Army wants drone flight zone – Nesslau defends itself

The Alpstein is one of the most popular areas in Switzerland with paragliders. But now the signs for this paraglider Eldorado are on red: The military wants to set up a large flight exclusion zone in Obertoggenburg.

In the future, the Swiss Army would like to fly and practice with drones. To do this, it needs a drone flight zone. She plans to build this over the area of ​​the Säntis / Obertoggenburg shooting range. Neither the responsible municipality of Nesslau nor the local associations have been informed about such a restricted zone or about drone flights.

We already have enough noise; There is no need for more.

The military wants to let mini-drones fly for reconnaissance and also such who shoot, it says at the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (Bazl). The army has made a corresponding application, says spokesman Christian Schubert.

The mayor of Nesslau, Kilian Looser, only found out about this application and the plans of the army through the media. He is not pleased: “We have not waited for drones now.” There is already a lot of noise in the airspace from the training flights of the Swiss Army. This noise is more of a nuisance today and therefore doesn’t need any more.

This restricted zone destroys one of the most beautiful flight routes in the Alpstein.

The community will oppose these plans. The paraglider pilots will also offer resistance. Until now, the airspace had been marked as “dangerous” when the army had completed its training. The zone should now be blocked. This “restricted area” is ruining one of the most beautiful flight routes, says Michael Kobler, head of training at the Aerocenter St. Gallen paragliding school.

Specifically, it is about 40 days in the winter half-year during which the airspace could be closed to drones. In addition, there are another possible 110 days on which the artillery conducts target practice. For the mayor, the limit has already been reached. We understand that, says Christian Schubert from the Bazl.

The army wants to use those areas for the drones that are already used militarily.

Schubert assumes that the army wants to use the areas for drones that are already used militarily . Such practice areas already exist in Bière and above the Emmental. We are now waiting for the feedback from the municipality of Nesslau and the cantons of St. Gallen and both Appenzell and then we want to weigh up the area above the Säntis, Schubert continues. The consultation will run until October 7th.