The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Switzerland adopts EU laws on drones and post-Brexit aviation

airport
Flights from the UK via Switzerland will remain subject to existing regulations. © Keystone / Christian Beutler

Switzerland has taken over a European Union security framework laying out new rules for drones. This also guarantees the continuation of aviation activities between Bern and London after Brexit.

The new rules on aviation security, safety and traffic management agreed by the Swiss-EU Joint Committee on Air Transport will come into force on September 1, according to a statementExternal link from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation released on Thursday.

The new aviation security plan includes several EU air safety regulations that also cover drones. Starting in June 2020, drones that weigh at least 250 grams or have a camera traveling in European airspace must be registered. Member states of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) can assign responsibility for certification, monitoring or compliance control to other member states or the agency itself.

The agreement also covers aviation activities with the UK following Brexit. Flights from the United Kingdom that land at Swiss airports and continue to another destination will remain subject to existing regulations. No additional security controls are expected to be imposed on UK travelers transiting via Switzerland on such flights following Brexit.

The new regulation also guarantees that Swiss manufacturers of aircraft material will be able to continue production and airlines will be able to continue using aircraft material according to European Union laws.

This reduces the risks of production disruptions that could impact the air transport sector and have serious economic consequences, the civil aviation office wrote in a statement.

The agreed security framework also includes additional measures to prevent terror attacks such as revised background checks and the use of new explosive detection equipment.

More
Karin Keller Sutter and British Home Secretary Sajid Javid sign a contract

More

Swiss Politics

Switzerland signs post-Brexit security provisions with Britain

This content was published on Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter travelled to London on WednesdayExternal link to sign a memorandum of understanding that would cement policing and security cooperation whatever happens with Britain’s exit from the European Union. Should Britain leave the EU without a deal, “all information from the British security services will be deleted from key EU databases…

Read more: Switzerland signs post-Brexit security provisions with Britain

Popular Stories

News

A code of conduct for collecting signatures

More

Swiss democracy

Switzerland to introduce code of conduct for collecting referendum signatures

This content was published on Commercial collectors of signatures for initiatives and referendums could be given a legally non-binding code of conduct. This proposal comes from the Federal Chancellery following the discovery of thousands of falsified signatures.

Read more: Switzerland to introduce code of conduct for collecting referendum signatures
Blatten in Valais to be rebuilt in four years

More

Swiss Politics

Destroyed Swiss village of Blatten to be rebuilt within four years

This content was published on After the devastating landslide, Blatten in Valais should be standing again by 2029. Municipal president Matthias Bellwald confirmed the corresponding plans to the Keystone-SDA news agency on Wednesday, which he had presented at a municipal meeting the previous evening.

Read more: Destroyed Swiss village of Blatten to be rebuilt within four years

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR