Drone operations in the context of state aviation
Drones are regularly used for government tasks in the public interest, such as law enforcement, firefighting, and searching for missing persons. These operations are subject to specific rules.
Which drone operators comply with the regulations of civil state aviation?
When discussing state aviation, a distinction must be made between military state aviation and civil state aviation, depending on whether the aircraft is owned by the armed forces. This page deals exclusively with unmanned civil state aviation.
Civil state aviation refers to emergency operations carried out in the public interest by or on behalf of ‘blue-light’ organisations (police, customs, fire and rescue services), aircraft search and rescue operations, the search for missing persons, and disaster relief efforts. Not all flights operated by the authorities fall under state aviation. For example, flights conducted by a local authority to take promotional photographs or perform surveying must be carried out in accordance with civil aviation regulations, specifically the flight rules for the open category or the specific category.
Strictly speaking, therefore, it is not the operator who determines whether an operation constitutes state aviation, but rather the nature of the operation itself.
If there is any doubt as to whether a particular type of operation falls under state aviation, please contact the FOCA.
What rules apply to state aviation?
Under federal law, unless otherwise specified, civil aviation regulations also apply to civil state aviation. There are currently no special provisions in this area. Nevertheless, as an ordinance governing state aviation is currently being drafted, the FOCA exempts the operations of the operators concerned from the application of civil regulations, with the exception of the requirement to register as a drone operator. To register an organisation, please refer to the Instructions for organisations.
Certain geographical flight restrictions also remain in force: authorisation from the relevant authority is required to fly within 5km of aerodromes, aerodrome control zones (CTRs) and wildlife protection zones. Operators must also take into account the NOTAMs listed in the Daily Airspace Bulletin Switzerland (DABS). Despite their privileges, operators and remote pilots operating within the framework of state aviation must exercise caution and must not endanger aviation safety or third parties.
Draft Ordinance on State Aviation
A draft ordinance on state aviation was submitted for stakeholder consultation in 2025. The ordinance will regulate the operation of manned and unmanned aircraft by operators within the civil state aviation sector. The date of entry into force has not yet been determined.
The documents below correspond to the draft as it was submitted for consultation in June 2025. It is subject to change before being finalised by the FOCA and then submitted to the Federal Council for adoption.