Swiss Helicopter investigated over alleged under-reporting of flights

Around 8,000 flights were estimated to have taken place near Gsteigwiler in the past year, against an authorised limit of 3,000. The figures sit at the centre of an investigation into whether flight movements connected to Swiss Helicopter were under-reported over several years.

The heliport lies near Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. Swiss Helicopter uses it for transport, business and supply flights, as well as sightseeing and training operations. Residents’ complaints about aircraft noise prompted a group to examine the scale of activity and raise concerns with the authorities.

Swiss Helicopter said the Federal Office of Civil Aviation, known as FOCA, informed the company in March 2026 that an investigation was under way. The company has acknowledged that the permitted number of movements was significantly exceeded, although it disputes the residents’ estimate of 8,000 flights.

The case has drawn attention because flight quotas depend on accurate reporting by individual heliports. FOCA said it does not independently collect movement data. That leaves the regulator reliant on figures supplied by the facilities it oversees, a system now under scrutiny in Gsteigwiler.

The administrative criminal procedure targets the manager of facilities used by Swiss Helicopter, who is presumed innocent. Swissinfo, citing Tamedia newspapers, reported that the manager is an employee of the company.

Swiss Helicopter said an internal investigation found that the facility manager had submitted flight movement figures to FOCA that were too low over an extended period. The company said its operational management and board of directors were unaware of the alleged false declarations.

Those claims remain part of the investigation. The available information does not establish how many movements were allegedly omitted, when the under-reporting began or whether the figures affected regulatory decisions beyond the Gsteigwiler quota. The authorities have not announced a final finding.

The distinction between an individual allegation and corporate responsibility will matter as the proceedings develop. Swiss Helicopter has acknowledged the quota breach and apologised, while maintaining that senior management did not know about the inaccurate reporting. Any legal conclusions will depend on evidence gathered by the authorities and on the manager’s right to respond.

For residents, the practical issue is more immediate: aircraft noise continued over an extended period while official records may have understated activity.

Swiss Helicopter says the Gsteigwiler heliport cannot remain economically sustainable under the current restrictions. The company has requested a higher flight quota after admitting that the existing limit was significantly exceeded.

The operator says the facility supports several types of commercial activity, including transport, business, supply, sightseeing and training flights. A higher quota could protect the base’s future, but it would also force authorities to weigh the company’s operational needs against residents’ concerns about noise and the environmental impact of additional helicopter movements.

Since April, Swiss Helicopter has taken off and landed outside the official landing area, including on fields. The company said aviation regulations permit such operations and described them as essential for commercial helicopter operators. It also said it was working to use off-field landing sites only when operationally necessary.

The statement adds another layer to the dispute. Off-field operations may help the company work around limits at the official heliport, yet they do not settle the question of how total movements should be counted or communicated to FOCA. The company’s request for a new quota will test whether regulators consider the existing limit outdated, breached or still appropriate for the area around Interlaken.