The Fight to Preserve the Model Airplane Field in Fricktal

About two years ago, we received a call from our landlord, on whose property our club—the Fricktal Model Aircraft Group—has been operating its model airfield for decades. The farmer informed us that a new master plan and zoning plan were being presented on the Rheinfelden municipality’s website. Among other things, it reportedly stated that the model airfield was to be discontinued and closed with a transition period of about two years?!? A few days later, the residents of Rheinfelden were invited to a public information session in the Casinosaal in Rheinfelden. Curious

curious to see what was in store, I made my way to the venue that evening. The new master and zoning plans covered the entire municipal area of Rheinfelden and were correspondingly extensive. There were many questions that evening, and there was plenty of discussion. Right at the end of the event, someone asked what was going to happen to the model airfield near Möhlin. The response from the municipality’s project manager in charge was that they had spoken with us and we were already aware of the situation. As chairman of the model flying club, it seemed to me that

Did we miss something? The fact was that no one from the club—not even a member of the board—had been informed by the municipality in advance! Now it was time to contact the SMV (Swiss Model Flying Association). I contacted the person in charge, Adrian Eggenberger, by phone and email. He oversees the airfields division at the SMV. Even during this initial contact, we felt we had found a competent and experienced colleague and expert in Adrian Eggenberger. From the very beginning, we were well advised by his

and his extensive expertise. During our investigations, it quickly became clear why we were being asked to suspend flight operations: The area around our model airfield is home to rare and disturbance-sensitive birds (feathered ones, of course). I couldn’t help but wonder why this had only been noticed now, after we had been pursuing our hobby at the same location for over 30 (thirty) years. It was therefore clear that the Nature and Bird Conservation Association was behind the demand to close the field. On the advice of Adrian Eggenberger, we submitted a request to the municipality, asking for a meeting to clarify the matter. After nine months of uncertainty, punctuated by several follow-up phone calls to the municipal representatives, we were finally granted a meeting.

Adrian Eggenberger, who provided us with expert guidance during this meeting, subsequently commissioned an expert report from the Sempach Bird Observatory. The report clearly showed that it had been proven that coexistence—between model aircraft flying and nature—was possible without any problems and had been practiced for many years; therefore, there was no reason to close the field. Only the permitted flying hours needed to be reconsidered and adjusted. Since the results of the

When the findings of the Sempach Bird Observatory were doubted and called into question by local amateur ornithologists, they commissioned a counter-assessment. There were no new or different findings compared to the expert opinion provided by the competent agency in Sempach. A new meeting was scheduled with the relevant municipal representatives and the Nature and Bird Conservation Association. Whereas the entire board of our association—including the regional president (RMV Northwest), Robi Gächter, as well as Heiner Studer (also RMV Northwest in his capacity as infrastructure manager), this time they wanted only me, the president of MG-Fricktal, and Adrian Eggenberger to attend. At this meeting, we were able to reach an amicable agreement with the Nature and Bird Conservation Association and the municipality of Rheinfelden, so that, fortunately, the airfield will remain open. Only the flight times were slightly reduced.

I would like to emphasize that without the expert support of the SMV in the negotiations with Si-

safety would have faced serious challenges, and we might now have had to start looking for a new model-aircraft field. This experience with the authorities made it clear that it’s worth being a member of the Aero-Club as well as a strong association

to have their support. In closing, on behalf of our members and the Board of Directors, I would like to thank everyone who helped us get through these difficult and turbulent times. My very special thanks, however, go to Adrian Eggenberger. His expertise and negotiating skills have been of great help to us. Another

thank you goes to the entire board of MG Fricktal, as well as to our regional president, Robi Gächter, and Heiner Studer.

Rudi Burger,
President of MG Fricktal

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