The first U-space airspace in Switzerland will be introduced in the Zurich region at the end of 2026. The associated services and processes are currently being tested.
According to a news post from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) the new U-space area is located within the Zurich controlled airspace (CTR) and covers an area of approximately 10 km by 17 km (see map above)
“Drone operations in the Zurich airspace region have increased significantly,” says FOCA. “To maintain a high level of safety, U-space services will support drone pilots in their operations. In its response to Postulate 22.4580 “Developing and regulating civil drones” (in german), the Federal Council identified the introduction of U-space in Zurich as a key measure to ensure the safe use of drones in Switzerland.”
In November 2025, the first phase of the U-space introduction was carried out in the form of a real-world test (Field Test V1). The objective was to assess the technical and operational maturity as well as the interoperability of U-space services. The U-space in Zurich is expected to be fully introduced by the end of 2026. From that moment on, the use of U-space services will be mandatory for all drone pilots operating within the U-space area.
To use U-space services, drone operators will need to register once with a USSP of their choice and integrate their drone into the U-space system. The USSPs active in the Zurich U-space will be listed on this page. The Operator Manual provides drone pilots with guidance on the correct use of U-space services.
For more information
https://www.bazl.admin.ch/en/u-space-zrh