Calanda

Calanda is a southeast-facing mountain launch at about 2,415 m near Chur, in the Grisons, popular for cross-country flying — take-off is informal and flexible, essentially wherever suits the wind on the day, and a Swiss Alpine Club hut on the mountain makes an overnight stay possible before an early start. Airspace here needs real attention: Swiss airspace in general is complex, and flights toward Chur specifically require checking whether the restricted area LS D-15 is active before you go anywhere near it. Landing options are all around Chur: 'Rossboden' sits directly under LS D-15 (ground to 1,850 m when active, so check status first), 'Obere Au' sits outside that restricted area but still needs a careful approach line if D-15 is active nearby, and 'Spitäler' shares airspace with hospital helicopter traffic, with a windsock on the hospital roof to help. Never fly here in foehn conditions, and expect strong wind over Chur through summer even without it.

Launch & conditions

Take-off is informal and flexible on the ridge — essentially wherever suits the day's wind. A Swiss Alpine Club hut on the mountain allows an overnight stay before an early launch.

Getting there & local rules

An overnight stay is possible at the Swiss Alpine Club hut on the mountain, useful for an early start.

Local rules & hazards

Never fly here in foehn, and expect Chur to be genuinely windy through summer regardless. Before flying toward Chur, check whether the restricted area LS D-15 is active — 'Rossboden' landing sits directly under it (ground to 1,850 m when active), 'Obere Au' sits outside it but still needs a careful approach if D-15 is active, and 'Spitäler' shares airspace with hospital helicopter traffic.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Calanda, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Calanda with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.