Careful approach to Environmental Impact Assessment for Aviation Policy

2 minutes read

The aviation industry is rapidly evolving. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management aims to balance societal needs for aviation, sustainability, quality of life, safety, and a vital economy. To achieve this, the ministry is currently working on both the Airspace Redesign and the Aviation Policy 2020-2050. The consulting and engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV, with the support of NLR, has been commissioned by the ministry to prepare the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Aviation Policy.

For the entire Dutch airspace, the ministry is currently developing the Aviation Policy 2020-2050, which will determine new aviation policy. In preparing and making decisions about the Aviation Policy, a broader type of decision-making information is being used. Instead of only considering environmental impacts, the assessment will also take into account broader effects on the living environment and economic effects (broad welfare effects). This will enable an integrated evaluation to be made. Therefore, the EIA will also be used as a broad welfare effects report.

Royal HaskoningDHV has been selected for this assignment, in collaboration with the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and Buck Consultants International (BCI). The Ministry has asked NLR to provide an overview of the available knowledge and knowledge gaps that are relevant to the development of the new aviation policy. Additionally, NLR will provide insights into the effects of aviation on the environment and will draw on its experience from participation processes related to aviation.

“Our aviation knowledge makes an essential substantive contribution to the EIA. This includes knowledge built up through contributions to the knowledge scan for the aviation policy and other projects for future developments in aviation, such as Clean Sky, SESAR, and ANIMA. Furthermore, NLR is involved in various studies related to the implementation of drones and has broad knowledge of developments related to safety,” says Lennard Verhoeff, Business Manager Aerospace Operations at NLR.

Jan de Wit, Director Smart Urban Environment at Royal HaskoningDHV, adds: “We are proud to have been selected to work on the national long-term policy for aviation and that we can apply our top expertise in the field of environmental impacts, air quality, and related topics to such a socially relevant theme.”

Latest news

professional RPAS drone operations
Flight Operations and Certification

30 October 2025

New Drone Operator training: Firda and NLR join forces

Firda Emmeloord MBO college and the applied research organisation NLR are partnering to launch a new MBO training programme 'Drone Operations Specialist' scheduled to start in 2026. Firda will deliver the educational component, while NLR will provide its expertise and facilities. This partnership adresses the growing need for qualified drone operators and supports the development of the new MITC in Marknesse.

Defence and Security

29 October 2025

Royal Netherlands Navy opens innovative drone workshop at NLR Marknesse

The Royal Netherlands Navy officially opened a new drone workshop on the site of the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) in Marknesse on Monday, October 20. The workshop marks a significant step in strengthening the cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and NLR in the field of unmanned aerial systems and maritime technology.

NLR corporate

27 October 2025

Resilience Week: NLR and TNO join forces for a safer future

From cyber attacks to espionage, from disinformation to disrupting vital infrastructure – the Netherlands is being tested on its resilience more and more often. Today's security issues are complex and affect all sectors. Cooperation is not a choice, but a necessity. That is why NLR and TNO are organising the Resilience Week from 27 to 31 October: a joint initiative that raises awareness amongst employees of their role in strengthening national resilience.