In summer 1971, the first helicopter used for air-rescue missions was stationed in a military shelter at Interlaken Airport. As in those days Rega’s financial situation did not allow it to operate a helicopter and crew exclusively for rescue flights, until 1993 its missions were performed by crews from the Bernese Oberland helicopter firm, Berner Oberländer Helikopter AG (Bohag).

A base constantly undergoing change

In 1974, a second helicopter – an Alouette III – was also stationed at the base, which was used exclusively for rescue flights.

In 1982, the operational buildings built together with Bohag and the hangar at the new heliport in Gsteigwiler were officially inaugurated. From 1993, Rega deployed its own crew, flying an Agusta A 109 K2 helicopter.

Fifteen years later, lack of space and increasingly stringent safety regulations led to the two organisations parting company.

In May 2008, Rega’s Bernese Oberland crew moved into their new base on the site of the firm, RUAG, in Wilderswil. Since May 2010, the Wilderswil base has operated the modern rescue helicopter, AgustaWestland Da Vinci.

An emergency vehicle has been stationed at Wilderswil base since 1 May 2023. This means that Rega's physician can also be called out if a rescue mission by helicopter is not possible, for example due to bad weather.

Type of missions governed by tourism

The Wilderswil base flies demanding rescue missions right up to the highest mountain peaks. Its field of activities is governed by the strong seasonal fluctuations in tourism. In summer, the crew is above all called out to assist injured or seriously ill tourists in the holiday resorts and in winter, to attend to injured skiers and snowboarders. The Bernese Oberland crew flies more than 1,100 missions a year.