Rega’s two new H145 helicopters were handed over today, shortly before noon, to a Rega delegation, which included Chairman of the Foundation Board Ulrich Graf and CEO Ernst Kohler, during a small ceremony at the Airbus facility in Donauwörth, Germany. However, before the new Rega helicopters can take off on their first rescue missions, there is still work to be done in Switzerland: the medical fit-out of the cabin needs to be completed and the relevant certification obtained from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The first H145 helicopter is scheduled to go into operation at the Rega base in Berne in October. Shortly afterwards, the second helicopter will be handed over to the Basel base. By the middle of 2019, the crews at Rega’s helicopter bases in Zurich and Lausanne, too, will be able to fly missions using the new rescue helicopter.
Fleet renewal after 15 years and 60,000 patients
Rega is purchasing a total of six H145 helicopters to replace the current lowland fleet of Airbus Helicopters EC 145 machines, which have been deployed by the lowland bases in Berne, Basel, Zurich and Lausanne since 2003. Over the last 15 years, the six EC 145s have proved their worth as highly reliable and versatile rescue helicopters and to date have brought urgently needed medical assistance by air to around 60,000 people in distress. Based on, among things, the excellent experience with this helicopter type, Rega has now opted for the successor model, the H145. Rega CEO Ernst Kohler says: “With the H145 we are continuing a success story and ensuring that we can continue to provide reliable and professional assistance to people in an emergency in future.” Rega is investing around 52 million Swiss francs for the six helicopters, including all the medical equipment.
H145 – a rescue helicopter of the latest generation
The H145 is considerably more powerful than its predecessor, the EC 145, thus further increasing safety during missions. The twin-engine H145 features cutting-edge avionics and navigation technology, is equipped with a four-axis autopilot, and can also perform satellite-based approach flights with extreme precision. Its spacious cabin means that it is predestined for special intensive care patient transports, such as with a heart-lung machine or a mobile incubator for premature babies.
Harald Schreiber
Rega Media Service