Rega can now fly to Swiss Paraplegic Centre in low visibility

Rega cockpit

Swiss rescue service Rega can now use satellite navigation to fly to the Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPC) in Nottwil

The SPC is specialized in rehabilitating and integrating paraplegic people and has its own helicopter pad. After years of preparation by Rega, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation has now allowed the rescue service to use the necessary satellite technology to fly to the center in low visibility.

These flights require monitoring by air traffic control, meaning Rega will be allowed to fly in low visibility between 09:00 hrs and 18:30 hrs. The service wants to be able to offer rescue flights to the center at all hours in the future.

This comes as part of Rega’s Low Flight Network (LFN), which it set up with help from the Swiss air force and flight safety company Skyguide. The LFN is working on connecting more hospitals with low visibility flight systems. The network also allows pilots to follow a route with autopilot, a safe process.