Report accidents
Certain incidents that occur during drone operations must be reported. By systematically reporting and analysing incidents, further accidents can be prevented.
Duty to report
All remote pilots (including of model aircraft) and drone operators must report an incident, regardless of whether they caused it or were involved in it. Uninvolved persons who merely witness an incident may also report it.
Reporting an incident
Incidents involving drones should be reported to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and in some cases also to the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB). Depending on the incident, both authorities must be informed.
Reporting to the FOCA
Incidents must be reported to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) if at least one of the following conditions is met:
- Someone is seriously or fatally injured;
- A manned aircraft is involved (e.g. collision or near-collision with a helicopter or aeroplane);
- A certified drone is involved in the incident (certified category or certified drones in the specific category);
- The drone operator’s operational authorisation (specific category) stipulates a reporting obligation.
These safety-relevant incidents must be reported to the FOCA within 72 hours, either by email or on ECCAIRS, the official reporting website. An introduction can be downloaded here. If you have any questions, please contact the FOCA. All data is treated confidentially.
Reporting to the STSB
Incidents must be reported to the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) if at least one of the following conditions is met:
- Someone is seriously or fatally injured;
- A manned aircraft is involved (e.g. collision or near-collision with a helicopter or aeroplane);
- A certified drone is involved in the incident (certified category or certified drones in the specific category).
Accidents and serious incidents of the kind listed above must be reported to the STSB by phone (Swiss Air-Rescue alarm center, Tel. 1414; +41 333 333 333 from abroad).
Consequences for persons reporting an incident
There are no legal repercussions for drone operators who report an incident provided they have not acted with gross negligence or intent. The main purpose of incident reporting is to investigate incidents and learn from them. Furthermore, some insurance companies require an official damage report before paying out compensation for any damage caused.