Federal Court: Restrictive stance on modern microlight aircraft
A federal court ruling supports the FOCA's restrictive stance on the operation of modern microlight aircraft in Switzerland. Together with the Swiss Microlight Federation, the Aero Club of Switzerland will continue to campaign for the licensing of these modern aircraft.
In its ruling of March 12, 2025, the Federal Supreme Court rejects the appeals of a member of the Aero Club of Switzerland (AeCS) and the Swiss Microlight Federation (SMF) against the ruling of the Federal Administrative Court of December 19, 2023. The court thus upheld the FOCA's restrictive practice on the temporary operation of foreign microlight aircraft in Swiss airspace on the basis of a vague legal basis.
The AeCS and the Swiss Microlight Federation are disappointed by this ruling and note that it continues to prevent an ecologically sensible development, namely the operation of economical and low-noise aircraft in Switzerland.
Meanwhile in Europe alone
As the only country in Europe, aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg can neither be registered in this country nor (foreign-registered) used without restriction, even though this category of aircraft has experienced the greatest innovation boost of the last 25 years. What is unimaginable for conventional aircraft models has long been an indispensable standard for ultralight models: parachute rescue systems for the entire aircraft, operation of the engines with unleaded automotive gasoline and compliance with much stricter noise regulations.
In order to help the trend towards more innovative, low-noise and low-emission aircraft achieve a breakthrough, the Aero Club of Switzerland and the Swiss Microlight Federation will continue to campaign for the certification of ultralight models in Switzerland. In addition to the hope that the FOCA will be able to recognize the signs of the times, the Aero-Club is also active in the political arena by means of motions in the councils, a lot of lobbying and educational work towards the decision-makers so that this restrictive attitude is finally brought to an end.
The judgment of the Federal Supreme Court has been April 14, 2025 here published
Motion 24.3112 by NR Matthias Jauslin for the certification of UL aircraft
It is actually disproportionate, as we are in a time where new things are never in demand as they are today, as technological advances bring new things to the market....