From Manali to the Matterhorn:
Amit and Nishant at Air Zermatt
Special guests Amit Thakur and Nishant Thakur are back in Zermatt for the summer. The two 32-year-old task specialists from Manali in northern India are visiting Air Zermatt for the fourth time. They’ve come with the goal of learning as much as they can from the experience, professionalism and processes at Air Zermatt, and taking these insights back with them to their home country.
In India, Amit and Nishant work for a helicopter company that mainly runs heliskiing flights in winter. In summer the focus is on sightseeing flights, plus the occasional rescue operation if needed. But the things they feel are missing are the variety and professionalism involved in the transport flights run by Air Zermatt.
“Transport flights in India just aren’t as structured and well-organized as they are here,” says Amit. “We want to learn from the processes we encounter here in Zermatt, and adapt them to suit our needs back home.” And this is exactly what brings them back to Zermatt every summer. Here they not only learn how material transport flights are planned and carried out safely, but also what a task specialist needs to do on the ground to make sure an operation runs smoothly.
Much more than just observers
During their visit, Amit and Nishant sleep in single rooms that form part of the hanger itself, right up close to the flight operations. “We hear the helicopters taking off, even at night, when Air Zermatt is called out on a rescue mission,” says Nishant. “It took some getting used to, but it’s pretty normal for us by now.”
They also had the chance to join the crew on their rescue missions, which was a great experience for them both. “Then it was all hands on deck,” they say. “And we saw how serious and important the work really is.”
As well as learning all about working with the helicopter, the two also benefited from basic first aid training with Air Zermatt’s rescue service. “We’ll also be able to use this knowledge in India, whenever emergency medical aid is difficult to find,” adds Amit.
"We’ll also be able to use this knowledge in India, whenever emergency medical aid is difficult to find"
Inspired by the variety
At Air Zermatt, no two days are the same, and this is exactly what the two visitors find so inspiring. “However much you plan, things always turn out differently,” says Amit with a laugh. The variety of the work, the responsibility and the close contact with the team made their summer in Zermatt a visit to remember.
A few words with Amit and Nishant
You’re back at Air Zermatt for the fourth time. What keeps you coming back?
Amit: “The professionalism and the organization we experience here are simply unique. We learn something new every day, and want to take this knowledge with us back to India.”
What was the biggest challenge for you in the beginning?
Nishant: “Definitely the nighttime operations. In India, we never fly at night. The first time we heard a rescue helicopter take off around midnight, it was a completely new feeling for us.”
What did you find especially impressive?
Amit: “The team spirit. We were made to feel like part of the family right from the very beginning. That was really special.”
And what are you taking back to India?
Nishant: “Structure, safety, efficiency and, of course, our experience of the operations themselves. But also lots of new friendships.”
