Air navigation obstacles

Luftfahrthindernisse_final

Obstacles to aviation are installations such as buildings, antennas, towers, cranes, cable cars, wind turbines, high-voltage power lines, cranes and construction machinery, etc., but also plants (especially trees) that may pose a hazard to aviation because of their location or height. To ensure safety in aviation, such installations and plants must be registered and publicised before they are erected. Some must be marked or lit and those requiring a permit must undergo a special inspection.

Air navigation obstacles must be registered via the Aviation Data Collection System (DCS).

 

DCS as of today

Since October 2024, the quality-enhanced data from the cable cars will be integrated into the obstacle data set. Since then, various datasets have been made available via the API Swisstopo, including a filtered (simplified) version.

DCS Release 3.0

Starting June 30, 2025, the new software release of the DCS will introduce two major new functionalities:

  • The FOCA (Federal Office of Civil Aviation) will now be able to generate and deliver obstacle permits (decisions) digitally and progressively directly from the DCS. This results in significant efficiency gains for all parties involved. Applicants will be asked to confirm the draft decision before it is officially issued. If applicants wish to file an objection against the permit, FOCA will deliver the permit in paper form.
  • The operator of the Data Collection Service (DCS) has been commissioned by FOCA to handle the collection of applicable fees within the DCS. Initially, credit card and TWINT will be available as payment methods.

With the new release, the DCS cloud services will be relocated to Switzerland, and the web address will change to www.datacollectionservice.net. The current address will automatically redirect and the existing eIAM login credentials will remain valid.

DCS Release 3.1

The software release originally planned for the end of June, which was intended to provide only an unfiltered file containing the full set of obstacle data in AIXM format, will only be implemented in November 2025. Consequently, the detailed power line data resulting from the comparison with Swisstopo TLM data will also be integrated into the dataset only after that date.

The DPS and the test data file (which does not contain operationally usable data) have been revised and are now finalized. Users are required to prepare for the change in November 2025.

FOCA is currently evaluating whether the obstacle data can continue to be provided in KMZ format as well.

Further information

Contact

Aviation Data Collection System (DCS)

ITV Consult AG on behalf of FOCA

Tel. DCS: +41 (0)44 871 21 99

obstacles@itv.ch

Print contact

Portal DCS

Bild Link DCS Portal

Pilot message Obstacle
obstacles@bazl.admin.ch

Federal Geoportal - Aviation Topic (WeGOM)

http://map.aviation.admin.ch
https://www.bazl.admin.ch/content/bazl/en/home/infrastruktur/luftfahrthindernisse.html