Redesign of Zurich's Airspace

If it were up to the FOCA, at least 10 additional flying sites in the NOS would be subjected to the dubious “pleasure” of this reorganization. That would mean that, of the 43 clubs, 22 would now be affected. Lowering the TMA would also impact popular slope-flying sites. It is certainly understandable that the NOS wants to fight these plans. There is also no question that this new FOCA specter would bring more noise and pollution to the communities surrounding the airport, and it is likely that, should the responsible project managers take a harder line, the matter will once again have to be resolved through political channels.

The MG Sulzer (Wiesendangen) and Mörsburg model airfields would now be within the CTR. This would require corresponding adjustments of a few hundred meters. The MG Hinwil, Bussard, and Scheidegg model flying fields must not be affected by the expansion of the CTR. Merging the Zurich and Dübendorf CTRs would lead to further significant restrictions—in some cases extending beyond Lake Zurich. In general, the Dübendorf CTR should be reduced in size. The now minuscule amount of flight activity bears no reasonable relation to the enormous size of the Dübendorf CTR.

NOS representative Matthias Bossard clearly articulated our previously discussed positions during the aforementioned hearing. Only the coming months will likely reveal to what extent the Federal Office takes these seriously. Once again, we are seeing how the cooperation and united front of all air sports associations within the AeCS are of enormous benefit, even in this situation. After all, they would all have to accept significant restrictions. For some airfields, continuing operations under new conditions could even become a matter of survival. Nothing has been won yet, and we cannot lower our alert level by even one notch.