Environmental Concerns Lead Swiss to Vote on Military Flights Ban

Commercial aviation is coming under increasing environmental pressure due to its high emissions, noise and rapid growth. Militarily aviation in Switzerland is now starting to feel some of the same pressures.

Swiss hotel owner and environmentalist Walter Knutti has become tired of the noise and concerned by unnecessary emissions from military aircraft on training flights from the nearby airbase of Meiringen. Taking action, Knutti has collected enough signatures to force the issue to a popular vote - under the Swiss system of direct democracy voters have a right to challenge parliamentary laws or pass constitutional amendments by collecting a minimum number of signatures to force a ballot.

Under Knutti’s initiative, Swiss voters will decide next month if military jets should be banned from tourism zones.

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The move has been criticised by the Swiss Defence Minister Samuel Schmid, who said “If a country cannot guarantee the security of its own airspace, it cannot carry out the duties the law requires.”

Despite being a neutral country with friendly neighbours, the Swiss Air Force plan to increase fighter aircraft operations by over 2,000 flights per year.

Source: Swissinfo

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