Prague-Vodochody Airport (LKVO), the Czech capital’s secondary international field used by corporate jets and aircraft manufacturers, has resumed normal air-traffic-service hours after a 12-day reduction linked to controller training. Between 14 and 25 September the tower was staffed only from 09:00–16:00 local, forcing many business-aviation operators to reposition to Brno or Karlovy Vary for early-morning and late-evening slots. The airport authority confirmed late on 25 September that trainees successfully completed their certification exercises and that ATC will now revert to the standard 07:00–22:00 schedule, with out-of-hours PPR (prior permission required) available. Maintenance crews at neighbouring Aero Vodochody—whose L-39 and L-59 military trainer lines attract clients from Asia and the Middle East—welcomed the change, noting that demo flights had to be rescheduled during the restriction window. Although Vodochody handles fewer than 25,000 movements a year, it plays a strategic role for time-sensitive engineering teams and for overflow traffic when Václav Havel Airport reaches night curfew limits. Several Formula 1 logistics charters had considered diverting next week, but will now land at Vodochody as planned, according to freight-forwarder DSV. The episode highlights a growing training bottleneck in Czech ATC. The Air Navigation Services provider (ŘLP) has warned that up to 20 percent of its controller workforce could retire by 2030, necessitating rolling training programmes that may temporarily curtail hours at regional airports. Companies relying on private aviation should therefore build contingency slots into mobility plans and monitor NOTAMs closely. Pilots are reminded to check AIP SUP LK/A-196/26 for updated phraseology and to file flight plans at least 60 minutes before ETD while the airport fine-tunes staffing rosters for the autumn season.
