Swiss Air Force Schedules 2018 and some Events/Info

(due major update of this posting from mid-december 2017 I've putted in again on top position)


WEF (World Economic Forum) is approaching fast and with it the maybe last WEF-CAP out of Meiringen - in the future those CAP's are discussed out of Payerne only.

Other important changes:

- Repetition courses without Tiger F-5 activity in 2018 ! (Tiger can be seen only during independent trainings of the pilots, no more squadron activities)
- the summer deployment of the Figthersquadron 11 Hornets in Emmen is in July and not in August 2018 - please review your holiday planning !

MEIRINGEN 2018

Swiss Air Force worked again on there internet presence - the new link for Meiringen airfield you can find here: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/organisation/kdo-op/lw/flpl-mei.html

CAUTION - new schedule published end of january:

EMMEN 2018

Swiss Air Force worked again on there internet presence - the new link for Emmen airfield you can find here: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/organisation/kdo-op/lw/flpl-emm.html

PAYERNE 2018

SION 2018

Swiss Air Force worked again on there internet presence - the new link for the Sion airfield you can find here - the airport is only sporadic in use when aircrafts have to divert: https://www.vtg.admin.ch/fr/organisation/cdmt-op/fa/ba-sio.html

LOCARNO 2018

Some Events 2018 - actual and complete list on flugzeugforum.de

January
03 Begin of Swiss Air Force training flight activity 0830h
08-02 KVK/WK FlPl Kdo 13 mit WEF, Meiringen (CH)
11-13 88. Internationales Lauberhornrennen, Wengen (CH), PS am 11. (Training 11:30) 12. 13:20 13. 11:40
13 Rassemblement international de montgolfières, Crans-Montana (CH)
23-26 WEF - World Economic Forum, Davos-Klosters (CH) with WEF-CAP out of MEI
27-04 40ème édition du Festival International de Ballons, Château-d'Oex (CH)

February
19-02 A2A gunnery Dammastock with PS-Tiger, Meiringen (CH)

March
01-04 FIS Ski World Cup, Crans-Montana (CH) with PC-7 Team 02/03/04
11-17 Intl. Alpine Ballonwoche Arosa (Night-Glooming 11.), Arosa (CH)

Avril

09-04 KVK/WK (FDT) FlPl Kdo 14, Payerne (CH)
09-20 TK Hornet Display Team, Payerne (CH)
09-27 TK Patrouille Suisse, Emmen (CH)
17-21 Patrouille de Glaciers, Verbier (CH) mit PS
18-21 AERO 2018, Friedrichshafen - EDNY (DE)
25 FF-Basevisit I/II 2018, Meiringen (CH) with 4 Ho https://www.flugzeugforum.de/threads/zukunft-der-ff-basevisiten-spottergruppe-in-meiringen.87819/
25-29 ILA Berlin 2018 (Publikumstage 28.+29.), Berlin - EDDB (DE)

27 PSFC-Tag mit 40 Jahre Tiger und 30 Jahre PC-9, Emmen (LSME) (CH) with PS

Mai
05-06 Arbon Classics 2018, Arbon, St. Gallen - (LSZR) (CH)
14-25 NATO Tiger Meet, Poznan-Krzesiny - EPKS (PL)
15-18 Flight week of the Mirage III DS J-2012/HB-RDF, Payerne (LSMP) (CH)
18-20 50 Jahre Air Zermatt (19.+20. TdoT), Raron - LSER (CH)
25-27 Motorworld Classics Bodensee, Friedrichshafen - EDNY (DE), mit der JU-AIR
28-22 KVK/WK (FDT) FlPl Kdo 11, Payerne (CH)
29-31 EBACE 2018, Genf (CH)
31-03 Gewerbeausstellung Uzwil, Uzwil (CH) with Patrouille Suisse

June
01-03 Seaplane Meeting Hergiswil, Hergiswil (CH)
06 Nostalgieflugtag, Meiringen (CH) ->if canceled due meteo 2nd date 16th of june
07-09 12e Salon Intl. de l'Aviation Generale - France Air Expo, Le Bourget - LFPB (FR)
09 Tag der Bundeswehr, Verschiedene Standorte (DE)
10 Danish Air Show 2018, Aalborg - EKYT (DK)
10 RAF Cosford Air Show 2018, Cosford - EGWC (UK)
15-17 Seaplane Meeting L'Abbaye, L'Abbaye (CH)
16-17 Meeing de l'Air Evreux BA105, Evreux-Fauville - LFOE (FR)
22-24 Seaplane Meeting Yverdon, Yverdon (CH, Plage de Perroy - Lac Léman)
23-24 RIO 2.3, Ecuvillens - LSGE (CH)
26-29 Flight week of the Mirage III DS J-2012/HB-RDF, Payerne (LSMP) (CH)
30 Flugtage 50 Jahre Fricktal-Schupfart 2018, Fricktal-Schupfart - LSZI (CH)
30 Flüügerchilbi 2018, Luzern-Beromünster - LSZO (CH)
30-01 Meeing de l'Air Nancy BA133, Nancy-Ochey - LFSO (FR)

July
02-27 Hornet-Flugbetrieb in Emmen (NICHT im August wie die vorangegangenen Jahre !)
02-27 Runway closed / no flight activity planned Meiringen ('till august 01) and Payerne, SIO is ALTERNATE
05-14 FAI F4 Scale World Championship 2018 (07. Opening Airshow), Meiringen - LSMM (CH)
13-15 RIAT 2017, Fairford - EGVA (UK)
23-29 EAA Airventure 2018, Wittman reg. Airport/Oshkosh - KOSH (US)
27- Aug 31 Runway closed / no flight activity, Emmen LSME
29-04 Pro Aero Jugendlager, Samedan (CH) mit SP

August
11-12 Saturday Flight Fever & 8. Fly Hai, Biel-Kappelen - LSZP (CH)
17-19 Seaplane Meeting Bönigen, Bönigen (CH)
24-26 Acro Show , Villeneuve VD (CH)
25 Hunterfest Hunterverein Obersimmental, St.Stephan - LSTS (CH)
25-26 Dittinger Flugtage, Dittingen - LSPD (CH) mit Hornet/SP/P6
26 Müllheimer Flugplatzfest, Müllheim - SFG Müllheim/Baden (DE)
28-31 Flight week of the Mirage III DS J-2012/HB-RDF, Payerne (LSMP) (CH)

31-02 International Bücker Meeting, Thun (CH)
31-02 Seaplane Meeting Morcote, Morcote (CH)

September
01-02 11. Oldtimerclassic , Hittnau (CH)
02 Flügerchilbi Langenthal, Langenthal-Bleienbach - LSPL (CH)
08-09 Flüügerfäscht SFG Schaffhausen, Schaffhausen-Schmerlat - LSPF (CH)
15-07 A2A gunnery Dammastock with PS-Tiger, Meiringen (CH)
22-23 Meeting aérien Des Etoiles et des Ailes, Toulouse-Francazal - LFBF (FR)
27-06 62nd Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennet, Bern (CH)

October
10-11 Fliegerschiessen Axalp, Axalp (CH)
12-14 Air & Space Days Verkehrshaus Luzern, Luzern (CH)
17 FF-Basevisit I/II 2018, Meiringen (CH) with 6 Ho/2 Ti https://www.flugzeugforum.de/threads/zukunft-der-ff-basevisiten-spottergruppe-in-meiringen.87819/

November
12-07 exercise Scotnight, UK

December
14 End of Swiss Air Force training flight activity 1700h

Air Policy Hornets versus (NC)PC-7

The Swiss Air Force is arrived well in 2018 and the training continuous - here ROCCO-flight out of Payerne with Hornets J-5018 and J-5021 against an (NC)PC-7 yesterday Friday. Looks very nice with this weather !

The list of Swiss Air Force and other interesting activity is updated - SCHEDULE 2018 you can find here: https://flytogrimmi.blogspot.ch/2017/12/meiringen-shedule-2018-and-some.html

End of another legend - 30 candles for the Mirage 2000N in the Armee de l'Air

Another legend will disappear soon from the sky. Mirage 2000N - the N stands for it's nuclear capacity - will leave the place for the Rafale. 30 years of history will coming to an eNd (note the fabulous logo created by Régis Rocca) - but a Spotter Day is planned for us Mirage Lovers (date not yet known) !

A little hymn on these famous aircrafts, written by Escadron de Chasse 2/4 "La Fayette":

30 années de service opérationnel !!!

Avant une retraite bien méritée qui prendra effet cet été, notre monture le Mirage 2000N souffle cette année ses 30 bougies.
Le Mirage 2000N c'est, pour commencer, avec ses frères B, C, D, -5 un vecteur magnifique et efficace. Une vraie réussite de la part de Dassault Aviation. Une aile delta fine et élégante conjuguée à un réacteur SNECMA de 10 tonnes de poussée. C'est la maîtrise des premières commandes de vol électriques, qui en font un avion manoeuvrant en combat, stable en basse altitude, et tellement agréable à piloter.
Mirage 2000N, c'est bien sûr le N de nucléaire. Depuis 1988, il aura permis d'assurer sans failles, dans l'anonymat et le secret des zones d'alertes des Forces Aériennes Stratégiques, la mission ô combien importante de dissuasion nucléaire aéroportée.
Le Mirage 2000N c'est aussi 3 décennies de combat et d'opérations extérieures au service de la France. De la Bosnie des années 90 à la Bande Sahélo - Saharienne, en passant par la Libye et le Moyen-Orient, il y aura été utilisé avec succès.
Le Mirage 2000N c'est enfin mais avant tout des hommes et des femmes qui ont oeuvré pour mener à bien les missions qui leur ont été confiées, pour la France. Ils ont développé et mis au point cette machine. Ils ont fait en sorte chaque jour quelle puisse voler, quels que soient les impératifs et les conditions. Ils ont mis en oeuvre cet appareil, perfectionné les procédures et tactiques opérationnelles dont celles de suivi de terrain, pris l'air par tout temps, pris d'innombrables alertes. Sans eux cette machine, aussi perfectionnée soit elle, n'aurait été qu'un objet de ferraille. Ils lui ont donné âme. Du 2/3 "Champagne" nancéen mettant en oeuvre les premières versions 2000NK1, puis des 1/4 "Dauphiné" et 2/4 "La Fayette" luxoviens couplés au 3/4 !! "Limousin" istréen, les anecdotes et souvenirs sont nombreux, et l'histoire se terminera cette année avec le 2/4 "La fayette" istréen et nos Mirage 2000NK3 *.
Célébrer les 30 ans du Mirage 2000N et son retrait du service opérationnel c'est ainsi avant tout rassembler les personnels qui ont travaillé de près ou de loin sur cet appareil. Nous avons eu le concours de notre ami et talentueux designer Régis Rocca que nous remercions pour la création de ce magnifique logo. La fin du Mirage 2000N, nous l'avons tout simplement nommée "MIRAGE 2000eNd"!! Nous nous réjouissons car cette année riche en événements ne fait que commencer.... 😉
* Les traditions et missions du "La Fayette" seront reprises par nos camarades et amis de St-Dizier qui reprendront à notre fermeture les traditions du 2/4, mettant en oeuvre le superbe Rafale B. Mais ceci est une autre histoire...

L'escadron de chasse 2/4 "La Fayette" est une unité de l'Armée de l'Air qui assure la mission de dissuasion nucléaire.
Équipé aujourd'hui de Mirage 2000N, cet escadron a traversé les époques, trouvant ses origines en 1916 au cœur de la première guerre mondiale. Ainsi, l'escadrille "La Fayette" est née de l'élan d'une poignée de jeunes volontaires américains soucieux de s'investir dans cette guerre aux côtés des Français.
Aujourd'hui, ce sont environ 200 mécaniciens, pilotes, navigateurs, experts du renseignement et secrétaires qui œuvrent pour le succès des missions de l'escadron et la pérennité de ses traditions.

D'abord à Luxeuil, puis à Istres depuis 2011, le "La Fayette" vole sur Mirage 2000N qui quittera le service actif en 2018, après 30 ans de bons et loyaux services.
Fière de ses traditions, cette unité est aussi extrêmement attachée à l'esprit de cohésion... "À la chasse !"

 spec c/s Mirage 2000N (344, 4-BV) due Meeting de l'Air in Luxeuil 2001

and

it's sucessor, Rafale, taking over the Nuclear and Precision Strike role

WEF 2018 - CAP's out of Meiringen

The World Economic Forum 2018 is arriving fast - time to give you some informations:

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018

22. Jan. 2018 - 27. Jan. 2018

https://www.weforum.org

Restricted Airspace:

Monday 22nd 0800h LT 'till Saturday 27th 1700h LT

Military Training Day: Friday Januar 19th, 0800-1800LT

WEF-CAP (Combat Air Patrol) with F/A-18 C/D Hornet is provided out of Meiringen (LSMM): Two aircrafts in the CAP, two returning and two on the way for replacing the a/c's in CAP. Some CAPS are to be flown out of Payerne too.

⚠Note that this is maybe the last year with regular WEF-CAP out of Meiringen, in the future it's possibly out of Payerne only. (see Flugplatznews 2018/01, Meiringen)

NO ACTIVITY WITH SWISS AIR FORCE F-5E/F TIGER II IS PLANNED !!!

Other interesting places for aircraft fans are ZURICH, Dübendorf ,Altenrhein and Samedan airport. The latter hosts multiple Pilatus (NC)PC-7 aircraft of the Swiss Air Force for lokal CAP in the area.

Spotter Tours Zurich during WEF: http://buchairshop.ch/epages/169466.sf/de_CH/?ObjectPath=/Shops/169466/Categories/Ramp_Tours_WEF_2018

Air Space Restrictions for Professionals: https://www.bazl.admin.ch/wef

Arrival Samedan - for info only

best wishes for 2018

Yes, the year has already ended in some parts of the world. Many good meetings with people and aircrafts - but with the loss of activity in many Air Forces due budgetary cuts I have not made too many pictures of our beloved birds of steel.
I've invested again a great part of my free time to discover the natural wonders of my area and found a lot of birds and other animals in less then an 1 hour cycling distance around my village. This mountain coat was walking towards me for checking me up, and I proved no harm. This and many other encounters througout the year will stay forever in my heart and I hope to catch many other local habitants in my area also in the future.
A big Thank You to everyone reading regulary this blog and staying in contact all over those years or discovering only a short time. All the best for the new year and see you soon again around some airfields (or in nature).

Merry christmas my friends

With greetings out of the wood, I whish you all a happy christmas holiday - Health, laughter and fun to all of you 🎅🎅🎅🎄🎄🎄🎁🎁🎁

No heavy helicopters for Switzerland

With the end of service life arriving for the Super Puma Helicopters in 2030 and the need of an transport aircraft, Councillor of State Peter Hess (CVP) requested some informations about using bigger, heavy-lift helicopters instead (September 23rd, 2015).
Today, the seven members of the Federal Council approved the study done since, rejecting the need mainly due budgetary causes.

The Council of State is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, and is considered the Assembly's upper house, with the National Council being the lower house. There are 46 Councillors.

 End of service life arriving for multiple systems in Swiss Army, Air Defence and Super Puma helicopters included.

Link (pdf), german: https://www.newsd.admin.ch/newsd/message/attachments/50908.pdf

Le Conseil fédéral rejette l’acquisition d’hélicoptères gros-porteurs

Berne, 20.12.2017 - Lors de sa séance du 8 décembre 2017, le Conseil fédéral a approuvé, en réponse à un postulat du Conseil des Etats, un rapport étudiant la possibilité d’acquérir des héli-coptères gros-porteurs. Différentes options sont présentées dans ledit rapport, qui recommande de conserver la flotte actuelle malgré les restrictions d’emploi touchant les hélicoptères de l’Armée suisse.

Déposé par le conseiller aux Etats Hans Hess, le postulat 15.3918 demandait au Conseil fédéral d'étudier la possibilité d'acquérir des hélicoptères gros-porteurs pouvant être engagés par tous les temps à la place d'avions de transport. Contrairement à ces derniers, des hélicoptères gros-porteurs ne seraient en effet pas cantonnés aux engagements à l'étranger et pourraient rendre de précieux services en Suisse également. Le rapport du Conseil fédéral passe en revue les différences entre les hélicoptères actuellement en service au sein de l'armée et les gros-porteurs, notamment sur le plan des caractéristiques techniques et des possibilités d'engagement. Les exigences posées par les engagements en Suisse et à l'étranger, dans le cadre de la promotion de la paix et de l'aide humanitaire en cas de catas-trophe, sont également analysées. Enfin, différentes possibilités de développement de la flotte d'hélicoptères de l'armée tenant compte de la situation budgétaire sont détaillées.

Pas d'acquisition avant la fin de la durée d'utilisation de la flotte actuelle

L'acquisition d'hélicoptères gros-porteurs permettrait d'élargir l'éventail des prestations dans le domaine du transport aérien en Suisse et à l'étranger, mais des appareils de cette taille présentent des inconvénients sur les plans financier et opérationnel. L'acquisition d'une flotte d'une taille semblable à l'actuelle n'est finançable ni dans l'immédiat, en raison du renouvel-lement planifié d'autres moyens de l'armée, ni au cours des années 2020. Une flotte de taille réduite pèserait sur la flexibilité de l'engagement des machines. Le rapport arrive ainsi à la conclusion que la flotte actuelle doit être conservée jusqu'à la fin de sa durée d'utilisation dans les années 2030 malgré les restrictions qui l'accompagnent et rejette l'idée d'acquérir des hélicoptères gros-porteurs avant cette échéance. En contrepartie, les hélicoptères Cougar de l'Armée suisse bénéficieront d'un programme de maintien de la valeur, que le Conseil fédéral entend soumettre au Parlement en février 2018 dans le cadre du prochain programme d'armement.

---

Adresse pour l'envoi de questions

Karin Suini
Porte-parole du DDPS
+41 58 464 50 86

With Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III already out of production (and really too big for Switzerland's use), the search for a new transport aircraft will going on the next few years. Our Governement already missed a good opportunity to adopt a C-130 Hercules with the aquisition by Austria. Still my favorite solution, we should buy one more for Austria (also a neutral country with three C-130K at the moment) with all the maintenance and pilot school made there. One Herc available for our own flight crews with something like 24h reservation in advance and maybe in neutral or white UN colors. Win-Win for Austria and Switzerland.


Another very good solution for a new transport aircraft (my personal opinion) is Casa's C-295. Also in use by many nations in europe, this 'little Hercules' should give enough transport capacity for foreign exercises, helping continental disaster relief, immigrant returns (actually made via expensive civil charter and line flights) and organisations like the UN and Red Cross.

With maintenance costs of 2-3 millions CHF arriving for the Beech 1900D T-729 in the end of 2018, our actual transport aircraft should be sold and exchanged by two CL604 Canadair Jets of the REGA Air Ambulance.

The Pilatus PC-24 will be our new government jet aircraft.

Medium and heavy lift helicopters not in sight for the next decade
Transport capacity is surely needed in near future. But is an medium/heavy transport helicopter the better solution for Switzerland than an transport aircraft ?
Helicopters can be used like transport aircrafts. Less effective (slow if not transported in an aircraft) abroad, but giving new possibilities/capacities in and around Switzerland. The boost in transport capacity from the Alouette III to the Super Puma has given our army for the first time an effective and fast system for troop concentration/mobility. And with the humanitarian aid (Indonesia 2005), Security aid (Kosovo Force KFOR), disaster relief (Avalanches in Austria 1999) and fighting forest fires in Montenegro (2017), Israel (2010), Portugal and Italy (2017) - the Swiss Air Force has proven a high quality of working in difficult conditions and a fast line of command answering requested demands.
A Helicopter needs some equipment (engines, cockpit instruments, mechanics), and the difference in weight for that in a big or a smaller cell is not important. Meaning a bigger cell can transport more (in principe). With a cargo door in the back of the helicopter, equipment can be transported inside and giving some security regarding underslung loads. A typical heavy helicopter can transport 11t at sea level, dropping to 8700kg if he's armored and has some defensive systems installed (Cougar: 1700kg). At 3000m, the transport capacity resting at 4000kg (Cougar: 750kg).
Super Puma and Cougar helicopters are mainly used for transporting small detachments of up to 15 soldiers. With a bigger helicopter or a transport aircraft, the governmental 'security policy 2016' - more international cooperation and peace support - will be much easier to succeed. Today's Cougar fleet is not very helpful in tropical conditions, the main area where UNHCR needing help and Switzerland had to decline regular requests of this and other organisations.

You can find more information in the linked pdf above, but the end of the story was that heavy helicopters where surely a 'nice to have', but the actual fleet is capable of the most needed duties. Budget and personal limitations are also an important factor, but heavy helicopters are for sure to have a look at due evaluation after our fleet is reaching the end of the service live.

European and US models are surely preferred by our government due political and technical needs.

NH-90 is introduced in many neighbour countries in the last few years.

Germany is using the CH-53 Stallion intensively in Switzerland, training in snow and high conditions out of Alpnach/Dübendorf and Meiringen. But the old gear is using a lot of maintenance and the Luftwaffe is interested to buy the new CH-53K model instead.

Already in use by Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, the Chinook whould be one of the possibilities for Switzerland.

Mil Mi-8 and it's derivates are still very interesting for transport capacity and combat proven. But with the political situation in Russia and expensive maintenance plus the compability missing to our actual systems still a no go.

An interesting mix of functions - V-22 Osprey

After the Calendar of Hunterverein Obersimmental, this time I've got other pictures pubished in the official Aeroclub-Calender 2018 too. Thank you very much, high quality calenders in limited edition. 👌

http://www.hunterverein.ch/Shop/Shop.html

http://www.aeroclub.ch/index.php/de/aero-club-der-schweiz/aecs-kalender-2018

Website of Pilotenklasse 16 is online

As the 1st class using the faster way of becoming an Swiss Air Force Pilot, Pilotenklasse 16 had opened her website:

http://runway16.ch

More informations about the new shedule in Swiss Air Force Pilot School

14 years ago - disbandment of Fighter Squadron 13

Time goes fast and with the disbandment of Fighter Squadrons 6, 8 and 19 this year the era of militia fighter squadrons in the Swiss Air Force is coming to an end.

14 years ago, December 11th of 2003, Fighter Squadron 13 was the first of the Tiger-(militia)squadrons ending her history. Still an impressive fleet of the Tiger F-5E/F aircraft where available, but pilots coming to the end of there career due age restrictions or have to transfer to other squadrons.
After an nice celebration in Emmen on September 17th, the final training course in Meiringen marked the official end of Fliegerstaffel 19.

last repetition course in Buochs

March 2003 - last repetition course in Buochs with the Fl Kp 20 (Flieger Kompanie, Ground/Maintenance for the Squadrons 19 (F-5 Tiger). Flights with Recce Sq 10  on Mirage III RS where regular.

 last training course in Emmen

Squadron 19 celebrated an Open Day for family members and made an impressive low flybye

final training course, Meiringen

Final training course of the Fliegerstaffel 13 in Meiringen, only bad luck (maintenance) provided an mass formation of 13 Tigers. Impressive lineup and already with an DSLR back then 👍

Big Birds in LSME December 4th/5th, 2017

Two of the biggest civil/military transport aircrafts are supposed to land tomorrow monday in Emmen for space and aviation  FIREWORKS ! parts:

Emmen 04.12.2017

STA1130 VDA A124 RA-82077
STA1300 QAF C17A A7-MAO

Emmen 05.12.2017

STD1300 VDA A124 RA-82077
STD1400 QAF C17A  Takeoff 1500 QAF C-17A A7-MAO on 6th December 2017

(Times in Local Time)

Not the most favourable weather - but a very rare sight indeed 👌