ÖAMTC Christophorus Flugrettung

ÖAMTC Christophorus Flugrettung is an emergency helicopter service in Austria. A non-profit group called the Christophorus Flugrettungsverein runs it from Vienna, and the ÖAMTC motoring club started it.

Services

The helicopters fly emergency doctor missions. A normal crew has three people: an emergency doctor, a flight paramedic and a pilot. The service also moves intensive care and newborn patients and does winch rescues, which are flown from the Christophorus 14 base. It trains crews at its AirRescueCollege. It also takes part in cross-border missions, for example to Czechia and from South Tyrol.

Aircraft and bases

The fleet is made up mainly of EC135 and H135 helicopters. The association page lists 17 bases across Austria. Christophorus 2 at Krems and Christophorus 17 at St. Michael fly around the clock. The other bases fly from sunrise to sunset. Winter bases include Sölden, Hintertux, Patergassen and Zell am See.

Coverage area

The service covers all of Austria. Emergency calls go through the national number 144. Crews work with the Austrian Red Cross and the Austrian Mountain Rescue, and with Vienna's professional rescue service in the capital.

Facts

• The ÖAMTC began the service in 1983 with Christophorus 1
• Run by the non-profit Christophorus Flugrettungsverein, founded by the ÖAMTC state clubs
• The site reports more than 260,000 missions since the start
• Supporters can join for 29 euros a year