The ÖAMTC air rescue crews have been taking off on life-saving missions for 40 years now. In the anniversary year of 2023, this happened 20.823 times - that's an average of 57 starts per day. “Compared to our most intensive year of operations so far, 2022, in which we recorded almost 22.000 operations, this is a slight decrease.

Such fluctuations are normal and are related to a variety of factors, including, for example, the weather situation: If it rains a lot, for example, For example, if there are fewer swimming accidents, if there is no snow, we are not called to the ski slopes as often,” summarizes Marco Trefanitz, managing director of the ÖAMTC air rescue. In addition to the ÖAMTC emergency medical helicopters, which are used all year round, there are four winter bases; the Alpin 1, Alpin 2, Alpin 5 and Alpin Heli 6 stationed there were alerted for a total of 2023 missions in 1.654.

The range of operations of the Christophorus fleet was also very broad in 2023. One thing has remained the same for years: the majority of operations - 2023 percent in 47,4 - are for internal and neurological emergencies. Trefanitz explains: “Especially in such cases, usually heart attacks or strokes, the speed advantage of the helicopter makes the decisive difference and therefore represents an important pillar in the basic care of Austrians.” Other common reasons for use: accidents at work, in free time or in the home environment (15,1 percent), followed by sports and leisure accidents in the Alpine area (11,9 percent). Traffic accidents only accounted for 2023 percent of Christophorus operations in 6,9.

Most missions were flown in Lower Austria (4.698), Styria (3.794) and Tyrol (2.802). In 2023, 702 rescue operations, in which people were rescued from impassable terrain, and 1.185 night operations were carried out. “The latter shows that we are on the right track: our crews now take off from three bases around the clock. We are also available to the population at several locations until the early hours of the night – always with the aim of contributing to even better medical care for the population,” says Trefanitz. The fog piercing method that is used in the Klagenfurt Basin and celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2023 also fits in with this: This technology allows Christophorus 11 to take off on missions even if this would not be possible under visual flight conditions due to the fog.

Ongoing innovation and investment for the benefit of patients

The vision of ÖAMTC air rescue is to save lives at any time of day and as independently as possible of the weather. In order to achieve this, we continually invest – both in technology and in training and optimization of processes. Managing director Marco Trefanitz gives a few examples: “In 2023 we took over two more H135s of the latest generation from our partner Airbus Helicopters and are therefore e.g. B. quieter, more efficient and still more powerful on the go. In addition, a separate project group completely revised the backpack system, which is absolutely necessary for operations, and redesigned it with the partner Koloszar Medizintechnik, based in Wiener Neustadt. When it comes to training, we have built a state-of-the-art, type-specific flight simulator in Upper Austria at Linz Airport in collaboration with Rotorsky, the like of which was previously unavailable in Austria, where ÖAMTC air rescue pilots also teach as trainers in their free time. With regard to medical equipment, we have had a state-of-the-art incubator for transfer flights of newborns and a matching crew concept including a permanently available and ready-to-use specialist at our location in Wiener Neustadt since 2023.”

Trefanitz's final thanks go to all ÖAMTC air rescue employees - whether in the air, in the HeliAir maintenance and design operation or in administration. And, last but not least, the partners and all emergency organizations, without whom professional emergency care from the air would not be possible. Because one thing will not change in 2024: saving lives is teamwork.