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Stuttgart Airport (EDDS/STR) is a major international gateway serving the Baden-Württemberg capital, sited some 13 km south of the city on the boundary of Leinfelden-Echterdingen and Filderstadt. Renamed Flughafen Stuttgart - Manfred Rommel Flughafen in 2014, it combines heavy commercial jet traffic with a shared US Army/police helicopter base, making it a busy and technically interesting destination for a visiting VFR or IFR pilot.
Stuttgart Airport, ICAO code EDDS and IATA code STR, is a large international airport serving Stuttgart, the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is named in honour of former Stuttgart mayor Manfred Rommel. Alongside its scheduled commercial operations the airfield hosts a small US Army helicopter base, Stuttgart Army Airfield, on its southern side, shared with the Baden-Württemberg Police helicopter wing, giving the field a mix of airline, military and rotary traffic that a simulator pilot will find distinctive.
The airport lies about 13 km south of the city of Stuttgart, on the boundary between the towns of Leinfelden-Echterdingen and Filderstadt, with the Messe Stuttgart exhibition centre built directly alongside the airfield. As a major international airport it sits within controlled airspace served by its own approach, director and tower positions, with Langen Radar providing wider approach control and Langen Information available on an AFIS frequency for the surrounding area.
Stuttgart has a single physical runway, 07/25, of hard surface construction and lit for night operations, with ILS serving both directions. Recorded lengths are 9,971 ft at the 07 threshold and 10,960 ft at the 25 threshold.
Stuttgart Delivery operates on 121.915 MHz. Ground/Rollkontrolle is on 118.605 MHz. Tower/Turm is available on 118.805 MHz and 119.065 MHz. Stuttgart Director works on 119.85 MHz, with Langen Radar Approach on 119.2 MHz. Stuttgart ATIS broadcasts on 126.13 MHz. An apron frequency (RMP) is provided on 121.7 MHz, and a deicing frequency (MISC) on 121.63 MHz. Langen Information is available as an AFIS service on 128.95 MHz. Frankfurt 2 VOLMET can be received on 135.78 MHz. Both runway ends are equipped with ILS for instrument approaches.
The Messe Stuttgart convention centre, one of the largest exhibition venues in Germany, stands immediately beside the airport and forms a useful visual landmark for pilots approaching from the north. The airfield's position on the boundary of Leinfelden-Echterdingen and Filderstadt, south of the city of Stuttgart, helps orient a VFR pilot approaching from the surrounding Filder plateau.
The airport traces its origins to 1939. After the Second World War it was progressively expanded, with the runway lengthened to 1,800 m in 1948, to 2,250 m in 1961, and finally to 3,345 m in 1996. During the Cold War the US Army's 223rd Aviation Battalion was headquartered at Echterdingen in the mid-1980s, and the US Army has continued to maintain a small helicopter base on the airport's southern side, now shared with the Baden-Württemberg Police helicopter wing. In July 2014 the airport was renamed Flughafen Stuttgart - Manfred Rommel Flughafen, a decision that prompted public debate given Rommel's status as the son of Erwin Rommel alongside his own reputation for work on intercultural affairs. The airport's long-haul services have been limited in recent years; United Airlines withdrew its Newark route in September 2014, leaving a single long-haul connection to Atlanta operated by Delta Air Lines.
Stuttgart continues to operate as a large international airport with scheduled airline services, full air traffic control including delivery, ground, tower, director and radar approach positions, an ATIS broadcast, and a deicing frequency for winter operations. Both runway ends are equipped with ILS, supporting instrument approaches in poor weather. The airfield also continues to host the US Army's Stuttgart Army Airfield and the Baden-Württemberg Police helicopter wing on its southern side.
