The number of fighter training flights in Dutch airspace is steadily increasing, raising new concerns for general aviation safety. According to a report by De Telegraaf, cited by Ukrinform, the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) warns that the growing activity—particularly involving foreign military pilots—has heightened the risk of dangerous incidents.
One recent event highlighted the issue. After completing a training mission, two fighter jets were returning to Volkel Air Base using a normal but unofficial flight route.
At the same time, a Tecnam propeller aircraft carrying an instructor and student ascended into their path. With both aircraft approaching rapidly, the civilian pilots had little time to maneuver. Thanks to timely intervention from air traffic controllers, both planes altered course at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a collision.
The OVV noted that this incident is not isolated. Several near-fatal events involving fast-moving military jets and small civilian aircraft have been investigated in recent years. Experts stress that at high speeds, the conventional “see-and-avoid” principle—long relied upon by pilots—becomes unreliable and insufficient for safety.
Risks are expected to rise further with the introduction of the F-35 fighter jet and increased training by foreign pilots in Dutch skies. The advanced aircraft’s speed and operational requirements add complexity to an already congested airspace.
Government sources emphasize the need for concrete safety measures. These include better separation of civilian and military flight paths and the introduction of automatic conflict-avoidance systems capable of alerting aircraft to impending dangers without relying solely on human response times.
The OVV also recommends strengthening airspace surveillance and improving cooperation among all aviation actors. Enhanced communication between the military, air traffic controllers, and civilian aviation groups would help detect potential conflicts at earlier stages.
The Netherlands has already deployed systems to track and respond to unidentified drones, indicating its commitment to modernizing airspace safety tools. However, experts insist that continuous evaluation and collective action are essential to ensure secure operations for all types of aircraft.
As military training intensifies, calls are growing for a unified strategy that balances defense needs with general aviation safety. The challenge, authorities say, is safeguarding one of Europe’s busiest airspaces while accommodating the evolving demands of modern fighter operations.
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