Departure
95%
vs 95%
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Zell am See Airfield (LOWZ) is a small alpine airstrip in the Salzburg region of Austria, set dramatically between the shores of Lake Zell and the surrounding Hohe Tauern peaks. It is a well-known base for glider training, private VFR flying and scenic helicopter and fixed-wing sightseeing flights over the mountains, and has repeatedly been cited as one of the most scenically situated airfields in the Alps.
Zell am See Airfield lies in the town of the same name in the Austrian state of Salzburg, tucked into a narrow alpine valley between Lake Zell and the glaciated peaks of the Hohe Tauern range, including the nearby Kitzsteinhorn. It is a small general aviation and gliding field rather than a commercial airport, used for private touring flights, motor-glider and glider training, and scenic sightseeing flights by both light aircraft and helicopter operators. For a simulator pilot the appeal lies chiefly in the setting: a short mountain strip hemmed in by high terrain and open water, demanding careful VFR planning.
The airfield sits at an elevation of 2467 feet amid mountainous terrain in the Salzburg region, close to Lake Zell and beneath the glacier and peaks of the Hohe Tauern, with Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn nearby. The closest other airfields are Saalbach-Hinterglemm, some 16 km (9 nm) to the WNW, and Hochfilzen, about 23 km (12 nm) NNW. Given the surrounding high ground, pilots should expect the local airspace and approach paths to be shaped strongly by valley terrain.
Zell am See has two physical runways. The main hard-surfaced runway, 08/26, is lit and measures 2163 feet available landing distance on runway 26 and 1752 feet on runway 08, reflecting different declared lengths in each direction. A second, grass runway, 07R/25L, is also lit and measures 975 feet. There is no ILS at the field, and no closed or relic runways are noted.
The airfield's radio service is Zell am See Radio, operating on 119.705 MHz as an aerodrome flight information/advisory frequency rather than full air traffic control. No instrument approach aids or navaids are associated with the field, and there is no ILS.
Lake Zell, immediately adjacent to the airfield, together with the glacier and the Kitzsteinhorn peak, form the principal visual landmarks for locating and approaching the field. The nearby resorts of Kaprun and Kitzbühel also serve as useful reference points for pilots transiting the area on sightseeing routes.
Specific historical detail on the airfield's founding and wartime role is not recorded in the available material. It has, however, become known for its striking alpine setting between lake and mountains, and has been recognised on several occasions as one of the most beautiful airfields in the region.
Zell am See Airfield remains active today as a base for private general aviation movements, motor-glider and glider training, and scenic flying. Local operators run alpine sightseeing flights by both light aircraft and helicopter over the Hohe Tauern, Kitzsteinhorn and Kaprun, and the local operator ZellAir provides direct flights into the field using a single-engine Cessna Caravan. The field also serves as a hub for glider pilots, offering training as well as facilities for private glider operations.