Model airplane enthusiasts at the Federal Parliament

Image Captions

Mr
. Willi Ritschard
, Federal Councilor, Head of the Federal Department
of Transport
and Energy, Federal Palace
, 3000 Bern

Hittnau, January 12, 1977

Dear Federal Councilor Ritschard,
10,536 model aircraft enthusiasts and friends of model aviation have signed the petition submitted to the General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Transport and Energy calling for the allocation of additional radio frequencies for model aviation. The text of the petition reads:

“The undersigned are convinced that model aviation must be counted among the most interesting and meaningful recreational activities and therefore ask the federal authorities to ensure that, with the allocation of additional radio control frequencies—which are to be made available exclusively for model aviation— model aviators can once again maintain regular, interference-free flight operations and thus continue to pursue their hobby in the future not with disappointment and frustration, but with joy and enthusiasm.”

We would like to take this opportunity to provide you with more detailed information regarding our request.

The number of active model aircraft enthusiasts in Switzerland is estimated to be over 10,000. More than 4,000 model aircraft enthusiasts, organized into approximately 120 model flying clubs, are affiliated with the Aero-Club of Switzerland. A look at the social backgrounds and ages of model aircraft enthusiasts shows that enthusiasm for model flying extends across all segments of our (male) population. Most model aircraft enthusiasts, whether young or old, build their own model aircraft themselves, investing countless hours of work and demonstrating great craftsmanship. Many of them are so deeply immersed in their hobby that they design their own models and the associated equipment.

Advances in electronics over the past 20 years have made it possible even for model airplane enthusiasts without specialized knowledge in this field to equip their model airplanes with technically reliable radio control systems. The ever-growing number of radio-controlled model airplanes reflects the fascination that this branch of model aviation inspires. It is particularly gratifying that radio-controlled gliders—which, with careful observation and utilization of natural updrafts, can be flown for hours without engine assistance—have become very popular.

Unfortunately, in the frequency bands allocated by the PTT to model aircraft enthusiasts for radio-controlled systems, the use of these bands by other services has increased significantly. As a result, the risk of radio interference has risen sharply and, in certain areas of Switzerland, has reached a level that makes the reliable operation of radio-controlled model aircraft nearly impossible. Because they move in three dimensions, radio-controlled model aircraft are particularly vulnerable to external interference whose effects cannot be prevented by electronic measures. Severe external interference leads to a temporary loss of the radio control link and, in most cases, to the crash of the affected model aircraft.

At present, we see the only fundamental solution to these difficulties in allowing model aircraft pilots to use an additional, sufficiently wide frequency band. This frequency band should offer the greatest possible protection against external interference during the times when model aircraft pilots are in use. However, the benefits of such an additional frequency band would only be available to all model aircraft pilots if high-quality equipment manufactured in series abroad were permitted to be operated in Switzerland without modifications.

Over the course of the past year, we have been in correspondence with the PTT’s Frequency Management and Broadcasting License Section, which, unfortunately, has not yet yielded any results. We have also brought our issue to the attention of the Department of Communications Troops.

On behalf of the signatories of our petition, we ask you, Dear Federal Councilor Ritschard, to support us in our search for a solution that is satisfactory to all parties.

With the utmost respect, Model Flying Region 5 of the Aero Club of Switzerland

Regional Chair: Emil Giezendanner
On behalf of the Special Interest Group for Radio Control Frequencies (FFF)

The President: H.R. Schläpfer
The Secretary: Rolf Girsberger