With its 14 helicopter bases spread throughout the country, Rega provides primary medical assistance by air around the clock in Switzerland. To achieve this, the reliability of the helicopter fleet is a decisive factor. Rega currently operates two different types of rescue helicopter, which will be replaced by the end of 2026. The future single-type fleet will reduce the volume and cost of maintenance work and continue to uphold the high level of availability of the entire fleet for the benefit of patients. In addition, operating just one helicopter type will save money in the procurement and management of spare parts and cut crew training time and expenditure.

Numerous improvements compared to its predecessor

The new Rega helicopter with the registration number, HB-TIB, is the first of 21 new rescue helicopters of the type, Airbus H145 D3, to be developed in line with Rega’s specifications and is the most modern of its kind worldwide. The spacious cabin, which was further improved by a Rega interdisciplinary project team in comparison with its predecessor model, offers optimal conditions for patients and crew, as well as sufficient space for specialised medical equipment.

High-tech for patients

A new navigation and avionics system in the cockpit will in future allow even more precise instrument approach procedures, while additional spotlights mean that landing sites in rough terrain can be better illuminated during night missions. In addition, thanks to the higher performance and increased payload, the crew have significantly more reserve capacity at their disposal, which means that the new Rega helicopter is also ideally suited to missions in high mountain regions. Rega is investing a total of around CHF 200 million in the modernisation and expansion of its helicopter fleet. Included in this figure are the costs of medical equipment and training.

Rega base in Lausanne is to receive the first new Airbus H145 D3

Before the new Rega helicopter can take off on its first rescue missions, over the next weeks the interior designed by Rega will be installed and certified in the hangar at the Rega Center. The crew at the Rega base in Lausanne will take delivery of its new helicopter – as the very first Rega crew to do so – in April 2025 and from then on will use it to carry out its rescue missions. The Lausanne crew fly around 800 missions every year for people in distress, including beyond the cantonal borders.