Swiss AF woes
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:53 amVoters in Switzerland are going to the polls to decide on a proposal which would ban the Swiss air force from flying over alpine tourist areas.
Swiss F/A-18 Hornets and Tiger F-5s fly from air bases deep in the Alps in areas which rely heavily on tourism.
Supporters of the proposal say jet noise is harming the environment, the local economy and the tourist trade.
But opponents say Swiss pilots need to train in the mountains, and forbidding them could threaten national security.
The Swiss air force has always been proud of its ability to fly fast and low through those alpine valleys and a lot of flight training takes place there, but many locals are fed up.
The F/A-18, they say, is one of the noisiest jets in the world, emitting up to 124 decibels on take off.
Supporters of the proposals to ban jet fighters in tourist areas say the environment is being damaged and tourists put off.
It is certainly true that skiing or hiking to the accompaniment of the roar of a jet and a deafening sonic boom isn't exactly pleasant.
But the Swiss defence ministry says banning flights in the mountains would threaten the existence of the air force, because if Swiss pilots can't cope with their own native terrain, what's the point of having an air force at all?
Supporters of the proposal, many of whom question neutral Switzerland's devotion to expensive fighter jets, may be hoping voters reply to that question with the answer: none whatsoever.
Swiss F/A-18 Hornets and Tiger F-5s fly from air bases deep in the Alps in areas which rely heavily on tourism.
Supporters of the proposal say jet noise is harming the environment, the local economy and the tourist trade.
But opponents say Swiss pilots need to train in the mountains, and forbidding them could threaten national security.
The Swiss air force has always been proud of its ability to fly fast and low through those alpine valleys and a lot of flight training takes place there, but many locals are fed up.
The F/A-18, they say, is one of the noisiest jets in the world, emitting up to 124 decibels on take off.
Supporters of the proposals to ban jet fighters in tourist areas say the environment is being damaged and tourists put off.
It is certainly true that skiing or hiking to the accompaniment of the roar of a jet and a deafening sonic boom isn't exactly pleasant.
But the Swiss defence ministry says banning flights in the mountains would threaten the existence of the air force, because if Swiss pilots can't cope with their own native terrain, what's the point of having an air force at all?
Supporters of the proposal, many of whom question neutral Switzerland's devotion to expensive fighter jets, may be hoping voters reply to that question with the answer: none whatsoever.
