Civil Aeronautics sets height limits for new construction projects near La Aurora Airport in Guatemala

The Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics set new height restrictions for future construction west of La Aurora International Airport. (Official Gazette) The Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) of Guatemala established new restrictions on the height of future buildings west of La Aurora International Airport, in zone 11 of Guatemala City. The measure, in force since November 10, seeks to protect takeoff and landing operations through technical limits for projects located in the flight paths. The provision was formalized in Resolution RES-DS-606-2026, which defines maximum construction elevations in a sector near the air terminal. The DGAC indicated that the objective is to reduce risks associated with obstacles in the approach and departure surfaces of aircraft, as well as to provide predictability to developers, property owners, and authorities in charge of authorizing works. The regulation is based on Technical Report MT-009-2026, prepared by a working group of the aeronautical authority. The team brought together specialists in air navigation, operational safety, and airport infrastructure, who analyzed the conditions of the area for more than 14 months. Projects located less than four kilometers outside the polygon face a general maximum elevation of 1,551 meters above sea level. (Official Gazette) The resolution establishes an area of 3,273,623.16 square meters in zone 11, where new constructions may not exceed 1,605 meters above mean sea level. The perimeter corresponds to a sector located west of La Aurora International Airport and responds to parameters related to aircraft routes. The limit is not equivalent to a uniform height measured from the ground. The elevation takes as its reference the height above mean sea level, so each project must consider the characteristics of the terrain where it is to be built. Thus, a building located at a point with higher natural elevation will have less margin to rise. A technical chart illustrates the air approach zones and height restrictions for buildings near the landing runway of La Aurora International Airport, located within Guatemala City. (Illustrative image Infobae) The DGAC noted that the delimitation establishes a specific criterion for that area and does not automatically enable high-rise constructions in other points of the Guatemalan capital. The resolution seeks to avoid interpretations that would allow the approved elevations to be extended to sectors with different airport conditions. For projects located outside the delimited area, on the west side of the air terminal, the general limit of 1,551 meters above mean sea level will remain in force when they are less than four kilometers from the airport. On land located between four and six kilometers away, the permissible height may increase five meters for every additional 100 meters of separation from La Aurora. This mechanism establishes a technical progression that takes into account the distance from the flight routes. The regulation applies to future works and does not order the demolition or modification of already existing buildings. According to the aeronautical authority, the purpose is to regulate new constructions and establish clear references for risk control in the airport's surroundings. Works within the delimited polygon in zone 11 are subject to a limit of 1,605 meters above mean sea level. (Civil Aeronautics) The DGAC also asked its Legal Advisory Unit to review records of authorizations granted without technical backing, including Resolution RES-DS-084-2020. The analysis must determine whether legal measures should be taken regarding those procedures. The aeronautical authority made available a platform with an interactive map so that drone pilots can consult the areas authorized and restricted for unmanned aerial operations in Guatemala. Unmanned aircraft pilots have a digital form to process special permits in restricted areas. (Civil Aeronautics) The tool was enabled by the Operational Safety Surveillance Department and allows users to review the location of airports, airfields, and heliports, as well as the conditions applicable to each zone. Users can go to www.dgac.gob.gt, select the "Drones" section and then the option "Verify where I can fly." The same digital space includes the form to process a Special Drone Operations Permit when the user needs to exceed the permitted height or intends to operate in a restricted area.