Rega receives its first H145 D3
Swiss air rescue provider Rega has received delivery of the first of a fleet of 21 new Airbus H145 D3 helicopters
The five-bladed rotorcraft, registered as HB-TIB, was delivered to the Rega Center at Zurich Airport, and will now be outfitted for emergency operations by a specialist team.
The aircraft is due to formally enter service with Rega in spring 2025, flying from the provider’s base in Lausanne, in the west of the country.
Rega is investing approximately Swiss Fr200 million (US$228 million) in the modernization and expansion of its helicopter fleet. This figure includes all 21 helicopters, as well as medical equipment and all necessary training.
The H145 D3s will replace Rega’s current rescue helicopters – the company currently flies two types of helicopter, and the move towards a single type is expected to significantly reduce the cost of maintenance work, spare parts, and crew training.
The H145 fleet is expected to be fully phased in by the end of 2026.
In November 2023, Rega acquired a full-flight simulator (FFS) from Reiser that is suitable for training pilots to operate the H145.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca was a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.