Since 1983, the ÖAMTC air rescue helicopters have been taking off to save lives. From the humble beginnings - in 1983 there were only two bases - a cornerstone of the rescue service quickly developed, without which the Austrian health system would be unthinkable. As part of a ceremony, representatives from politics, business, health care and partner organizations took a look at the past, present and future of air rescue in Austria.
"Looking back over the past 40 years is gratifying," says Reinhard Kraxner, Managing Director of ÖAMTC Air Rescue. "Through their innovative spirit and tireless commitment, our employees have created a flagship in the field of international air rescue." The range of achievements over the past decades is long and ranges from more powerful helicopters and innovative rescue methods to groundbreaking training concepts and autopilots, mobile ultrasound devices and our own weather cameras. The year 2017 is particularly noteworthy in this regard: Christophorus 2, Austria's first emergency medical helicopter, was put into service and is ready for use around the clock thanks to the latest technology. With the start of 24-hour operations on the C14 and C17 in the following years, comprehensive care is now guaranteed in eastern Austria, even during the night. “Our stated goal is to establish 24/7 operations in the western half of the country in the near future,” says Kraxner.
In 1983, Christophorus 1 and 2 flew a total of 191 missions. Last year, the Christophorus fleet had a record year with 21.934 alerts. "These figures clearly show that the ÖAMTC air rescue service is needed and that it is now impossible to imagine the Austrian health system without it," says ÖMTC President Günter Thumser. "By far the majority of missions our helicopters fly are for acute illnesses, such as cardiovascular problems or neurological emergencies." The ÖAMTC air rescue service sees its mission as providing rapid and optimal care for patients at any time of day and in any place. "I would like to thank our employees in particular for this. Their daily commitment makes the ÖAMTC air rescue service what it is," explains ÖAMTC Director Oliver Schmerold. "But a big thank you also goes to our partners from politics and business, as well as to the emergency organizations, whose trust makes our work possible in the first place."
Establishment of a medical drone service and digitization offensive
A look into the near future shows that the importance of air rescue in emergency rescue and patient transport will continue to increase due to demographic and structural changes. It is important to be prepared for this. "If we want to continue to fulfil our mission of 'helping people in need' in the coming decades in a comprehensive and, above all, safe manner for crew and patients, we must constantly prepare for future changes, challenges and trends," explains Marco Trefanitz, spokesman for the managing directors of ÖAMTC Air Rescue. "In this context, being well prepared means actively helping to shape the air rescue of tomorrow." That is why ÖAMTC Air Rescue is currently working intensively on setting up a Medical Drone Service. "We are convinced that drones will play an important role in emergency medicine in the future," says Trefanitz, explaining the reasons behind this. "We therefore want to supply medical infrastructure, such as hospitals, with priority cargo by remote-controlled drone in the future. This would enable blood products, laboratory samples or rare medications to be delivered quickly and inexpensively to where they are needed."
Keynote speaker Florian Tursky, State Secretary for Digitalization and Telecommunications, was also impressed: "The helicopters in the air rescue fleet are not just flying operating rooms with the best medical equipment. From the most modern displays to virtual training and education, everything is state-of-the-art. Personally, I am pleased that, like in my office, paper is a thing of the past in the ÖAMTC helicopters. The so-called "Electronic Flight Bag" has been in use since 2021. This means that what previously had to be lugged in heavy books and documents and of course stowed away is now immediately available to the crew at the touch of a button or swipe of a finger using tablets. The advantages here are obvious. The documents are always up to date and real-time information about the weather or air traffic is always available. That's what I call digitalization with benefits."
Despite state-of-the-art technology and a wide range of innovations, the ÖAMTC air rescue service has always focused on people: In the decades to come, the Austrians can rely on the Christophorus fleet to bring medical aid from the air to where it is needed.
"Only Albania and Austria do not yet have an air rescue service" - in the spring of 2015, university professor Gerhard Flora (died 1983) highlighted the then intolerable situation in medical care. His clear words encouraged the ÖAMTC to act. Together with Kurt Noé-Nordberg (died 2010), the first knots were tied that would become an Austria-wide network of air rescue bases. Four decades and 435.000 missions later, the ÖAMTC air rescue service has 17 year-round locations, four seasonally operated locations and an intensive care transport helicopter, and is called out more than 20.000 times a year. 67 pilots, 390 doctors and 160 air rescuers make up the crews for the Christophorus fleet, while 66 engineers and maintenance technicians and 55 back office employees are on duty on the ground every day.
1983 to 2023 – construction and further development, always up to date
"From the outset, it was important to us, in the interests of our patients, to make both the technical developments and the medical advances of the time suitable for air rescue," says Reinhard Kraxner, Managing Director of ÖAMTC Air Rescue. "We have quickly developed into an institution whose know-how is valued far beyond Austria's borders." The foundation stone for this was laid in 1983 - but the will to innovate and to create a professional and modern air rescue service has shaped the Christophorus operation to this day. And nothing will change in this regard in the future, as Marco Trefanitz, spokesman for the management, explains: "Of course, we want to and will continue to fulfill our mission of helping people in need in the coming years. To ensure this, we must always keep our finger on the pulse of the times, constantly change and prepare for challenges."
Milestones from 40 years of ÖAMTC air rescue:
- 1983: Christophorus 1 (Innsbruck) and Christophorus 2 (Krems) are put into service.
- 1985: ÖAMTC, the Ministry of the Interior and the Armed Forces start to jointly set up a nationwide emergency doctor helicopter network in Austria.
- 1998: The Christophorus fleet undergoes a radical change: the first EC 135 helicopter is put into operation in Innsbruck.
- 1999: The intensive care transport helicopter (ITH) for secondary transport is stationed in Wiener Neustadt.
- 2001: Seven locations of the Ministry of the Interior and one base of the army are taken over.
- 2002: Christophorus Europa 3, the first emergency medical helicopter operated by two countries, goes into operation.
- 2005: The largest air rescue center in Austria is opened in Innsbruck.
- 2012: Ensuring the long-term financing of an air ambulance free of charge for patients.
- 2015: Drafting of a forward-looking and sustainable set of agreements with the social security agencies.
- 2017: Christophorus 2 is the first emergency doctor helicopter in Austria, which is in use around the clock.
- 2019: Start of dual operation at the ITH in Wiener Neustadt. In the future, C33 can also be alerted to primary operations.
- 2020: Unrestricted operation despite Corona.
- 2020: Opening of C17 in St. Michael in Upper Styria. Second base in 24/7 operation.
- 2020: New fleet concept is decided. Expansion of the fleet by six H135 Helionix.
- 2022: Start of 24-hour operation on the C14.
- 2022: Presentation Medical Drone Service.
A lot has happened in 40 years of ÖAMTC air rescue, both on board the Christophorus emergency medical helicopters and on the ground. "Air rescue has always been an area that is constantly in flux. In the recent past, this dynamic has even increased and brought a multitude of new challenges and opportunities, for example with regard to sustainability, the use of new technologies and - more generally - constantly changing requirements for modern rescue services. For us, one thing is clear: we want and will always keep our finger on the pulse of the times in the next 40 years and do our job of saving lives as best as possible," Marco Trefanitz concludes.
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