The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) plans to authorize an increase in the maximum height allowed for buildings in a specific sector of zone 11 of Guatemala City, as part of the technical evaluations it develops to update construction restrictions in the areas near the La Aurora International Airport (AILA).
The measure is part of the process initiated in 2025 to replace the agreement issued in 2020, which raised the construction limits around the airport, but which was subsequently repealed by the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV), determining that it lacked technical support and had not followed the procedure required by national and international aeronautical regulations.
After this repeal, the obstacle limitation surfaces established in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) were reapplied. For this reason, the DGAC and the construction sector installed a technical table to prepare new studies and define technically supported heights.
As explained by Captain Tomás Aldecoa, general director of the DGAC, the new provision would allow buildings of up to 1,605 meters above mean sea level in an area between Majadas, the Peripheral Ring and the Aguilar Batres road, as long as the projects meet the technical requirements established by the aeronautical authority.
The official indicated that the process is still in its final evaluation stage, because the exact coordinates where the new limit will be applied remain to be defined. “Maybe in two weeks we will have more clarity, with the coordinates and areas that are defined,” he said.
Although the new height would represent an increase compared to the current limit, Aldecoa clarified that the measure will not cover all of zone 11. “There is a space, not all of zone 11, where in discussions with them we had agreed that it was 1,605,” he explained.
In the rest of the sectors, the current restrictions will continue to apply, depending on the location of the project with respect to the airport approach surfaces.
For example, he indicated that in areas near the Atanasio Tzul road and Petapa avenue the limit of 1,551 meters above mean sea level will continue to apply. “If a construction request comes in, we have to tell them: ‘You can’t build above 1,551,'” he said.
Regarding other areas evaluated, Aldecoa indicated that zone 14 will maintain the limit of 1,582 meters above mean sea level, a parameter that is already established. He explained that currently the evaluations focus mainly on defining the conditions for the specific area of zone 11, where the construction sector requested to review the maximum permitted height.
technical work
In January of this year, authorities from the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) indicated that the new regulation could be defined during 2026, once the topographic and operational safety studies were concluded. At that time they also indicated that the objective was to issue regulations that would provide legal certainty to the construction sector, without compromising the operation of the La Aurora International Airport (AILA).
Aldecoa explained that the studies began in February 2025 through a technical table made up of representatives of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) and the Guatemalan Chamber of Construction, with the aim of updating the obstacle limiting surfaces around the airport.
As part of the process, a survey of all existing obstacles in the vicinity of the track was carried out. This information is used to prepare the approach and departure charts used by aircraft during their operations.
“What we had to do was a survey of the obstacles that are around the runway, because based on those surveys the charts are made for the planes to land or take off,” he explained.
He added that the evaluations are developed in accordance with Annex 14 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which establishes obstacle limitation surfaces for aerodromes. “We began to work together to define that maximum permissible height,” he said.
Operational safety
Aldecoa indicated that the restrictions respond to operational safety criteria, since buildings are part of the obstacles that must be considered during aircraft approach and takeoff maneuvers. “Operational safety is that no damage occurs to people, vehicles or buildings. The modern thing is to do risk management, identify dangers and, in this case, buildings are obstacles that must be evaluated,” he explained.
He added that the DGAC must ensure that approach trajectories remain free of interference to comply with international aviation standards. “A path is made so that planes can land safely above the buildings,” he indicated.
Aldecoa pointed out that one of the particularities of the La Aurora International Airport is that it concentrates different types of air operations, which requires more complex evaluations.
He explained that, in addition to commercial aviation, general aviation aircraft, helicopters, flight schools and military aviation operate at the terminal. “We have a large general aviation and also commercial aviation. We are trying to see how we can work with airline aviation, general aviation, military aviation and schools in one airport,” he said.
He added that the DGAC also maintains communication with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to analyze how buildings can influence airline operations. “Airline aviation flies by instruments. Those charts are what we have to keep safe to maintain standards and keep aviation coming,” he said.
Next resolution
According to Aldecoa, after an internal technical meeting scheduled to evaluate the information provided by the Guatemalan Chamber of Construction (CGC), the DGAC plans to issue an office resolution that formalizes the new height for the zone 11 sector.
“Possibly in a week what we will issue is a dispatch resolution where the maximum height in those areas will be 1,605 meters. Let’s calculate that after July 8, about two more weeks, we will be able to issue the resolution,” he indicated.
Meanwhile, applications for new projects continue to be evaluated according to the current parameters for each sector. “Depending on the area that already has the height defined, the corresponding technical analysis is done,” he said.
From the Guatemalan Chamber of Construction (CGC), the executive director, José Ardón, indicated that the technical tables with the DGAC continue and that they are still waiting for the official definition of the height limits that will govern in the areas near the La Aurora International Airport (AILA).
“We have still continued discussions with the Directorate to be able to define and establish limits technically, which has been the main objective of the table we have together with the DGAC,” he stated.
They ask for certainty for new projects
Ardón indicated that one of the main objectives of the sector is to have clear and stable rules that allow planning new real estate developments.
He explained that a construction project can require several years of preparation, from the acquisition of land to obtaining licenses, so regulatory changes have a direct effect on investments.
“Developing or building takes a long time. There are years in which financial planning is done, land is acquired, studies are carried out and the procedures begin, which can even take one or two years to obtain a construction license,” he explained.
He added that modifying height standards without a previously defined process can affect projects that are already in planning. “The fact that we do not have legal certainty and that there are rules that can change from one day to the next puts at risk many projects that took many years to develop,” he stated.