AXALP Fliegerschiessen 2022 on 19 & 20 October 2022

The Axalp Fliegerschiessen 2022 Airshow will take place later one week later than its usual date this year, just as last year. Axalp Fliegerschiessen is the yearly live shooting event of the Swiss Air Force at the Axalp Ebenflüh Shooting Range near Axalp. The event is planned on:

  • Wednesday 19 October 2022
  • Thursday 20 October 2022.
  • Tuesday 18 October 2022 (Training Day)

Below you will find a link to the Axalp Guide. In the Axalp Guide I will keep you up to date with all the practical information about Axalp Fliegerschiessen and give you all the tips I have learned over the years. If you click the other link you will see my special Axalp photo gallery.

Read The AXALP GUIDE
VIEW AXALP PHOTO GALLERY

Swiss Air Force displays

The shooting event is officially called Axalp Flugvorführungen der Schweizer Luftwaffe (Swiss Air Force Displays). Like 2021, Axalp 2022 will take place in the second week of October.

More information on the 2022 Axalp airshow

  • The Swiss Armed Forces will inform you of any update on the Axalp Airshow on this page
  • I have created a special feature story that gives a good impression of the special nature of the Axalp Airshow
  • I have just released an Extensive Axalp Guide with all that there is to know about the Axalp Airshow. Check it out!

Covid measures during Axalp 2022

Currently all COVID measures in Switzerland are lifted. This means that you are basically free to go as you please. Obviously I do not know what COVID rules will apply for Axalp ’22 in October. As a reference: Axalp 2021 took place under the following COVID rules:

  • A COVID certificate was required for those over the age of 16 (3-G, meaning: vaccinated, recovered or tested). 
  • Masks had to be be worn in vehicles (which means the bus, helicopter -for the lucky few- as well as the ski lift) and indoors.
  • There were no COVID test facilities on site.

Axalp 2022 tickets

Currently I do not have information on 2022 ticket prices. Based on 2021 prices, the price for parking , the bus ticket and the chairlfit will be around CHF 55.- per day. A PAsse partout is usually available for arond CHF 90.-

In 2021 number of visitors was limited to a maximum of 4,000 per day, and  2,000 on the training day due to COVID restrictions.

  • Tickets for shuttle services and the chairlift could only be purchased from ticketino.ch
  • It was not possible to buy tickets on site on the day itself as in the past.
  • Tickets could also be purchased at the booking offices listed at www.ticketino.com

Swiss Air Force looking to buy heavy lift helicopters

The Swiss Army is considering purchasing large helicopters (such as the Boeing Chinook and Sikorsky King Stalion). The Swiss want to broaden the capability of doing peace keeping missions abroad. The Swiss heavy lift helicopters are planned to enter service in the second half of the decade. Part of the purchase is aimed at replacing the ageing Aerospatiale Super Pumas.

Heavy lift Helicopters for peace keeping missions

The Swiss Air Force and Swiss Army heavily rely on their current fleet of Aérospatiale AS332M1 Super Puma, Eurocopter AS532UL Cougar Mk1 and the Eurocopter EC-635 helicopter fleet for logistics, SAR and troop transport. But especially the Super Puma fleet is starting to age and will need replacement in the coming decade. The Swiss government wants to participate in peace keeping missions more in the coming decade. But the current fleet of Éurocopter Cougars and Super Pumas is not fully equipped to fulfil all the requirements for demanding missions abroad. Viola Amherd, Head of the Swiss Federal Defence Department, has indicated that as part of the replacement of the Super Pumas, Switzerland is considering to Swiss heavy lift Helicopters.

Heavy lift helicopters as replacement for ageing Super Pumas

At this moment it is unclear how many helicopters will be procured, but the plan is for them to enter service towards the end of this decade. The Air Force currently has a total 45 helicopters divided over 3 types:

  • Aérospatiale AS332M1 Super Puma (15)

  • Eurocopter AS532UL Cougar Mk1 (10)

  • Eurocopter EC-635 (20)

Swiss Heavy lift helicopter Boeing CH-47 Chinook flying over the Berner Oberland
Swiss Boeing CH-47 Chinook flying over the Berner Oberland. Picture © 2021 Martin Boschhuizen

Chinook or Stallion or…

The new helicopters are intended to replace part of the Super Puma that are all over 30 years old. The longlist of a large helicopter as a replacement is rather however. The only available helicopters in the world are the Boeing CH-47F Chinook and the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion. Both offer formidable capabilities but are also expensive with the Chinook costing USD 100 Million per aircraft and the CH-53K USD 130 Million. Especially considering the fact that the Swiss have shown in the past that procurement of military material is not a simple process, with many Swiss voters being critical of the need of these procurements. Some projects like the acquisition of the Saab Gripen fighter have been cancelled altogether after the Swiss voted against it in a referendum. As a sneak peak of what might be I have included a photo composition of a Swiss Boeing CH-47F Chinook over Axalp in the Berner Oberland.

AXALP Fliegerschiessen 2021 on 20 & 21 October 2021

Axalp Fliegerschiessen 2021, the yearly live shooting event of the Swiss Air Force at the Ebenfluh Shooting Range near Axalp in 2021 will take place later one week later than its usual date this year. The event is planned on Wednesday 20 October 2021 and Thursday 21 October 2021. The training day will take place on Tuesday 19 October 2021. Going with the current communication by the Swiss Army the event is  planned to take place with certain COVID measures in place that are mentioned below.Read More