Aerodromes – general
Aerodromes are places where aircraft land and take off, are stationed and maintained. They are facilities for the handling of goods and movement of passengers. A distinction is made between airports and airfields. The organisation and operation of an aerodrome are set out in its operating regulations.
Airports have an operating concession, which gives the holder the right to operate the airport commercially and to charge fees. The concession holder is obliged to make the airport available to all aircraft, unless the operating regulations contain restrictions or there are restrictions due to the airport's infrastructure. Switzerland has both international and regional airports. The international airports primarily ensure Switzerland's connection to international air traffic. Regional airports are transport infrastructures of regional importance which primarily serve air transport in the public interest.
Airfields are private aerodromes with an operating licence. A heliport, whose infrastructure is restricted to use by helicopter traffic, is also a type of airfield. Winter airfields are only used in winter, as their name suggests, and have no permanent infrastructure.
Military airfields can also be used for civilian purposes. If this shared use is frequent, operations must be regulated by civilian operating regulations. When a former military airfield is converted to a civilian airfield, this must be done in accordance with the provisions of the Aviation Act.
Select an aerodrome from the alphabetical list:
Aerodromes from A to Z
English is not one of Switzerland's official languages. It can therefore be useful to check also in the German or French sitemap if you are looking for a specific subject.
Further information
Flugplätze von A bis Z
Legislation, guidelines, working tools – Aerodromes
The legislation and guidelines relating to the aerodromes and airport/airfield managers are based on Swiss regulations, as well as on international regulations and agreements.
Planning approval and operating regulations
The construction of aviation infrastructures and the operation of aerodromes are subject to approval by the Confederation.
Safety zones / Obstacle limitation surfaces
Noise pollution register
Swiss environmental legislation requires that noise curves be drawn up for aerodromes emitting a certain level of noise pollution. The resulting maps are used to help keep noise pollution from aviation to a minimum.
Register of contaminated sites at civil aerodromes
The FOCA maintains a register of contaminated sites at civil aerodromes in Switzerland in accordance with the Ordinance on the Remediation of Contaminated Sites (Contaminated Sites Ordinance, CSO; SR 814.680).