The Junkershallen in Oberschleißheim are to experience a completely new commercial use. Not everyone likes that.
Oberschleissheim – A year ago, the municipal council decided to renovate the two Junkers halls from 1934 on the airfield. At that time it was only about storage facilities for aircraft of the air sports clubs. Now the commercial use by the drone manufacturer “Volocopter” has been approved retrospectively.
Fritz-Gerrit Kropp (Greens) was angry. “A year ago we asked several times whether the renovation of the halls would result in new business and additional flights at the airport. We were assured in writing that that would not be the case.” Kropp said he felt he was being duped by the local council. “It was said several times that even after the renovation, it was still the same people from the air sports clubs, nothing more. But the Volocopter company wants to employ 15 people there and fly five days a week – we definitely don’t agree with that.”
The entire area is an FFH area
Group colleague Ingrid Lindbüchl added that the entire area is an FFH area, so such flights are not possible without an environmental assessment. Stefan Vohburger (FW) also found the company’s approach of getting started “and then getting the approval” very strange. “It is clear to me that the renovation and the preservation of monuments cost money, so you probably want to bring some of that in. I also find the combination of new technology at the oldest airport in Bavaria very interesting.” Nevertheless, he agreed. From 1934 there were three aircraft hangars at Oberschleißheim Airport, designed according to lightweight plans by aircraft engineer Hugo Junkers. A hall complex collapsed, it is being completely rebuilt.
There were flights even before the recovery plans
The other two halls are to be renovated. They are each 89 meters long, 37 meters deep and a good 11 meters high with a floor area of 3273 square meters. However, the manufacturer of electric vertical take-off aircraft, cargo drones and air taxis Volocopter, headquartered in Bruchsal in Baden, has been renting one of the two halls for some time. Since then, development work and test flights have taken place in Oberschleißheim. A year ago, Kropp insisted and wanted to be sure that after the renovation there would be no additional flight movements by companies – Volocopter was already rented at the time and was carrying out drone launches.
“The drones are pretty loud”
Mayor Markus Böck (CSU) said at the time that it was only about the renovation of the halls as storage areas. “There is no application for additional flight movements.” Apparently there were already flights from Volocopter in front of the Junkers halls, as can be seen on the company’s website. “These drones are also quite loud, and of course many employees and visitors will drive to the halls, so traffic will increase,” said Fritz-Gerrit Kropp.
Peter Benthues (CSU) said that the federal police fly their helicopters at any time of the day or night and on a wide variety of routes, “so flying is obviously allowed in the FFH area too.” outstanding opportunity to combine something very old like the airport and a completely new technology.” Florian Spirkl (SPD) asked, “where should such an aircraft fly if not at our airport? But the way the company is proceeding is not right.” In the end, the construction and works committee voted 8:5 in favor of running the company. B. BROCHURE
