Stop heliskiing manifestation in Switzerland

Bern – About 50 people protested on Sunday Apr. 3rd against old and new planned mountain landing sites. The stop heliskiing manifestation took place on the helicopter landing places at the Petersgrat (BE), the Petit Combin (VS) and the Wetterhorn (BE).

With several manifestations against heliskiing in the Swiss mountains Mountain Wilderness Switzerland requested the abolition of heliskiing in the Swiss Alps. More than half of the 42 mountain landing sites lay within or at the edge of protected areas, criticized the organization. Just last week it was announced that in the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch, the three mountain airfields Kanderfirn, Blüemlisalp and Rosenegg should be repealed, but replaced by two new sites in the Titlis area, at Chli Spannort (UR) and Grassen (OW).

Mountain Wilderness Switzerland asserts that the lead taken by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) in the negotiations is «one-sided in favor of the Helilobby and tourism». The organisation made an appell to the swiss federal goverment to take into consideration the needs and interests of the alpinists and act responsibly against mountain environment.

Sources: Mountain Wilderness Switzerland and www.wirtschaft.ch