Locarno – Cardada – Cimetta – 1570

Locarno – Cardada – Cimetta is regarded as an excellent flying site in Switzerland's Ticino canton, reached by gondola up from Cardada, though it comes with real airspace responsibility attached: the site sits directly under the Locarno/Magadino aerodrome's TMA, so it's essential to check the current airspace activation status before heading up. A north foehn (Nordföhn) is the main weather hazard to keep in mind here. Landing takes place on a disused airfield below, and pilots should aim for the southern part of the old runway rather than the middle or northern sections, where strong thermal releases can develop — there's no windsock, but the wind is normally from the southwest. Because this landing zone sits below Locarno's TMA2 controlled airspace, it can only be legally reached by flying below 500 meters; pilots who don't respect that limit have faced fines of over 300 CHF.

Getting there & local rules

Take the gondola up from Cardada.

Local rules & hazards

The site sits directly under the Locarno/Magadino aerodrome's TMA, so check the current airspace activation status before flying. Watch for a north foehn (Nordföhn), which is a real hazard here. The landing zone lies below Locarno's TMA2 controlled airspace, so it can only be legally reached by flying below 500 m — pilots who don't respect that have been fined over 300 CHF.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Locarno – Cardada – Cimetta – 1570, 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 Locarno – Cardada – Cimetta – 1570 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.