Each time someone asks me for Switzerland flying tips, I start with customs. Switzerland not being a member of European Union, each international flight requires customs clearance. This is not possible at all airfields, making flying more complex, administratively speaking. Some airfields have agreements with local customs office, but require a pre-notification of several hours.

As I learned to fly in this environment, and had some facilities as Geneva airport offers French customs service, I never really regarded that as a big issue… This changed few days ago, as I had to drive (for business reasons) through Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. I expected having to slow down, and wait for a customs man sign before being able to continue, but no, nothing.

If there were no different road-signs styles (and speed limitations…), the country change could be un-noticed. This might sounds obvious for pilots within the European Union, and even sound strange to those of you flying in US, which probably never flew to another country, but for me, little swiss pilot, that was like experiencing Europe for the first time.

However, things are about to change. Switzerland will apply the Schengen – Dublin treaty on the 31st of October 2008, and so flights to and from the “Schengen” countries will be possible from any swiss airfield. Constraints will also change for flights outside these countries. Not all airports currently offering customs services will be allowed to continue.

The situation is unclear for the time being, as the Swiss Aero-Club and AOPA Switzerland try to oppose some pending decisions. So if you plan a flight to Switzerland after the 31st of October 2008, be sure to get well informed about customs procedures, particularly if you come from a country out of the Schengen area. Your best source of information is certainly an up-to-date airport chart, but given the reaction time to update and re-print them, calling your destination is probably the best thing to do.

Flying illegally through an international border is certainly the last thing you want. Customs officers have many privileges, including the right to confiscate your plane if they think you tried to import it unlawfully…