aalen, and is known as EDPA. Therefore, those searching for Aalen-Elchingen Airport, Luftsportring Aalen, or EDPA will find a place where aviation is not only managed but lived. The official website also shows that the airfield is open seven days a week except in winter and is significantly shaped by club activities, training, and guest operations. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/))

Opening Hours, AIP TIME, and PPR at Aalen-Elchingen Airport

For visitors, pilots, and anyone interested in the opening hours of Aalen-Elchingen Airport, the official airfield information is the most important anchor point. It first points out the AIP TIME, which refers to the published, aviation law-relevant times that may differ from pure visitor logic. The website states that for the season, the times are MAR-OCT 0800 to SS/1600 as well as 0600 to 0800 and 1600 to SS/1800 with PPR without an operations manager. The usage regulations additionally state that the airfield is generally open from 10:00 to 18:00 local time from March 15 to October 31, but other times require PPR. From November 1 to March 14, PPR applies. This combination of seasonal operation, marginal times, and advance registration explains why EDPA appears in many search queries related to opening hours, PPR, and operations managers. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/flugplatz-info/))

Particularly important at Aalen-Elchingen Airport is the interplay between regular operations and unattended operations. The Luftsportring Aalen has received permission for EDPA to fly without an operations manager during certain marginal times; this is provisionally described on the website for non-based aircraft from 08:00 to 10:00 and 18:00 to 20:00, each until sunset. The usage regulations also refer to the fact that arrivals and departures during unattended operations are only permitted in accordance with the regulations set out there. This is particularly relevant for search queries like Aalen Airport opening hours or Aalen-Elchingen EDPA, as visitors can thus inform themselves not only about times but also about the character of the airfield. Those who land or take off here are not at an anonymous major airport, but at a club airfield with clear, locally shaped rules. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EDPA_Benutzungsordnung_20250626.pdf))

The term Aalen RADIO also belongs to the practical reality of the airfield. The airfield information states for EDPA the frequency 121.405 MHz and explains that it is a RADIO airfield where no certified flight information such as QNH or exact wind information may be transmitted. Instead, only simple, non-certified information is allowed, such as recommendations for the operating runway or general traffic information. This classification is more than a technical footnote, as it shows how strongly the airfield is embedded in a self-organized but safety-conscious club and training model. For search intents like aalen radio, airfield info, and aalen heidenheim elchingen airfield, this is a central point: those who want to understand the airfield must not only know the times but also the communication culture on the ground and in the air. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/flugplatz-info/))

Access, Location, and Parking on the Härtsfeld

The location of Aalen-Elchingen Airport is an essential part of its identity. Officially, the usage regulations describe the airfield as 14 kilometers southeast of Aalen; the airfield information adds the classification with 7.6 NM SE Aalen, thus providing a clear aviation-related distance indication. Additionally, there are precise coordinates, an elevation of 586 meters or 1916 feet, and the immediate anchoring in the Härtsfeld. For the search terms access, aalen heidenheim elchingen airport, and aalen-elchingen airport, this geographical location is crucial because the airfield is not located in a city center but in an open landscape with plenty of space for aviation, club activities, and quiet airfield rounds. The official description also makes it clear that it is a public airfield with its own characteristics. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EDPA_Benutzungsordnung_20250626.pdf))

Access to Aalen-Elchingen Airport is also clearly regulated. The guest information states that access is only possible through the automatic blue gate on Römerweg and that a maximum of one RFID chip for opening the gate from the outside is issued per aircraft on loan. From the inside, the gate opens via a contact loop. These details are practical for visitors and arriving crews because they show that the site does not function freely like a public parking lot, but is organized as a secured aviation site. Those searching for parking lot, access, or parking should also know that vehicles must be quickly removed from the starting position after transport to the starting point. No takeoff is possible as long as vehicles are standing in the starting area. This is a good example of how everyday life at the airfield is characterized by discipline, mutual consideration, and clear roles. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Gastinfo_EDPA_2025_2.pdf))

For parking, the guest information provides a specific solution: parking is possible at the northern edge of the operating area in the east or west. Additionally, the document describes the safety strip of the asphalt runway, which must also be kept clear beyond the paved length in the east and west. The paved runway 09L/27R measures 1000 x 25 meters, the parallel runway 09R/27L 1000 x 30 meters, with the usage regulations stating the length of the asphalt runway as 950 meters TORA and LDA. For visitors looking for photos or wanting to get an impression beforehand, this is particularly exciting: the airfield appears open and spacious, yet is technically organized with precision. Thus, EDPA combines the relaxed atmosphere of a club airfield with clearly defined movement areas, linking the search terms parking, photos, and airfield info. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EDPA_Benutzungsordnung_20250626.pdf))

Luftsportring Aalen e.V., Members, and Club Life

The Luftsportring Aalen e.V. is the heart of the site. On the homepage, the club describes itself as the owner and operator of the AALEN-ELCHINGEN airfield, EDPA, and mentions around 560 members. The club's website also shows that the Luftsportring Aalen presents itself as the largest aviation club in Baden-Württemberg. This size is important for the perception of the airfield because it explains why EDPA is known far beyond the region. This is not about a small hobby field, but about a developed aviation structure with training, infrastructure, and a long tradition of volunteer work. The reference to the first flights on March 7, 1954, clearly marks this path: from an idea on the heathland south of Elchingen, a fully-fledged airfield was gradually developed. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/))

The club page also describes what holds the Luftsportring together in everyday life. In addition to the airfield, flight school, and modern equipment, the club mentions a campsite and a community of like-minded individuals. In the winter half-year, club life is maintained with lectures and joint outings. This is an important difference from many purely functional airfields: here, the site is not only transportation infrastructure but also a social space. Therefore, those searching for luftsportring aalen e v or luftsportring aalen ev will find more than just an operator profile. They will find a community that connects training, leisure, technology, and mutual exchange. Especially for people interested in entering aviation, this is a strong signal because they find not only an airfield but also an environment that explicitly promotes learning and participation. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/verein/))

The club's presentation also includes the idea of an airfield without aviation law restrictions in the beautiful landscape of the Härtsfeld. This formulation is not only promotional but refers to the special combination of location, club work, and usage possibilities. It is complemented by the mention of the campsite, which also offers members living far away the opportunity to pursue their hobby with minimal travel effort. For the SEO topics around aalen-elchingen airfield luftsportring aalen e v photos, this is relevant because the airfield thus gains a visual and emotional component: people, airplanes, nature, clubhouse, and airfield life interconnect. This character makes EDPA interesting for visitors who want to experience not only takeoffs and landings but also the atmosphere and club culture. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/verein/))

Flight School, Gliding, Motor Flying, and Ultralight Flying at EDPA

A central theme at Aalen-Elchingen Airport is training. The club describes on the flight page a cost-effective, professional training with qualified flight instructors and 15 motor, glider, and ultralight aircraft used for training. The diversity is particularly important: those who want to get to know aviation can experience not only gliding but also motor flying and ultralight flying on the same site. This is ideal for search queries like flight school, airfield info, and aalen elchingen edpa because the airfield thus becomes visible not only as a takeoff and landing point but also as a training location. The website also emphasizes the daily flight operations during the season, making EDPA interesting for both experienced pilots and beginners. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/fliegen/))

The training structure is clearly organized. Gliding can be started from the age of 14, the pilot's license can usually be obtained upon reaching the age of 16, and a medical fitness certificate is required before starting. Practical training takes place in the summer on weekends in Elchingen, while theoretical training is offered free of charge in the winter half-year on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as well as Saturday mornings. For basic training, two-seater gliders of the type ASK-21 and Duo Discus are used. These details show how practically the club operates and why the location is attractive for training interested individuals. Those who learn here do not experience an anonymous school structure but a club framework in which flight instructors work voluntarily and progress is accompanied from the first flight to solo flight. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/fliegen/))

The infrastructure around flight operations is also remarkable. The airfield information mentions available fuels such as Avgas 100 LL, Mogas, Diesel, and Jet A1. It also refers to the Elchingen airfield restaurant and the flight school with motor flying, UL, and gliding training. The flying vacation page adds to the picture with a campsite offering sufficient caravan and motorhome pitches, tent sites, a renovated sanitary building with a washing machine, and a mattress dormitory for 6 to 8 people on the upper floor of the washhouse. This mixture of technology, leisure, and practical comfort makes the location interesting for longer stays as well. EDPA is thus suitable not only for short visits but also for multi-day aviation stays. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/flugplatz-info/))

Webcams, Photos, and the Atmosphere on Site

Those searching for photos of Aalen-Elchingen Airport will find several visual accesses on the website. The homepage features large image motifs from flight operations, while the subpages Webcams and Falcon Cam have their own areas for live impressions. This is particularly helpful for search queries like aalen-elchingen airfield luftsportring aalen e v photos or webcams because one can understand the airfield not only through text but also through current images and perspectives. The webcams are practical for pilots as they can provide an impression of weather, operations, and mood, and exciting for visitors as they make the site experienceable in advance. The visual language of the website also supports the impression of a lively club airfield where movement, landscape, and technology belong together. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/webcams/?utm_source=openai))

The atmosphere is also enhanced by the location in the Härtsfeld. The official club presentation emphasizes the beautiful landscape, and the flying vacation page describes the starry sky over the airfield and the idyl of the place. Such descriptions are not technical aviation information, but they explain why visitors stay here not only for takeoffs and landings. The large sun terrace of the airfield restaurant and the playground right next to it make the location interesting for families and accompanying persons as well. Therefore, those searching for photos often actually seek the feeling of the airfield: open, friendly, nature-connected, and yet clearly structured. This mixture is delivered very consistently by EDPA. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/fliegerurlaub/?utm_source=openai))

The airfield also offers a good environment for longer stays. The flying vacation page highlights the campsite with caravan, motorhome, and tent pitches, complemented by sanitary buildings, washing machines, and mattress dormitories. Together with the webcams, image motifs, and gastronomic infrastructure, a coherent picture of an airfield emerges that is not only functional but also hospitable. For users searching for aalen airport opening hours or photos, this is an important signal: EDPA is a place where one can observe flight operations, enjoy a coffee or a meal on the terrace, and simultaneously experience the club atmosphere. This makes the airfield interesting for a spontaneous Sunday trip as well. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/fliegerurlaub/?utm_source=openai))

Airfield Festival, AERO Fly-In, and Special Events

Aalen-Elchingen Airport is also strongly positioned as an event venue. The official page for the AERO Fly-In and airfield festival describes the event as a spectacle that only takes place every two years and aims to bring together historical, extraordinary, and sporting aircraft on the Härtsfeld. For visitors, this means: EDPA is not only a training and club location but also a stage for special aviation moments. The page also mentions that the traditional airfield festival has previously attracted more than 10,000 visitors. Such numbers show that the airfield has a supra-regional appeal when aviation is made visible and experienceable. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/aero-fly-in-und-flugplatzfest/?utm_source=openai))

The AERO Fly-In combines tradition and innovation. The event invites enthusiasts of conventional aircraft as well as fans of future-oriented electric aircraft and offers flight and special shows as well as exhibiting companies from the fields of electric flying, accessories, and equipment. This is precisely why the event is interesting for many search interests around airfield festival, EDPA, and photos: the event generates images, stories, and encounters that make the airfield known far beyond regular flight operations. Those who view Aalen-Elchingen Airport only as a runway overlook an important part of its public role. Here, club life, aviation history, and future topics intersect. ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/aero-fly-in-und-flugplatzfest/?utm_source=openai))

For 2026, the site is additionally characterized by the Junior World Gliding Championships, which are announced on the official JWGC page for EDPA Aalen-Elchingen, Germany. The website states the period from August 2 to 15, 2026, and refers to the Day of Aviation on August 8, 2026, with public participation, activities, and the gliding world championship up close. Even though this event goes beyond the classic everyday operations, it underscores the sporting significance of the airfield. For the SEO topics around aalen radio, airfield info, and aalen-elchingen airport, this is relevant because it shows that EDPA is not only a local airfield but also a place for international competitions and large community experiences. ([jwgc2026.org](https://jwgc2026.org/?utm_source=openai))

Sources:

• Luftsportring Aalen - Official Website ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/))
• Airfield Info - Luftsportring Aalen ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/flugplatz-info/))
• Flying - Training and Flight Practice ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/fliegen/))
• Flying Vacation - Campsite and Restaurant ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/fliegerurlaub/?utm_source=openai))
• AERO Fly-In and Airfield Festival ([edpa.de](https://edpa.de/aero-fly-in-und-flugplatzfest/?utm_source=openai))