Swiss authorities have implemented plans for a six-degree approach angle at Lugano Agno Airport, effectively banning the airplane most frequently used there–the Saab 2000 turboprop. The rule change came as several parties jockeyed for position to start new regional operations into Lugano with Saab 2000s after Swiss International Airlines announced plans to severely curtail its service there.
Lugano Agno, situated in a mountainous region of Southern Switzerland, opened in 1938. The airport later extended its Runway 01/19 to 4,430 feet with a hard surface, and in the early 1980s Runway 01 received an ILS at the request of Swiss regional airline Crossair. Because terrain obstacles prevented the installation from meeting all requirements of an ILS approach, authorities classified it as an instrument guidance system (IGS) in 1983, and set the glideslope at 6.65 degrees. The approach path features a missed approach point (MAP) at 1,174 feet agl and 1.5 nm from the threshold, marking the last moment when landing Category A aircraft can safely overshoot without hitting mountains on the other side of the runway.
