The
Swiss Air Force uses Sion as one of their four jetfighter air bases, the others being Payerne, Meiringen and Emmen. It is known as
Flugplatzkommando 14 Sion. In addition to the prop-types
Pilatus PC-6,
Pilatus PC-7,
Pilatus PC-9 and
Pilatus PC-21 as well as helicopters, it uses Sion intensively with the fighter jets F/A-18 and F-5 Tiger. It is the home base of the militia pilot unit
Fliegerstaffel 19 Swans with F-5E. Sion Airport is, at both ends of the runway, equipped with retractable
arresting gear devices (used by the F/A-18 and in case of a problem by the F-5). Due to the redimension of the Swiss Air Force, it was planned that the Air Force would leave Sion after 2017 and Sion would be used by civil aviation only, acting only as alternate airfield for the Air Force. ==See also==