Air Zermatt AG
Air Zermatt is legendary in its own right. This Swiss rescue company was founded in 1968 by Beat H. Perren to bring aid to those who face danger in the Alps. It operates in the most challenging environments to rescue climbers and skiers, with experts highly prepared for every situation and available whenever you need them. Air Zermatt already counts 50,000 rescues, including three groundbreaking rescues that each earned prized heroism awards.
Air Zermatt provides air rescue in part of the Valais Canton, especially around the Matterhorn. The company maintains three bases in Switzerland: Zermatt, Raron, and Gampel, all in the Canton of Valais. In addition to Air Zermatt, Air-Glaciers was also commissioned by the Canton of Valais to cover the area.
In 1973, Air Zermatt was the first company to introduce medicalization into their helicopters. And it was the first company to use the tripod rescue system to extract people from crevasses and other confined spaces. Today, you still can’t find better rescue helicopters than Air Zermatt’s. Extending ropes as long as 200 meters (656 feet), its equipment sets international standards.
All Air Zermatt team members who facilitate the training share their knowledge with pilots and crewmembers from as far away as Nepal, Croatia, Turkey and Chile. A standout is General Manager Gerold Biner; with more than 16,000 flight hours, he has performed 4,500 interventions and built an international reputation, notably in the Himalayas.
Air Zermatt began with an Agusta Bell 206A, adding an Alouette III the following year. It now operates a fleet of 12 helicopters: two Bell 429s, seven H125s, two H135s, and one H130 used for panoramic flights and flight school. All kinds of transports, tourist flights and rescue operations from the simple to the extreme can be carried out with this fleet.
What is the most challenging call you received as a paramedic?
“There are many missions that have remained in my memory. However, it is difficult to choose a specific one. Probably it is a mission which concerns an acquaintance from my home region. He crashed while climbing in the region around Zermatt and was seriously injured in the head. Afterwards, he was hanging freely in the rope and we had to secure him with the winch and cut the rope to rescue him. Afterwards we intubated him and flew him to the university hospital.”
- Dominik Imhof – instructor / paramedic at Air Zermatt AG
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July/Aug 2022
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