LFVs main mission is to provide safe, efficient and environmentally friendly air navigation services for civil and military aviation and services for unmanned aviation. Responsible for inspection is The Swedish Transport Agency. LFV does not operate airports.

LFV Air Navigation Services of Sweden is a state enterprise under the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure, guiding commercial and military aircrafts during take offs, landings and in the air. The work is conducted at 16 airports from the air traffic control towers, and four control centres. LFV also develops new services and operational concepts to meet the increased demands for capacity, availability and sustainability. We are also involved in developing the European airspace through collaboration in organisations and alliances.

In Sweden, the airports are either private owned, municipal or owned by the state. LFV does not own or run any airports. The state-owned airports are operated by Swedavia. Here you can find links to airports.

Operators in Swedish airspace

LFV Air Navigation Services of Sweden.

ACR, Aviation Capacity Resource, is a private owned company that conducts air traffic services at a number of airports in Sweden.

The Swedish Transport Agency is working with rail, air, sea and road transports. They set the rules and issue permits, such as pilot licenses. They also supervise the rules and regulations.

Swedavia owns and operates the state airports, such as Stockholm-Arlanda, Stockholm-Bromma, Landvetter and Malmö Airport among others.

SRF, Swedish Regional Airports AB owned by the Swedish Regional Airport Association (SRFF) is a collaboration between the Swedish nongovernment owned airports.

Operators outside of Sweden

Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the coordination of air traffic in European air space with almost 40 member states.

EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency, the common European authority for aviation safety.

ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN body with the task of contributing to increased aviation safety through common regulations for air navigation services etc.

CANSO, The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, a global interest organisation primarily for providers of air navigation services.

IATA, International Air Transport Association, an international organization with airline members.

The primary task of an air traffic controller is to ensure the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. Air traffic controllers are experts at "separating" traffic, i.e., separating the routes of aircraft so that they do not collide. The air traffic controller control all air traffic in the controlled airspace and keeps contact with the aircrafts and vehicles on the ground by two-way radio communications. The air traffic controller uses radar screens to see the aircrafts.

There are three different types of air traffic control services

• air traffic control that are responsible for aircraft taking off and landing and for the airspace nearest to the airport
• terminal air traffic control that uses radar to direct traffic within 30 to 50 nautical miles of the airport
• area control that directs traffic at high altitude.

Would you like to become a trainee air traffic controller? Find out if you meet the requirements here.

The airspace is divided into different layers depending on the height and proximity to an airport. The airspace closest to an airport is known as controlled airspace at all heights  from the ground up to 46 000 feet. The main principle is that outside the airport area, only the higher levels, 10 000 feet to 46 000 feet, is controlled airspace – the rest is free airspace.

In controlled airspace LFVs air traffic controllers guide the aircrafts through radar and radio contact with the pilots. LFVs controllers ensure that the aircrafts are managed in an efficient and safe manner. In uncontrolled airspace, it is allowed to fly without contact with the air traffic controllers, although there are safety rules even there. This means that, for example, small aircrafts and helicopters often fly in uncontrolled airspace without contact with air traffic controllers. Passenger planes, however, are always flying in controlled airspace.

Designing airspace and air routes is complex. In the development of routes, several factors must be considered from the financial, capacity, safety and environmental perspective.

The regulatory framework is designed by

• ICAO, globally
• EASA, in Europe
• and The Swedish Transport Agency, in Sweden.

The Swedish Transport Agency and EASA supervises the regulatory framework governing aviation, airports, airlines and air navigation service providers.

Distances may vary depending on the phase of the flight and the size of the plane. The separation between two aircraft flying at cruising altitude, is about 6 km horizontally and 300 metres vertically. If one would transfer the horizontal safety distance from aviation to cars driving at 110 km per hour on a highway, the distance between each car would be about one kilometer.

Each airplane and helicopter has a registration. Aircraft Registry is managed by the Swedish Transport Agency. Here you can find the Aircraft Register (transportstyrelsen.se).

There is information on The Swedish Transport Agency's website. Airlines, airports and air navigation service providers, are according to the regulations required to report deviations from normal operation to the Agency within 72 hours. A deviation does not need to involve an accident or incident, it could for example be a violation of the minimum separation, when two aircraft during any part of the flight have come closer to each other than the safety margins indicate.

Further information of airplane accidents from around the world can be found at aviation-safety.net where all aviation accidents since the 1940s are reported.

LFV can provide information on the scheduled commercial aviation. As a main principle private flights, state flight and more are subject to the secrecy of the Official Secrets Act 2009:400, chapter 29. Privacy protects the individual in activities related to transportation and other forms of communication.

Usually not. Hot air balloons and helicopters have no obligation to call the traffic control if they are flying in uncontrolled airspace. If the aircraft is flying in controlled airspace, they should contact the traffic control. However, this does not automatically register a flight.

Departure and arrival times can be found on the website of the respective airport. Here you can find Swedish airports.

LFV is constantly trying to find new ways to reduce emissions from the aircrafts. We focus on approach and take off paths and the air distance.

Free Route Airspace, or straight flight paths, is an effective way to reduce aircraft emissions. Straight flight paths are made possible through GPS navigation instead of navigation aid on the ground. The joint Danish-Swedish airspace offers straight routes and a growing number in European airspaces is gradually introduced. Free Route Airspace is a requirement from the EU to streamline air travel and reduce emissions.

Read more about LFVs work with environment and sustainability here.

The white lines after an aircraft are contrails, short for condensation trails. They occur when warm moist air from the engines meets the cold surrounding air. Water vapor in the warm air freezes to ice so that ice crystals appear as white streaks. If the surrounding air is dry streaks usually resolves quickly. If the humidity is high streaks tend to remain longer.

LFV is working to reduce the number of people exposed to aircraft noise by, as far as possible, lead the planes in the flight paths located outside urban areas.

If you are disturbed, turn to the airport to present your views. It is the airport that holds the environment permit. They often have a routine in managing these cases and can also guide you further if needed.

EUROCONTROL Network Operations Portal can provide a current update of the situation in Europe.

Minimum flight altitude over cities is 1000 feet. Outside cities the minimum altitude is 500 feet. 

Low flying helicopters may be performing flight inspections of power lines or mapping. They may also be medical transportation.

For more information about rules concerning drones, please visit LFVs dronechart.