All,
Following a successful helicopter tour in 2011, we decided to give it another try. Again, we have chosen the winter period to take the advantage of some additional heli stations and the last snow. The results are:
Saturday, 3-3-2012
Sankt Anton, Heliport is one of the stations only in the winter period. In 2011 this helicopter was used by Schenkair and as Christophorus 10 (Linz), but now serving Alpin 3.
OE-XEM EC135 T2 HAT (lsf Oemtc) Alpin 3
The pilot recommended visiting the
Krankenhaus St. Vinzen in Zams as many helicopters are delivering unfortunate alpine skiers to this hospital. We spend 2 hours at this location
OE-XWF MD900 Heli Austria Martin 8
Another Martin followed. Last year it changed into red colors. This one is based at Karres
OE-XYY Bell 412HP Heli Austria Martin 2
Our advisor also arrived and was pleased to see we followed his recommendation!
OE-XEM EC135 T2 HAT (lsf Oemtc) Alpin 3
If you are a less injured patient, you may be dropped at the extended
heliport in Zams alongside the Bundesstrasse. An ÖAMTC is based here as well.
OE-XVB EC135 T2+ ÖAMTC Christophorus 5
In the Oetztal, you can find 2 heliports which are used only in the winter season. The Alpin 2 was partly covered in the shadow. As another mission was necessary, it came out in the sun!
Sölden, heliport
OE-XED EC135 T1 HAT (lsf Oemtc) Alpin 2
Continuing the way to Timmelsjoch, you arrive at the
Hoghgurgl – Heliport. It is near a ski slope at a height of 2200 meters. Last year the sun was covered by a snowstorm, but this year we had more luck. A suburb view over the valley. We have seen this bird before!
OE-XWF MD900 Heli Austria Martin 8
Last location today was
Innsbruck.
The Polizei just returned from it’s 3rd mission today, just before sunset
OE-BXY EC135 P2+ BMI - Flugpolizei
Sunday, 4-3-2012
The day in
Langkampfen / Kufstein started very grey.
OE-XAH EC135 T1 SHS Helicopter Heli 3
At the end of 2011 Christophorus 4 moved to a new location due to construction activities at her previous location at the hospital in Kitzbühel. It will be a new permanent base in
Reith bei Kitzbühel
OE-XVC EC135 T2+ ÖAMTC Christophorus 4
Continuing driving south the weather slightly improved. The next stop was in
Zell am See where the heli returned from a mission because of an avalanche. Fortunately no casualties. We saw this helicopter in 2011 in her previous ADAC colors.
OE-XXR EC135 T1 SHS Alpine Heli 6
We continued driving south via the Felberntauernstrasse. The temperature increased with 8 degrees and white environment turned into green and brown. In southern Austria the spring started already.
Due to the lack of snow, the seasonal helicopter at
Matrei in Osttirol stayed on the ground. We arrived in the afternoon, but it is recommended for photography to visit in the morning
HB-ZKE MD902 Fuchs Helicopter (operated by Heli Austria) Martin 4
Nikolsdorf
OE-XEZ EC135 T2+ ÖAMTC Christophorus 7
Good preparation was necessary to find the location in Nassfeld. It is located in the ski-region
Nassfeld-Hermagor. It is the only operational helicopter of this operator and was previously used by the Polizei Bayern.
OE-XYG EC135 P2 FlyMed Airmed-1
As we were almost at the top of the Nassfeldpass, we followed the instructions of the GPS and continued to Klagenfurt via Italy!
Monday, 5-3-2012
Klagenfurt - Flughafen Wörthersee
The ÖAMTC arrived from an early mission
OE-XEL EC 135T2 ÖAMTC Christophorus 11
As we visited the Polizei, we were thankfull both helicopters were moved outside
OE-BXI AS350B1 BMI - Flugpolizei , o/c
And the
OE-BXE EC135 P2+ BMI – Flugpolizei
My last Alpin helicopter is based at
Patergassen
OE-XET EC135 T2 HAT (lsf Oemtc) Alpin 1
Taking advantage of the mountain
It is located within a farm
The RK1 recently swapped there Austrian BK117B1 helicopters to the more powerful C1 version. As almost all Austrian EMS and Polizei helicopters use the rope for difficult operations, only the ARA equipped the helicopters with a hoist. The based is just outside a go-kart center.
Fresach, Freizeitparks Fresach-Millstättersee
D-HDRJ BK117 C1 Air Rescue Austria RK 1
St. Johann im Pongau
OE-XAG AS355F2 Heli Austria Martin 1
The white colored AS355 was wearing a typical camouflage
OE-XNN AS355F2 Heli Tirol
Just before X-mas a new EMS location was created in cooperation with the Red Cross. It is only operational until 18th March on a temporary location.
Radstadt - Schwemberg (Wilding Recycling)
OE-XMM MD902 Heli Austria Martin 10
The MD900 was not flying, otherwise we might got a “mud”-out instead of a white-out.
Niederöblarn
OE-XEO EC135 T2 ÖAMTC Christophorus 14
Monday, 6-3-2012
At Schärding-Suben Christop(horus) Europa 3 is operated in winter period by ADAC and in summer by ÖAMTC
D-HGYN EC135 P2 ADAC Christop(horus) Europa 3
Best regards,
Michiel