Switzerland Mandates Constant Radio Contact for Pilots Over Lake Constance
In response to a near-collision over Lake Constance, the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (BAZL) has announced a new safety measure. Starting in August 2025, constant radio contact will be mandatory for pilots flying over the lake, mirroring German airspace regulations.
The incident, classified as 'serious' by the Swiss Safety Investigation Board (Sust), involved a Cessna taking off from Altenrhein Airport SG and a Cirrus attempting to land in Friedrichshafen. The aircraft were just 180 meters apart and at the same height when the near-collision was averted in mid-September 2024.
The Sust investigation revealed that the pilots did not notice each other in time. The Cirrus maintained radio contact with German air traffic control, but the Cessna, flying under visual flight rules, did not. This highlighted the risks associated with Switzerland's voluntary radio readiness policy, implemented in 2022.
The area around Altenrhein-Friedrichshafen is known for close encounters between aircraft. The Sust recommends making constant radio contact mandatory for pilots on the Swiss side of Lake Constance to enhance safety.
The BAZL's decision to mandate constant radio contact over Lake Constance from 2025 is a proactive measure to improve aviation safety. This move aligns with the Sust's recommendations following the near-collision and aims to prevent such incidents in the future.
