Automatic air coupling for a rail vehicle, in particular in the form of a goods wagon, having a mouthpiece for coupling the air coupling to an opposite air coupling; having a compressed-air connector for connecting the air coupling to a rail vehicle compressed-air system; having a flow channel which connects the mouthpiece to the compressed-air connector so as to conduct compressed air; having a valve which is arranged in the flow channel and which has a valve body (4.1) and a valve seat (4.2), wherein the valve body (4.1) is movable between an open position, in which it at least largely or completely exposes the flow channel , and a closed position, in which it shuts off the flow channel in a pressure-tight manner; having a valve drive which acts at least indirectly on the valve body (4.1) in order to actuate the latter from the open position into the closed position and/or from the closed position into the open position; wherein the valve drive comprises a shaft (5.1) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation , which is designed for non-rotatable connection to a rail vehicle coupling lock or is formed by a rail vehicle coupling lock and is provided with at least one cam (5.2), which acts at least indirectly on the valve body (4.1) to actuate the latter; wherein at least one position sensor , which detects a rotational position of the cam (5.2) at least indirectly, is provided in the region of the cam (5.2); characterized in that the at least one position sensor is designed as a non-contact sensor and the air coupling comprises a housing , which forms the flow channel and encloses the cam (5.2) over its external extent, at least in the circumferential direction relative to the axis of rotation , wherein the at least one position sensor is carried by the housing . having a mouthpiece for coupling the air coupling to an opposite air coupling; having a compressed-air connector for connecting the air coupling to a rail vehicle compressed-air system; having a flow channel which connects the mouthpiece to the compressed-air connector so as to conduct compressed air; having a valve which is arranged in the flow channel and which has a valve body (4.1) and a valve seat (4.2), wherein the valve body (4.1) is movable between an open position, in which it at least largely or completely exposes the flow channel , and a closed position, in which it shuts off the flow channel in a pressure-tight manner; having a valve drive which acts at least indirectly on the valve body (4.1) in order to actuate the latter from the open position into the closed position and/or from the closed position into the open position; wherein the valve drive comprises a shaft (5.1) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation , which is designed for non-rotatable connection to a rail vehicle coupling lock or is formed by a rail vehicle coupling lock and is provided with at least one cam (5.2), which acts at least indirectly on the valve body (4.1) to actuate the latter; wherein at least one position sensor , which detects a rotational position of the cam (5.2) at least indirectly, is provided in the region of the cam (5.2); characterized in that the at least one position sensor is designed as a non-contact sensor and the air coupling comprises a housing , which forms the flow channel and encloses the cam (5.2) over its external extent, at least in the circumferential direction relative to the axis of rotation , wherein the at least one position sensor is carried by the housing . <EOS>