etn wrote:
French go to Mulhouse or Montbeliard to fly, much smaller / easier (in a sense of “no handling”) / cheaper airfields.Makes absolutely sense. The Swiss around Basel have only LFSB as real airport. Fricktal-Schupfart (LSZI) has only a grass runway (VFR) and is often closed after rain. Dittingen (LSPD) is generally closed to visitors (except gliders).
What’s the status quo for using Basel – LFSB to then enter Switzerland? Was discussing the options with my girlfriend to visit her family, and the nearest airports are Basel, Zurich and maybe Bern.
The later two expensive if direct from Schengen or wishing to park for 2 nights.
I presume emailing the following would work? https://gacbasel.ch/
… if you want to park on the Swiss side (and pay the fees). If you want to park on the French side (not totally cheap either), you need to contact [email protected] and [email protected]
I have nearly the same problem and thinking about Birrfeld (LSZF). They have a good website, close to Zurich, hard runway. The downside, they are VFR only.
Thanks guys, any estimate on the fees? Any gotchas?
I wonder that LSZR Altenrhein/St Gallen isn‘t being suggested for IFR access to Switzerland. It is super-friendly, IFR and POE with C&I. It is privately owned and run by Peoples Airline that just operates a couple scheduled flights to/from Austria per day. It is popular with the private jet crowd, but is also very accessible to GA except during AERO and WEF. No handling is required and it‘s just a few steps through the „terminal“ to the outside entrance. There‘s hourly fast train service from St Gallen and Romanshorn to Zürich and beyond. The trip to Zürich HB is an hour.
Sure, but the airport is a long way from St. Gallen city. In that regard, whilst in a beautiful setting, it is still in the middle of nowhere.
LSZR Altenrhein/St Gallen isn‘t being suggested
Restrictive operating hours, rather high fees, no thanks.
Middle of nowhere? Compared to LFSB? Really? Not much more for a taxi from LSZR to St Gallen or Romanshorn than LFSB to Basel HB. Train to Zurich HB is the same time in any case. And the big airport time and hassle overhead of LFSB is missing at LSZR. Sure, compared to Birrfeld LSZF it is expensive, but I believe the OP wants an IFR airfield and LFSB costs a lot more. The only real nuisance at LSZR with opening hours is the mid-day closure. If the destination is more central, then Berne LSZB (or Grenchen LSZG) are good options, and I believe options are what the OP was seeking. At the end of the day, opinions are just that. Each pilot has her own priorities, draws her own conclusions, and makes (and lives with) her own choices. For me, I wrote off Basel LFSB when they charged me €150 for the shuttle from the GAC to the terminal and back for customs (which was close enough to walk), alone (no pax), one minute ride.
