Buochs Airport (IATA: BXO & ICAO: LSZC) is a regional airport located in the center of Switzerland near the famous region of Luzerne. The airport used to be a military airfield for the Swiss Air Force Dassault Mirages III. As of now, the airport is the home base of the Swiss factory Pilatus Aircraft (PC6, PC7, PC9, PC12, PC21 & PC24) therefore you can expect a lot of test and delivery flights along the week “business days” only. Weekend is extremely calm.

You might need to look out at BXO timetable before planning a trip (all locals VFR and Pilatus test flights are announced only 5-10 minutes priori their arrivals/departures).

Please stick to the following rules in order to keep this place as friendly as it is actually for the citizens and us “planespotters” with the Airport, RUAG, Pilatus and the Police staff:

1. Morning we recommand you to keep your car at the “Spot 2+3 – Parking Lot” point on the below map from which you can have a walk all along the “yellow line spot 2”;
2. We strongly disagree to use your car every time to make runs on the “yellow line spot 2” see map (it is dangerous) ;
3. We insist that you have a look at our below map and stick to it;
4. We remind you that BXO is an open airport therefore you may use the runway or taxiways to cross from a street to another one but please be careful and respect the signs.
5. Don’t drive too fast !

Thank you and wish you a nice time 🙂

Written by Dominik Kauer & Jeremy Denton. All spots checked March 2022

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Airport Information
Runway
06/24	2000m (6,561ft) – Concrete
Terminals	A small business jet terminal located at spot three for the Schengen and no Schengen flights.
Airport Chart
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed you can shoot easily through the fence with a small focal. However we have still mentioned on the spots 3, 6 & 8 where it can be used.
Car/Public Transport	Car is mandatory. You can also use a bicycle or a scooter to reach each location. Pretty easy.
Restrooms	Only at the spot4 at Allmendhuisli Restaurant.
Drinks/Food	Only at the spot4 at Allmendhuisli Restaurant.
Hotels	Many hotels around the airport can be found.
Season	Anytime as the landscape is very different from a season to another one at this airport. Chance of heat haze during Summer are pretty low as you are very close to the planes. If you come during Summer you also have better chances to experience a better weather.
Security
Runway Usage
General Info	06/24 is the main runway and used in all direction depending on the wind. However 06 tends to be the mostly used.

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Shelter - Mornings arrivals/departures rwy24

WHERE	Take the exit nb33 on the highway A2 direction Buchos Airport. After passing two lights at the first roundabout take the third exit on “Rieden” road. Pass the highway and take the second exit at the roundabout. Once passing the roundabout take an immediate right turn onto a small path “Alte Stanserstrasse” along the highway on your right side. It is a narrow road so drive carefully. You’ll then pass a huge Pilatus hangar and take the first path on your left afterwards. Drive until you reached a small path before the “Runwayroad Crossing” take a right turn. Drive slowely on that narrow road until you notice the Shelter at the end of the runway on your left side. Two options to park your car as mentioned on the map.
WHAT	Arrivals rwy24 and taxiway towards rwy24.
TIME	Summer: 0800 until 1500 Winter: Sunrise until Sunset
MISC.	Nothing nearby so bring with you what you need. Please refer to our map to where you can put your car. Do not climb the Shelter.
FOCAL LENGTH	Runway24: PC12 = & PC24 = 160mm Taxiway: PC12 = 30mm

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Fields - Mornings both runways movements

WHERE	Take the exit 33 on the highway A2 direction Buchos Airport. Drive on the “Kreuzstrasse” along the highway on your left side and after driving through the highwigh turn left at the PC-6 on display. Continue on the small road, cross the river and park as marked on the map next to the ramp. There are some offical parking lots now (google maps not up to date as of may 2022). Take your stuff and walk towards the old taxiway from which we suggest you to put yourself wherever you think it’s the best along that path.
WHAT	All movements rwys06 & 24. Don’t stay in the middle of the runway as the Pilatus or other aircraft tends to not use event the half of the runway to land or leave. So move yourself a bit along the path as mentioned on the map.
TIME	Summer: 0800 until 1500 Winter: Sunrise until Sunset
MISC.	Nothing nearby so bring with you what you need. Respect the rules mentioned in the map and PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO MAKE RUNS FROM A SIDE TO ANOTHER ONE!! Walk and take your ebike.
FOCAL LENGTH	Depending on the subject, angle and position it can vary from 200mm up to 500mm (PC24 = 300mm) on the yellow path see on the map or at the barrier it will be more like 100-300mm (PC7= 200mm).

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Airport Ramp - All day static aircraft

WHERE	Use the same direction as above but this time walk from the parking along the fence to the ramp. Please do not enter the field stay next to the fences.
WHAT	Aircraft parked on the ramp.
TIME	Summer: Morning or afternoon but avoid midday. Winter: Afternoon from 1300
MISC.	A ladder might be useful however you can easily take pictures through the fences as seen on the below pictures. Stay along the fences take your shots and leave.
FOCAL LENGTH	PC12 = 70mm & SR22 = 90mm

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Allmendhuisli Restaurant - Mornings Arrivals rwy06

WHERE	Take the exit nb33 on the highway A2 direction Buchos Airport. After passing two lights at the first roundabout take the third exit on “Rieden” road. Pass the highway and take the second exit at the roundabout. Once passing the roundabout take the first path on your left side. You’ll notice this large parking lot and the restaurant.
WHAT	Arrivals rwy06.
TIME	Summer: 0800 until 1500 Winter: Sunrise until Sunset
MISC.	All you need. Shadow, drinks/foods & toilets.
FOCAL LENGTH	PC12 & PC24 = 450mm however it depends on the angle which can be down to 300mm side shot.

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Segelfluggruppe Nidwalden - Afternoon Line-up & Arrivals Rwy06

WHERE	Take the exit nb33 on the highway A2 direction Buchos Airport. After passing two lights at the first roundabout take the third exit on “Rieden” road. Pass the highway and take the second exit at the roundabout. Once passing the roundabout take the third path on your right side. It’s a tiny road which is surrounded by a few trees on each sides. Continue until the end and park your car next tot he hangar.
WHAT	Line-up and arrivals rwy06 afternoon (end day).
TIME	Summer: Best from 15h to sunset. Winter: End of the day.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so bring with you what you need.
FOCAL LENGTH	Line-up: Picture nb1 = 70mm as well as PC21 / Picture nb2+3 = 200mm Arrivals: N/A

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Pilatus PC12 and 24 Production Line

WHERE	Take the exit nb33 on the highway A2 direction Buchos Airport. After passing two lights at the first roundabout take the third exit on “Rieden” road. Pass the highway and take the second exit at the roundabout. Once passing the roundabout take the third path on your right side. It’s a tiny road which is surrounded by a few trees on each sides. I’ll suggest you to park the car under a tree and walk towards those fences to get some shots and leave afterwards or park your car at spot 7 and walk a bit longer. The spot is on the sidewalk next to the hangars.
WHAT	Pilatus PC12 & PC24 parked or exiting/entering the facility.
TIME	Depending on how the planes are parked, all day.
MISC.	A ladder might be useful however you can easily take pictures through the fences as seen on the below pictures.
FOCAL LENGTH	Far: PC24 = 140mm & PC12 = 150mm Middle: PC12 = 80mm Nearest: PC24 = 70mm

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Pilatus Production Line - Taxiway

WHERE	Take the exit nb33 on the highway A2 direction Buchos Airport. After passing two lights at the first roundabout take the third exit on “Rieden” road. Pass the highway and take the second exit at the roundabout. Once passing the roundabout take the seventh path on your right side. It’s a very tiny dirty road which cross for a second an ACTIVE taxiway therefore drive slow and be alert on each side if a plane is coming before crossing quickly. Afterwards park your car as per the below overview picture. You can stay at the points as marked on the map. When moving around don’t walk on the meadow of the farmer and use the taxiway instead (of course no movements should taking place!).
WHAT	Only traffic taxiing towards or exiting the facilities.
TIME	Summer: From 1100 until 1800. Winter: All day.
MISC.	Nothing nearby so bring with you what you need. DO NOT DRIVE LIKE CRAZY ON THAT SMALL ROAD & BE CAREFUL OF PLANES.
FOCAL LENGTH	PC24 = 25mm & PC12 = 35mm

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View from the norther spot down the taxiway, southeastwards

MRO Pilatus

WHERE	Take the exit nb33 on the highway A2 direction Buchos Airport. After passing two lights at the first roundabout take the third exit on “Rieden” road. Pass the highway and take the second exit at the roundabout. Once passing the roundabout take the sixth path on your left side. You’ll notice a large parking lot where you can park your car and start walking around the fences to get those planes parked.
WHAT	Only MRO aircraft sitting on the ramp. MRO = Maintenance Repair Overhaul. Plus the parked protytype PC24 and a Siwss fighter jet on display here.
TIME	Depending on how the planes are parked, all day.
MISC.	A ladder might be useful however you can easily take pictures through the fences as seen on the below pictures. Stay along the fences take your shots and leave.
FOCAL LENGTH	PC6 = 85mm / PC9 = 70mm / PC12 = 50mm

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Compass

WHERE	From spot 2, take your car, cross the active runway and continue until you reached some small houses on your left side. Park the car here and start walking on that small road towards the Compass area. Refer to the map if needed.
WHAT	Very rare and you have to be lucky for a quick compass session only.
TIME	Summer or Winter from sunrise until 1300.
MISC.	Please stay on the road do not go on the field or nearest the plane.
FOCAL LENGTH	PC12 = 70mm

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