At the end of the First World War, few civil airfields existed in Switzerland. Civil aviation therefore mainly used the military bases administered by the Aviation Department, in particular the Dübendorf airfield, which had been in existence since 1910.
The first operators concentrated their activities on the use of flying boats. They opened seaplane bases on the Swiss lakes next to the major cities. From 1919 to 1923, nearly 30 flying boats have been registered in Switzerland.
The “Provisional Regulations of August 1, 1919 for Air Traffic in Switzerland” (AS 36 171) were limited to a single provision concerning airfields:
“12. A signal must always be drawn up at airfields that indicates the wind direction, or a sign that indicates the landing direction.”
With the “Regulations of January 24, 1921 relating to the traffic of aircraft on and over water” (AS 37 77), the Federal Council issued rules for the overflying of ships and movements on the water, take-off and landing in the water and the designation of usable water areas as well as the approval of landing piers.
Last modification 2023.07.20. – DR