Welcome to Laveno and Lake Maggiore. This page collects what visiting pilots need to know to fly safely here and to respect the site the club looks after.
| Site | Laveno-Valcuvia, Lake Maggiore, Lombardy (Italy) |
| Takeoffs | Monte Nudo, 1117 m (S) and Sasso del Ferro, 1060 m (SE) |
| Landing | Official VLLM landing, Casalzuigno (VA) |
| 2025 season | 1,708 flights by 292 pilots from 26 countries |
| Season XC record 2025 | 139.14 km |
| Club contact | [email protected] · +39 345 0547062 (English spoken) |
Monte Nudo
The main takeoff, facing south above the lake.
| Coordinates | 45°55’20.11″N, 8°40’26.64″E |
| Altitude | 1117 m |
| Facing | South |
| Winds | Flyable with SE, S and SW winds |
| Getting there | The fastest way is the shuttle, see getting to the takeoffs |
Do not take off with north wind. Taking off from Monte Nudo with wind from the north is not recommended and is dangerous. Check the föhn diagram on the weather page before going up.
Sasso del Ferro
A steep takeoff above Laveno.
| Coordinates | 45°54’40.77″N, 8°38’36.86″E |
| Altitude | 1060 m |
| Facing | South-East |
| Winds | Takeoff with winds from the south |
| Getting there | Cable car from Laveno, then the trail towards the summit |
Landing
The official VLLM landing is in Casalzuigno. In your navigator search for “Volo Libero Lago Maggiore” on Google Maps.
The landing is next to the Parco Area Feste, run by the Pro Loco of Casalzuigno, which the club uses for its events: toilets and services, a heated indoor room, a large car park and a very good place to eat and drink. More on the Parco Area Feste page.
Emergency landing field
Since 2026 the club has an agreement with the owner of the Quattro Strade Basse field, which is now an official emergency landing for pilots and a support landing during events at the Area Feste. The grass is cut only on the club’s request, and the field can be used safely even when the grass is tall.
Getting to the takeoffs
- Monte Nudo: a private shuttle service runs to the takeoff. Contact the club through the contact page for information.
- Sasso del Ferro: take the Funivie del Lago Maggiore cable car from Laveno; from the top station follow the trail towards the summit of Sasso del Ferro.
Road works or closures on the access roads are announced on the notices page (in Italian). Please check it before driving up.
Weather
- Live at Monte Nudo: webcam and weather station at the takeoff, updated every 3 minutes during daylight, on the weather page.
- Forecasts: Windy wind forecast for Laveno on the forecast tab.
- Windgrams: create a free account on Alpium for windgrams and forecasts of the takeoffs you fly.
- Föhn: north-south pressure difference across the Alps on the föhn tab.
Airspace
The Laveno area is not restricted, but it borders the Lugano and Malpensa CTR. Check all restrictions on the XContest airspace map before flying cross-country.
Waypoints of the Laveno area, prepared for the club’s 15th anniversary meeting, can be loaded into your flight instrument (for example XCTrack):
Emergency numbers
112 single European emergency number · 118 medical rescue · 115 fire brigade
To report an accident or an issue at the site, use the contact page or call the club.
Where to stay
Besides hotels and holiday homes around the lake, you can camp at Icaro’s camping spot. Details here.
Tandem flights
Tandem flights are possible. Get in touch through the contact page.
Support the club
The club looks after the takeoffs and the landing, and pays for agreements such as the emergency landing field with its members’ fees. If you fly here, your support is very welcome: you can donate through PayPal or become a member of the club (registration, in Italian).