From spring 2025, the Federal Council will fly in its new jet, a Bombardier Global 7500. Officially delivered by the Canadian manufacturer in December 2024, the aircraft landed in Payerne on 19 December after a thorough inspection by flight test specialists from the Federal Office for Armament and the Air Force.
From the civil and military platform in Payerne or from the Belp-Bern business aviation airport, the Federal Council will therefore be able to benefit from all the flexibility and security offered by business aviation for all its travel, including long-haul and intercontinental flights.
The aircraft will enter service in spring 2025 and will be equipped by autumn with a self-protection system designed to reduce the risk of threats from man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS).
Once all these commissioning operations are complete, the Bombardier Global 7500 will replace the current Citation Excel 560XL, built in 2002. The rest of the STAC fleet, the Confederation’s air transport service, consisting of a Cessna and a Dassault Falcon 900EX built in 2008, will continue to be operational and used as needed.