Key Facts
| Current Title: |
| Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht / Garde aérienne suisse de sauvetage / Guardia Aerea Svizzera di Soccorso |
| English Title: |
| Swiss Air Rescue - REGA |
| Abbreviation: |
| REGA |
| First Established: |
| 1952 |
| ICAO Code: |
| ? |
| Country: |
| Switzerland |
| Status: |
| Active |
History
Narrative Summary
Swiss Air Rescue (REGA) is a private, non-profit organisation that provides air rescue and emergency medical assistance in Switzerland and Lichtenstein. REGA mainly assists in mountain rescues and in cases of life-threatening emergencies elsewhere. REGA will also return a patron to Switzerland from a foreign country if they are in need of urgent medical care.
Swiss Air Rescue was first established in 1952 as a branch of the Swiss rescue association, Schweizerische Lebensrettungsgesellschaft (SLRG). Initially the focus was on providing medically trained parachutists, but soon small fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were employed to deliver help more directly.
In 1960 Swiss Air-Rescue broke away from the SLRG and became a stand-alone organisation. Later the same year the first patient transfer flight back to Switzerland was carried out.
In 1979 the name REGA was adopted as a common name for the organisation across multi-lingual Switzerland.
Swiss Air Rescue – REGA now operates a fleet of 17 helicopters and 3 jet aircraft.
Key Dates
| 27 April 1952 | Swiss Air-Rescue first established. | |
| 14 October 1952 | First rescue carried out using a fixedw-ing aircraft. | |
| 22 December 1952 | First rescue using a helicopter. | |
| 19 March 1960 | Swiss Air-Rescue is re-organised. | |
| May 1960 | First patient repatriation fight carried out. | |
| 1979 | REGA name officially adopted. |
Current Status
The aircraft of REGA are fully operational.
Future Plans
No plans known.
Markings
National Insignia
Aircraft Serial Numbers
Aircraft operated by REGA carry standard Swiss civil registrations.
Unit/Base Codes
Coding system not used.
Aircraft
Aircraft Designations
None – Manufacturers designations used
Current Aircraft Inventory
Table of Current Service Aircraft
All-Time Aircraft Used List
All-Time Table of Aircraft Used
Aircraft NOT Used
No false reports known.
Aircraft Losses and Incidents
To be added.
Organisation
Main Headquarters
Swiss Air-Rescue, Rega Centre, P. O. Box 1414, 8058 Zurich Airport, Switzerland.
Organisational Structure
Swiss Air-Rescue REGA stations a helicopter at each of 13 locations around Switzerland. The patient repatriation service is provided by a sub-division called “Swiss Air Ambulance”. The call sign REGA 11 is avoided to prevent confusion over the radio with REGA 1. REGA 13 is not used for superstitious reasons.
Current Unit Assignments
Table of Current Unit Assignments
Historical Unit Assignments
To be added.
All-Time Flying Units List
To be added.
Air Bases
Current Air Bases
See unit assignments.
All-Time Air Bases Used List
To be added.
More Information
Books
1414 – Die Erfolgsgeschichte der Rega und ihre Gesichter (Franziska Schlapfer).
Magazines
Websites
Wikipedia: Rega (Air Rescue)
REGA Official Website
heli-archive.ch
Helis.com
AB-Pic
Airliners.net