Switzerland's Air Navigation Service Provider

Date 14.12.2015

Newsletter December 2015

• Skyguide to further lower approach charges for Geneva and Zurich
• Permanent policing of airspace: First step realised
• Solution for ATC financing at regional aerodromes
• Swiss Aviation Policy: Financial compensation, civil-military integration and training support

Skyguide to further lower approach charges for Geneva
and Zurich
Skyguide, Switzerland’s air navigation services provider, is to make a further reduction in the approach charges it levies for Geneva and Zurich airports, to the benefit of its customers. The charges here will be lowered by almost 8% – with effect from 1 January 2016.

Permanent policing of airspace: First step realised
The first step towards the permanent policing of Swiss airspace by the Swiss Air Force and skyguide will be taken on 4 January 2016. From this day onwards, a “quick reaction alert” availability will be guaranteed between 08:00 and 18:00 during the week. This will then be gradually expanded to a round-the-clock capability by 2020. Skyguide’s air traffic controllers in the Air Defence and Direction Centre and at the Payerne, Emmen, Meiringen and Sion air force bases are directly affected by these developments – as, of course, are all our frontline colleagues involved in recruiting and training our military air traffic controllers.

Solution for ATC financing at regional aerodromes
Responsibility for financing these air traffic control services will pass from skyguide to the owners of the airports at the start of 2017 – a year later than originally planned. Berne, Buochs, Grenchen, Les Eplatures (NE), Lugano and St.Gallen airports are concerned by this. Skyguide is actively engaged in providing an innovative solution and in a cost-sharing arrangement that is workable for all involved, and will reduce its costs by CHF 3m.
.

Swiss Aviation Policy: Financial compensation, civil-military integration and training support
The Swiss Federal Council’s Report on Swiss Aviation Policy (known as “LUPO” from its German name) sets the parameters for the further development of the Swiss aviation sector. Skyguide supports the Report, but does expect its latest 2015 version to firmly anchor the concept of integrated civil and military air traffic management, to provide permanent compensation to the company if necessary for the ATM services it provides in the foreign airspace areas adjacent to Switzerland that have been delegated to its control, and to support the training of air navigation services personnel.