Visiting my colleagues
in Switzerland
Marcel Frimmel is a pilot with Blackcomb Helicopters in Canada and recently paid a visit to Air Zermatt. Marcel, who is originally from the German state of Bavaria, shares his account of the occasion in a guest article. He was particularly impressed by the air rescue system in place in the Valais, which he believes is second to none.
Red and white stars
Anyone who grows up in the German-speaking part of Europe with an interest in helicopter flying is bound to be familiar with Air Zermatt. The red and white helicopters were often seen in TV documentaries in the course of spectacular rescue operations in the Swiss Alps. I always dreamed of having a career in aviation, and of being able to visit the Zermatt base one day.
"Making this dream come true involves overcoming plenty of hurdles – and for me it was a case of moving to Canada and working my way up from car mechanic to helicopter pilot. The most important thing is never to lose sight of the goal."
The wait is over
At the beginning of December last year it was finally time, and I had the honor of visiting the base in Zermatt to see the work being done by my Swiss colleagues. For my part, I’ve officially been the pilot of an Ecureuil at Blackcomb Helicopters in British Columbia since the spring. After my time as a task specialist, having already completed my commercial pilot training (CPL (A) & (H)), I had the opportunity of a type rating and started my career as a helicopter pilot in the Canadian Coast Mountains in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor between Vancouver and Whistler.
Two companies with similarities
Air Zermatt and Blackcomb Helicopters are very similar in their basic functions – underload flights, rescue flights, tourist and heliski flights all form part of our daily business. An air rescue system like the one in Valais is second to none, however. While Air Zermatt has rescue helicopters on standby round the clock, local rescue organizations in British Columbia have to hope that a machine will be available for them. While this isn’t always the case during the forest fire season, the dispatchers at Blackcomb Helicopters do their best to provide a suitable helicopter for a rescue operation as quickly as possible.
At the heliport in Zermatt
But now to my time with Air Zermatt. After a very warm welcome and a coffee to get us going, we explored the hangar and the Air Zermatt site. The short distances around the site help to improve communication between dispatch staff, mechanics, task specialists, pilots and medics. In view of the poor weather that day the helicopters were in the hangar, and flying was unfortunately out of the question. I would have loved to watch my Swiss colleagues at work, but then again the H125 simulator from Loft Dynamics is ideal for days like these. Like Air Zermatt, Blackcomb Helicopters also has a Loft Dynamics simulator for pilot training – a safe and environmentally friendly addition that helps to make flight operations even more effective. The H125 simulator with virtual reality allows users to train emergency maneuvers in safety and at any time.
The tour was followed by lively conversation with Daniel Aufdenblatten, the new CEO, and Sandro Imboden, the Air Zermatt’s Ground Operation Manager. We covered topics like the somewhat different scope of the various tourist flights in Canada compared with the European Alps. We also talked about the considerable differences in air rescue and the number of emergency calls received on a daily basis by the dispatch staff. Especially when it comes to medical care for patients, we in Canada still have a lot to learn from our colleagues in Switzerland. Unlike in the Valais, there’s no mandate for rapid and patient-oriented rescue and care in Canada’s Sea-to-Sky Corridor, which is a haven for hikers, climbers, skiers and mountain bikers
Thank you Air Zermatt
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Air Zermatt team for an unforgettable visit. I look forward to seeing you all again soon!