The Country

Geography:
Switzerland is located at the geographical centre of western Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the north, Austria to the east, Italy to the south and France to the west and northwest. The small Principality of Liechtenstein is located on one bank of the river Rhine, on the Swiss-Austrian border. It is closely allied to Switzerland, which handles its foreign relations and defence.
Switzerland consists of three different physical regions, the Jura mountains along the Swiss-French border, the Mitterlland - a hilly central plateau with large lakes - and the Alps to the south. The latter is a highly mountainous region which makes up 60% of the land area and includes the highest peaks in Europe. Several major European rivers originate in the Swiss mountains, including the Po, the Rhine, the Rhône and the Inn-Danube. The total land area is 39,770 sq km (15,355 sq miles).
Three quarters of the population of 7.3 million (2000 figure) live in the Mitterlland. 65% of the people are of German descent, 18% of French origin, 10% Italian, 1% Romansch and 6% other ethnic groups. 40% are Protestant, 46% Roman Catholic and 14% other religious faiths. The capital city is Berne (Bern).

National History:

Summary Narrative History

Timeline - Key Dates in Swiss History

Further National Information:
BBC News Profile: Switzerland
Yahoo Switzerland page
wikipedia: Switzerland
wikipedia: History of Switzerland
History of Switzerland

Civil Aircraft Registrations:
Swiss civil aircraft were initially allocated the series C-HAAA onwards, but no use is known. In 1929 the sequence changed to CH-xxx onwards (with the registration in numerical figures), but this changed to HB-AAA onwards in 1935. The sequence HB-BAA onwards is reserved for balloons, HB-IAA onwards is reserved for transport aircraft, HB-VAA is reserved for business jets, HB-Xxx is reserved for helicopters and HB-xxxx with numerical registrations is reserved for microlights. HB-LAA onwards has been used for aircraft from Liechtenstein since 1935.
FOCA Swiss Aircraft Register

An incomplete all-time Swiss civil aircraft register listing is here.

Military Air Arms:
Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe)

Central Government Agencies:
None known

Public Service Aviation:
Medical Aviation
Police - no aviation unit

Commercial Aviation:
Air Engiadina
Crossair (not current)
Edelweiss Air
Farnair Europe
Flybaboo
Heliswiss
Ju-Air
Privatair
Swiss International Air Lines
Swissair (not current)
Swiss World Airways
Zimex Aviation

wikipedia: Airlines of Switzerland
The World's Airlines: Switzerland

Private Aviation:
To be added

Aircraft Manufacturers:
Dätwyler
FFA
Hans Berger
Pilatus

Airports, Airfields and Air Bases:
Airports in Switzerland
Military Air Bases and Airfields-
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.

Aviation Museums:
Aviation Museum Locator

Airshow Dates:
Key Airshow Dates

Aviation-Related Magazines:
Swiss Magazines Guide

Magazine Dealers:
Recommended second hand magazine dealers

Aviation Bibliography:
Swiss Aviation Bibliography - to be added

Aviation Bookshops:
On-line bookshops

Web Links:
Swiss Helicopters
* News, photos and registrations of Swiss civil and military helicopters

Swiss Helicopter Association
* Details of helicopter operators in Switzerland