Drones are not “conventional model airplanes”

Text of the motion: The Federal Council is instructed to exclude the operation of conventional model aircraft from the scope of the bilateral air transport agreement and to keep it under national legislation.

In his explanatory statement, AeCS President Matthias Jauslin cites, among other things, the additional burden on the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) associated with maintaining a registry and overseeing it. In conclusion, he correctly notes that it would be highly questionable “if such recreational activities were subject to a complicated set of EU regulations.”

The originally planned EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) regulation for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) would have amounted to a devastating blow to model aviation in Switzerland. Hardly anyone would dispute that model airplanes are unmanned aircraft. But the fact is, there are major differences...

Complaints are pouring in. As a result, various municipalities and cantons are imposing drone bans over certain areas without even mentioning model aircraft. This clearly shows that the public distinguishes between drones and model aircraft. The FOCA also devotes a significant amount of space to drones on its websites. “Rules and General Questions About Drones” and publishes a “Drone Flyer.” There, too,

a clear distinction is being made. Please keep it up!

The Swiss Drone Industry Association (SVZB) is well-organized and operates with a high degree of professionalism. Training, continuing education, and safety are top priorities. These experts are active in various fields around the world.

Various national and international for-profit organizations conduct approximately

Drone races are held around the world. These fascinating and thrilling races bring video games to the public, so to speak. Drones race through the darkness, illuminated by lights, or can be tracked on large screens. The competitors are often professionals. A 15-year-old Englishman won $250,000 in prize money at the World Drone Prix in Dubai. A total of one million US dollars was distributed among the winners. The FAI also organizes drone world championships and World Cups. Drone racing is clearly closer to video games than to model aircraft flying. The well-known DCL Drone Champions League calls itself “DCL the Game.”