Swiss Aircraft Registry
Complete guide to the BAZL/FOCA registry — HB- registrations, categories, manufacturers and technical data
What is the FOCA aircraft registry?
The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA/BAZL) maintains the Swiss civil aircraft register, in accordance with the Aviation Ordinance (OSAv, SR 748.01).
FOCA — Federal Office of Civil Aviation
FOCA (in German BAZL — Bundesamt für Zivilluftfahrt) is the supervisory authority for civil aviation in Switzerland. Attached to DETEC, it regulates aviation safety, issues registrations and certifies aircraft.
Every aircraft operated in Switzerland must be entered in the civil aircraft register and receive a registration mark beginning with the prefix HB-, assigned to Switzerland by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).
The registry contains detailed information about each aircraft: type, manufacturer, owner/operator, category, engine, maximum take-off mass (MTOM), year of manufacture, and much more.
HB- registration: how does it work?
Each Swiss aircraft receives a registration mark consisting of the national prefix HB- followed by a 3 or 4 character suffix. The suffix format depends on the category:
| Format | Category | Example |
|---|---|---|
HB-XXX |
Airplanes (3 uppercase letters) | HB-JMB |
HB-Xxxx |
Helicopters (1 upper + 2 lowercase) | HB-Zhu |
HB-1234 |
Gliders (4 digits) | HB-3421 |
HB-Bxxx |
Balloons | HB-B250 |
ICAO code: In addition to the HB- registration, each aircraft receives a unique ICAO hexadecimal code (Mode S) used by transponders for radar identification. This code enables real-time tracking on platforms such as Flightradar24.
How to search for an aircraft?
Our database allows you to find any Swiss aircraft in seconds. Here are the three main methods:
By registration
Enter the HB- code directly (e.g. HB-JMB) in the search bar. You will access the full aircraft record.
By manufacturer or type
Search for a manufacturer (e.g. Pilatus, Airbus) or an aircraft type (e.g. PC-12, A320) to see all matching aircraft.
By category
Filter by aircraft category (airplanes, helicopters, gliders, etc.) and by status (registered or deregistered) to refine your results.
Aircraft categories in Switzerland
The FOCA registry classifies aircraft into several categories based on their type and propulsion:
| Category | Count | |
|---|---|---|
| Aeroplane | 1'488 | |
| Glider | 480 | |
| Helicopter | 352 | |
| Balloon (Hot-air) | 301 | |
| Powered Glider | 238 | |
| Homebuilt Airplane | 183 | |
| Ecolight | 14 | |
| Ultralight Gyrocopter | 12 | |
| Homebuilt Helicopter | 10 | |
| Balloon (Gas) | 9 | |
| Airship (Hot-air) | 7 | |
| Homebuild Glider | 4 | |
| Ultralight (3-axis control) | 3 | |
| Homebuilt Gyrocopter | 1 | |
| Trike | 1 |
Categories include powered airplanes (Flugzeuge), helicopters, gliders (Segelflugzeuge), motor gliders, free and tethered balloons, airships, ultralight aircraft (ecolight) and large drones.
Understanding an aircraft record
Each aircraft record in our database contains the following information:
The unique HB- code assigned to the aircraft by FOCA.
The official model designation (e.g. PA-28-181, EC 135 T2+).
The aircraft manufacturer (Pilatus, Airbus Helicopters, etc.).
The current holder of the aircraft (individual or company).
Maximum Take-Off Mass — the maximum authorised take-off weight in kg.
The year the aircraft was built.
The unique serial number assigned by the manufacturer.
24-bit ICAO identifier (Mode S) for ADS-B radar surveillance.
Certification basis: Each aircraft is certified according to specific standards (EASA CS-23, CS-25, CS-27, CS-29, etc.) that define airworthiness requirements based on the aircraft's category and mass.
Aircraft manufacturers in Switzerland
Switzerland has a rich aviation heritage. Among the most notable manufacturers:
Pilatus Aircraft
Based in Stans (NW), Pilatus is Switzerland's only aircraft manufacturer. Known for the PC-12 (the world's best-selling single-engine turboprop) and the PC-24 (the first business jet capable of operating on unpaved runways).
Kopter Group (Leonardo)
Formerly Marenco Swisshelicopter, based in Mollis (GL). Developing the SH09, a next-generation single-engine helicopter. Acquired by Leonardo in 2020.
Solar Impulse Foundation
Iconic Swiss project by Bertrand Piccard: the first around-the-world flight in a solar-powered aircraft (2015-2016), demonstrating the potential of clean technologies in aviation.
Other players
Switzerland also has numerous glider manufacturers (Schleicher, DG), ultralight aircraft builders and EASA Part-145 certified maintenance organisations.
Frequently asked questions about Swiss aviation
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