Swiss airspace is the hub of European air traffic, just as Swiss roads and railways are the focal point of European overland traffic. As a result, our air corridors are heavily frequented.
Civil (blue) and military (green) air traffic over Swiss airspace (up to 30,000 ft altitude), as registered on February 23, 2000 between 00:00 and 24:00 hours.
What makes the use of Swiss airspace particularly attractive to European air traffic are the economic benefits involved. For example, by using Swiss airspace for their peace mission to the Balkans, the IFOR/SFOR were able to save SF 100 million by the end of 2000.
Swiss airspace is especially interesting also in the event of conflict, chiefly due to its central position in Europe, but also because of the radar shadows created by its topographic features.
Aircraft can operate virtually without warning, as the time, location and direction of flight are impossible to anticipate.
The air force carries out its daily training in three airspaces: one over the eastern Alps, one over the Bernese Oberland-Valais area and one in the trans-border area of the Swiss-French Jura region. The remaining airspace of Switzerland is used by civilian air traffic. It cannot be used for air force exercises. The currently available training airspace of the air force is situated mainly over the Alps.
Available in German only.
Published at: 03.04.2009 | Size: 24 Kb | Type: PDF
