- The Aero Club of Switzerland (AeCS) is the oldest and most comprehensive air sports association in Switzerland, founded in Bern on 31 March 1901.
- In 2026, the AeCS celebrates its 125th anniversary with events spanning the full spectrum of Swiss air sports throughout the year.
- The AeCS has been a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for 120 years, giving Swiss air sports athletes a pathway to international competition.
- Youth programmes like YES Days and the annual Engadin camp are actively building the next generation of Swiss pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
- Keep reading to discover why joining the AeCS in 2026 might be the most meaningful aviation decision you ever make.
If you’ve ever looked up at a glider tracing a silent arc over the Swiss Alps and felt that pull, the Aero Club of Switzerland was built for exactly that feeling. The Aero Club of Switzerland (AeCS) is the nation’s oldest and most comprehensive air sports association, and right now, there has never been a better time to be part of it.
Switzerland’s Premier Aviation Club Has Been Flying Since 1901
Few aviation organisations anywhere in the world can claim the kind of unbroken legacy that the AeCS holds. Founded over a century ago, this is not a club that simply exists on paper. It is a living, breathing community of pilots, athletes, enthusiasts, and advocates who have shaped Swiss aviation from its earliest days.
Founded in Bern, the AeCS Is Switzerland’s Oldest Air Sports Association
The Aero Club of Switzerland was officially founded in Bern on 31 March 1901, making it one of the oldest national aero clubs in the world. At a time when powered flight had not yet been achieved, Switzerland’s founding members were already organising around balloons and early airships, driven by a shared belief in the freedom of the skies. That founding spirit, bold, community-driven, and forward-looking, still defines the AeCS today.
What began as a small gathering of aviation pioneers has grown into the most comprehensive air sports umbrella organisation in Switzerland. The AeCS now represents disciplines ranging from gliding and powered flight to paragliding, skydiving, hot air ballooning, and model aircraft. It is not just a club. It is the central pillar of Swiss air sports culture.
125 Years of Preserving Flying Freedoms for Swiss Aviation Enthusiasts
Across its 125-year history, the AeCS has consistently served one core mission: preserving the freedom to fly. As Chrigel Markoff, Director General of the AeCS, put it directly, the aim of the organisation has always been to be a competent representative of aviation interests in politics and with the authorities. That advocacy role has never been more important than it is today, as airspace regulation, noise restrictions, and environmental pressures create ongoing challenges for air sports across Europe.
The AeCS has been there through every significant chapter in Swiss aviation. From hosting the legendary Gordon Bennett balloon racing competitions to supporting Swiss athletes on the international stage, the club’s history reads like a timeline of aviation achievement. In 2026, that history is being celebrated with a full calendar of anniversary events reflecting the sheer variety of air sports practiced in Switzerland.
Key Milestone Timeline: Aero Club of Switzerland
Year Milestone 1901 AeCS officially founded in Bern on 31 March 1905 AeCS becomes a member of the FAI 2025 120 years of FAI membership celebrated 2026 125th anniversary of the AeCS with year-long celebratory events
A Member of the FAI for 120 Years
The AeCS has been a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for 120 years, one of the longest-standing national memberships in the FAI’s history. This relationship matters deeply for Swiss air sports athletes because it is through the FAI that international competition, standardised rules, and global recognition become possible. Without that structure, Swiss pilots and air sports athletes would be competing in isolation rather than on the world stage.
The FAI connection also gives the AeCS a seat at the table when global aviation policy is shaped. For members, that means the club you join in Switzerland is directly connected to the international body that governs everything from world championship gliding to aerobatic world cups. It is a local club with a genuinely global reach.
What the Aero Club of Switzerland Actually Does
Beyond the history and the anniversary celebrations, the AeCS is an organisation that does real, tangible work every single day. It operates across three distinct areas: political advocacy, athlete support, and community building. Understanding what the club actually does on the ground helps explain why membership is genuinely meaningful rather than just a title.
Political Advocacy and Protecting Your Right to Fly
The AeCS functions as the primary voice for air sports interests in Swiss politics. When new regulations threaten access to airspace, when noise restrictions risk closing local airfields, or when environmental legislation could impact flight operations, the AeCS is the organisation standing in the room making the case for Swiss aviators. This is not background work. For anyone who flies in Switzerland, this advocacy is what keeps runways open and airspace accessible.
Chrigel Markoff, who has been a member of the AeCS for almost 30 years, described the organisation as consistently competent in representing aviation interests with both political bodies and regulatory authorities. That kind of long-term institutional credibility is not built overnight. It is the result of 125 years of showing up, engaging seriously, and earning the trust of Swiss policymakers.
Organising International Air Sports Competitions Including the Gordon Bennett
Switzerland has a proud competitive aviation heritage, and the AeCS has been central to that story. The Gordon Bennett Cup, one of the oldest and most prestigious gas balloon races in the world, is among the historic competitions the AeCS has been involved with throughout its history. Swiss pilots have consistently performed at the highest levels of international air sports, and that success does not happen without a strong national organisation behind them.
The AeCS provides the infrastructure that connects Swiss athletes to FAI-sanctioned world championships across disciplines. Whether it is gliding, paragliding, aerobatics, or skydiving, the club creates pathways from local participation to the international podium. For competitive-minded aviation enthusiasts, membership means access to that entire competitive ecosystem.
Youth Programmes That Build the Next Generation of Swiss Pilots
One of the clearest signs of a healthy aviation community is how it invests in young people. The AeCS takes this seriously, running structured programmes designed to introduce young Swiss residents to air sports and create genuine pathways into aviation careers. These are not token gestures. They are well-organised initiatives that have introduced hundreds of young people to the skies.
Annual Youth Camp in Engadin for Ages 14 to 16
Each year, the AeCS runs a dedicated youth camp in the Engadin valley, one of Switzerland’s most spectacular alpine regions, targeting participants between the ages of 14 and 16. Set against the backdrop of high-altitude landscapes, the camp gives young aviation enthusiasts hands-on exposure to air sports in an environment that is equal parts inspiring and educational. For many participants, it is their first real encounter with what a life in aviation can look and feel like.
The Engadin setting is not accidental. High-altitude flying in alpine terrain introduces young participants to conditions and decision-making that ground-level instruction simply cannot replicate. The camp is a formative experience, combining practical exposure with the kind of peer community that turns a passing interest into a lifelong passion. For those interested in expanding their aviation knowledge, exploring the Cessna 182 Skylane can provide further insights into high-altitude operations.
YES Days: Young Eagles Switzerland Events Across Swiss Airfields
Young Eagles Switzerland (YES) Days are organised events held at airfields across the country, giving young people the chance to experience flight firsthand. These events are designed to be accessible and welcoming, removing the barriers that can make aviation feel like an exclusive world. The goal is straightforward: get young people into the air, let them feel what flight is, and connect them with the aviation community in a meaningful way.
YES Days are strategically spread across Swiss airfields to maximise geographic reach. Whether a young person lives near Zurich, Geneva, or a smaller Swiss canton, the AeCS works to ensure that proximity to an airfield is not the deciding factor in whether a young person gets their first flight experience.
SPHAIR Programme Support for Young Adults Pursuing Aviation Careers
For young adults who want to move beyond enthusiasm into a professional aviation career, the AeCS supports the SPHAIR programme, Switzerland’s national selection and preparation pathway for aspiring military and civil pilots. SPHAIR provides aptitude assessments and structured guidance that help young adults understand whether a professional flying career is achievable and how to pursue it. The AeCS connection gives members a clear advantage in navigating this pathway.
Why the AeCS Motto “Together We Are Strong” Still Rings True Today
The AeCS motto is not marketing language. It reflects a structural truth about how air sports function. Individual pilots benefit from shared airfields, shared advocacy, shared competition infrastructure, and shared knowledge. No single aviator can maintain all of that alone. The AeCS exists precisely because the collective is more powerful than the sum of its parts, and 125 years of sustained operation is the proof. When you join, you are not just signing up for a membership card. You are adding your weight to a community that protects and advances something genuinely worth protecting, like the Cessna Citation XLS for sports team travel.
125th Anniversary Celebrations Happening Throughout 2026
2026 is not a ordinary year for Swiss aviation. The AeCS marks its 125th anniversary with a year-long programme of events that span the full breadth of air sports practiced in Switzerland. The anniversary is both a celebration of what has been built and a statement of intent about what comes next. For anyone considering joining the AeCS, 2026 is the year to do it.
The organisation was officially founded on 31 March 1901, and the 2026 anniversary events began rolling out from the start of the year. The celebratory calendar has been designed to reflect the diversity of the AeCS community, from balloon flights and glider competitions to powered aircraft displays and youth aviation events. It is a full-spectrum celebration of Swiss air sports culture.
Events Reflecting the Full Spectrum of Swiss Air Sports
The 2026 anniversary programme deliberately showcases every discipline under the AeCS umbrella. Hot air ballooning, which has been central to the club’s identity since its founding days, features prominently alongside more modern disciplines like paragliding and skydiving. This breadth is intentional. The AeCS is not a single-discipline club, and the anniversary events make that unmistakably clear. For prospective members, the event calendar is effectively a showcase of everything that membership can connect you to.
Join the Aero Club of Switzerland and Be Part of Aviation History
Joining the Aero Club of Switzerland means becoming part of something that has outlasted every trend, every regulatory shift, and every challenge that Swiss aviation has faced across 125 years. This is the organisation that has kept runways open, sent Swiss athletes to world championships, introduced thousands of young people to their first flights, and advocated for aviation freedoms when it mattered most. Membership connects you directly to that legacy while giving you access to a community, infrastructure, and competitive ecosystem that no individual can build alone.
Whether you are an experienced pilot looking for a stronger community, a newcomer to air sports wanting a structured entry point, or a young person with a dream of flying professionally, the AeCS has a place for you. With the 125th anniversary bringing the most active and celebratory year in recent memory, 2026 is the single best moment to step in, introduce yourself, and take your place in Swiss aviation history. Visit aeroclub.ch to explore membership options and find the local section or discipline that fits where you are in your aviation journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most common questions from people considering joining the Aero Club of Switzerland, answered clearly and directly.
When Was the Aero Club of Switzerland Founded?
The Aero Club of Switzerland was officially founded in Bern on 31 March 1901. This makes it one of the oldest national aero clubs in the world, predating powered flight itself.
In 2026, the AeCS celebrates its 125th anniversary with a full calendar of events spanning every air sports discipline practiced in Switzerland. The founding city of Bern and the founding spirit of preserving flying freedoms remain central to the organisation’s identity today.
What Air Sports Does the Aero Club of Switzerland Cover?
The AeCS is Switzerland’s most comprehensive air sports umbrella organisation, covering a wide range of disciplines including gliding, powered flight, hot air ballooning, paragliding, skydiving, aerobatics, and model aircraft. It is not a single-sport club. The breadth of what the AeCS covers is one of its defining strengths, meaning that wherever your aviation passion sits, there is likely a section, event, or programme within the AeCS that connects directly to it. For those interested in powered flight, the Cessna 182 Skylane offers a unique opportunity to explore new heights.
How Can Young People Get Involved With the Aero Club of Switzerland?
The AeCS runs several structured youth programmes designed to create real pathways into aviation. The annual youth camp in the Engadin valley targets participants aged 14 to 16 and provides hands-on alpine flying exposure. Young Eagles Switzerland (YES) Days are held at airfields across the country and offer first-flight experiences in an accessible, welcoming environment.
For young adults with professional ambitions, the AeCS supports the SPHAIR programme, which provides aptitude assessments and structured guidance for those pursuing careers as military or civil pilots in Switzerland. These are not token youth programmes. They are deliberate, well-organised pipelines that have introduced hundreds of young Swiss residents to a lifetime in aviation, including opportunities to unlock new heights in surveying operations.
What Is the Relationship Between the AeCS and the FAI?
The Aero Club of Switzerland has been a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for 120 years, placing it among the FAI’s longest-standing national member organisations. The FAI is the world governing body for air sports and is responsible for sanctioning international competitions, standardising rules across disciplines, and ratifying world records.
For AeCS members, this relationship means that participation in the club connects directly to the international air sports ecosystem. Swiss athletes compete at FAI-sanctioned world championships across gliding, paragliding, aerobatics, skydiving, and ballooning, and the AeCS is the national body that makes that international pathway possible. Without the FAI structure, international competition and exchange on a standardised, credible basis simply could not happen.
What Events Are Planned for the AeCS 125th Anniversary in 2026?
Discipline / Focus Event Type Details Hot Air Ballooning Anniversary Flights & Displays Reflecting the club’s balloon racing heritage including Gordon Bennett history Gliding Competitions & Demonstrations Showcasing Switzerland’s strong gliding tradition in alpine settings Paragliding Community Events Part of the full-spectrum 125th anniversary programme Skydiving Display Events Included in the anniversary calendar reflecting AeCS discipline breadth Youth Aviation YES Days & Youth Camp Engadin youth camp and YES Days at airfields across Switzerland All Disciplines Year-Long Celebrations Events throughout 2026 marking the founding date of 31 March 1901
The 2026 anniversary programme was designed with the full AeCS community in mind, not just one corner of it. Events are spread across the year and across disciplines, meaning there are multiple entry points for both existing members and people who are curious about joining for the first time.
The anniversary celebrations also serve a broader purpose beyond marking a date. They are a public demonstration of what Swiss air sports culture looks like when it is at its most organised and most energised. For anyone sitting on the fence about membership, attending an anniversary event is one of the most direct ways to experience the AeCS community before committing.
More information on the full 125th anniversary event programme is available directly through the AeCS at aeroclub.ch/en/125-jahre-aero-club-der-schweiz/. The events calendar is updated as new anniversary activities are confirmed throughout 2026.
The Aero Club of Switzerland has spent 125 years proving that the freedom to fly is worth organising around, advocating for, and passing on to the next generation. That work continues in 2026 and beyond, and membership is how you become part of it.
