Vision
"Switzerland is a leading aviation nation."
Goal: Switzerland plays a leading role internationally in civil aviation, in the research and de-velopment of innovative technologies. Aviation is essential for Switzerland's competitiveness as a business location and for its international connections.
Mission
"We create the basis for safe, efficient and sustainable civil aviation. We ensure Switzerland's access to Europe and the world. We promote innovation and regulate through dialogue. We conduct authorisation and industry oversight in a coordinated and risk-based manner."
Strategy
The FOCA's strategy outlines how the federal office fulfils its vision and implements its mission. It is aligned with the objectives set in the Organisation Ordinance for DETEC (high safety standards; attractive, needs-based services; long-term, active role for Switzerland in interna-tional aviation) and with the Federal Council's legislative goals for 2023–27: prosperity, digitalisation, security and climate. The strategy is built on two performance pillars: aviation develop-ment and aviation safety, including the associated core mandate and priorities for 2024–27.
Aviation development
Core mandate
Civil aviation is vital for Switzerland's status as a business hub, ensuring connectivity to Europe and the world. By establishing optimal legal, financial and spatial planning frameworks, the FOCA enables Switzerland to maintain an active international aviation presence with the necessary connections to European and global centres. The FOCA secures international market access for Swiss products and services through its advocacy in ICAO and the EU. It integrates new technologies into existing airspace and regulates them where necessary. Additionally, the FOCA implements parliamentary measures to achieve the 2050 net-zero carbon target while enforcing passenger rights.
Priorities for 2024–27
Updating aviation policy guidelines: Switzerland has a strong policy framework for civil aviation. This is to be preserved and documented in a new aviation policy report (Lupo).
Defossilisation of aviation: The net-zero target for carbon emission by 2050 is enshrined in law. Framework conditions will be established to achieve this target efficiently, credibly and with international coordination.
Maintaining and developing Switzerland–EU relations in aviation: The bilateral aviation agreement ensures that Switzerland maintains optimal connections to EU member states. Switzerland enjoys extensive participation rights in the development of European aviation law.
Safeguard and optimise aviation infrastructure: Switzerland's international airports form crucial national infrastructure for its global connections. The goal is to ensure their long-term functionality and capacity, reduce environmental impact, and maintain safety standards. In aviation infrastructure planning, a detailed plan has been adopted for each airport up to 2027.
Financing the Swiss aviation system: The FOCA works to ensure that Swiss civil aviation remains largely self-financing and that funding is deployed efficiently and effectively.
Integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with U-space: The FOCA is creating framework conditions for unmanned aviation in Switzerland to facilitate commercialisation, scaling and export of cutting-edge technologies. It promotes modern airspace infrastructure to maintain high safety standards as drone integration increases.
Switzerland obtains a seat on the ICAO Council: Switzerland participates in the International Civilian Aviation Organization (ICAO) through the ABIS rotating group. It is pursuing a seat on the ICAO Council in 2025. Switzerland will leverage this position to advance the aviation policy objectives of the ABIS group.
Aviation sarety
Core mandate
Ensure compliance with safety/security standards in Swiss civil aviation: The FOCA ensures Swiss civil aviation meets and maintains safety targets. Oversight activities are managed based on the performance and risk profiles of supervised organisations.
Integrate information security into oversight: New legal requirements have been implemented across the industry and within the FOCA. Incidents will receive appropriate responses so as to swiftly restore normal operations, ensuring no negative impact on aviation safety.
Reduce incidents of aircraft proximity in the airspace: The risk of dangerous encounters between different categories of airspace users must be significantly reduced by redesigning airspace and implementing technology. Safety objectives and measures are based on national and international principles and best practices.
Strengthen security at international airports: The aim is to protect the public, passengers and aviation industry employees by ensuring that organisations involved have high safety standards. Safety objectives and measures are based on national and international principles and best practices.
