Helicopter bases in all parts of the country celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Swiss Helicopter Association (SHA) on Saturday. For the first “Swiss Helicopter Day,” they opened their hangar doors and showed their businesses to the public. Despite the sometimes nasty weather, more than 27,000 guests came.
The first “Swiss Helicopter Day” was a huge success: More than 27,000 people visited one of 18 helicopter bases in all parts of the country and in the Principality of Liechtenstein on Saturday. The companies provided a glimpse behind the scenes of helicopter aviation with its numerous job profiles and wide range of applications. “The public march to the first Swiss Helicopter Day is far above our expectations.
It shows that the helicopter is a very important means of deployment and transport for Switzerland — and is therefore very popular,” says National Council President Martin Candinas, who is also President of the Swiss Helicopter Association (SHA). Candinas visited helicopter companies in all language regions on Saturday and exchanged ideas with visitors.
“People in this country appreciate the commitment of the industry, which has its teams deployed seven days a week and sometimes at night to transport accidents and sick people, search for missing persons, extinguish forest fires or secure traffic routes and winter sports areas from avalanches.”
Indispensable for the population and tourism
However, the importance of the helicopter industry goes far beyond the health and safety sector, said Candinas: Without helicopters, construction sites in high mountains, the management of protective forests, the control of electricity and gas pipes or particularly demanding assembly work, it would be hard to imagine: “Helicopters perform missions in the mountains, in the midlands and sometimes even in cities that would not be possible without them. They are essential for Switzerland's population and tourism.”
Candinas urged politicians and the responsible administration not to impose ever new requirements on aviation: “Overregulation is about to literally strangle our companies. This and ever new regulations against airfields and mountain airfields pose a threat to public service in the helicopter industry. The helicopters and their pilots were not the only stars of Swiss Helicopter Day: Mechanics explained how to maintain the modern machines and flight assistants about their use on the ground and in the air.
“The range of jobs and occupations of helicopter aviation is broad and inspires young and old people alike,” said SHA managing director Philip Kristensen. “Our members invest heavily in the safety and education and training of their employees and their entire company.” The first Swiss Helicopter Day was held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Swiss Helicopter Association. “I couldn't have asked for a better anniversary for our industry association,” said Martin Candinas at the end.
Swiss Helicopter Day is an initiative of Swiss Helicopter Association; The idea and basic concept come from Christian Gartmann. He has been Communications Officer for the Swiss Helicopter Operators Industry Association since 2018.