Spotting holiday in Switzerland, Mai 2010

[Sven van Roij]

Hi all,

My dad and I are planning a spotting holiday in Switzerland. Probably from 30th op april till the 9th of mai 2010 or so. I've heared several times about the Swiss AF not flying in the tourist seasons. Can anybody tell me a bit more about this (non)sense?

Tnx in advance!

Regards,
Sven

[Thijs]

The following WK is active around that time.

Payerne
Fl St 17 19.04.2010 07.05.2010

Every year the Swiss Air Force publishes the flying and non flying dates per airfield. Have not seen them yet for the next year but they will show up within some weeks I expect.

Thijs

[EOS]

Sion 2010

http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaf ... _zeit.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Thijs]

Thanks EOS,

Also Meiringen has been published, http://www.scramble.nl/forum/viewtopic. ... 21#p375921" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thijs

[DJdeRidder]

The following WK is active around that time.

Payerne
Fl St 17 19.04.2010 07.05.2010

According to FlugzeugForum Fl St 6 (F-5) also has its WK that same period.

FlugzeugForum's Meiringen page says:

26. - 30. Apr Besuch OSZE-Delegation (mit F-5 und F-18 des WK's aus Payerne)

Would this mean that from 26-30 April Fl St 6 & 17 only operate from Meiringen, in support of the OSZE meeting (OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)? Anyone an idea if there will be Combat Air Patrols with live armament like during the WEF?

[swissmember]

@DJdeRidder

From 26-30 April a delegation of OSZE will visiting Meiringen Airbase to check the operation readiness of swiss air force. During this week the Flst 6 will be based at Meiringen (instead Payerne). Don't think the FlSt 17 will come to Meiringen because the FlSt 11 is also active on this week.

[Sven van Roij]

Saturday I'll depart towards 'der Schweiz' for a wonderfull trip. However, I had some questions about the do's and dont's in Switzerland (it's my first time spotting over there).

First of all I would like to bring my scanner with me, but I have no idea if this is (i)legal in Switzerland. Is there anyone who can tell me more about it?

I also wanted to know how I must 'behave' at some fields towards the guards and farmers. In the 'where to go' section I read that sometimes you need to make yourself known an airport before taking pics, is that correct?!?

Are there any more do's and don'ts that I should be aware of?

Tnx!

Regards,
Sven

[Jetfreak]

Probably from 30th op april till the 9th of mai 2010 or so. I've heared several times about the Swiss AF not flying in the tourist seasons. Can anybody tell me a bit more about this (non)sense?

Hello Sven

This is not a non-sense. However, you are not affected by this as the non-flying season is mainly during the summer holidays in July and August. A jet taking off in a valley make much more noise due to the echos than one taking off in a flat countryside. Therefore, flights are very much reduced during the peak holiday seasons (when the pilots are also on holidays).

As for the use of airband scanners, they are permitted in Switzerland. In general, it is not necessary to make you known at the gate in order to take pictures. However - and that is an important point - some airbases are not fenced off as in NATO countries. This does NOT give you the right to walk to the taxiways or climb on a shelter etc. Generally speaking, you can take all the pictures you want as long as you stay on public ground (e.g. roads etc).

On http://www.airpic.ch, you will find some maps with photo locations around Swiss Airbases.

Enjoy your trip

[swissmember]

The Patrouille Suisse is also active next week (will be departed from Emmen).

03.05.2010: Training Wangen Lachen 1000-1100
06.05.2010: Training university St. Gallen 1330-1400
07.05.2010: Air Display university St. Gallen 1330-1400