Helicopter companies in Switzerland have suffered significant revenue losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic in some cases. The spring lockdown left deep marks, particularly in emergency services and passenger flights. However, overregulation, which is barely manageable by companies anymore, is also particularly problematic.
The leading Swiss helicopter companies met on Tuesday for the general meeting of the Swiss Helicopter Association SHA. The corona crisis is hitting Swiss aviation hard, said Fritz Messerli, new head of flight operations safety at the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. In addition to the economic pressure caused by the pandemic and the impact on businesses, the Federal Office is currently also working on the integration of drone operations into airspace and safety when operating historic aircraft.
When enacting new regulations, the Swiss Federal Office itself is primarily active in implementing and implementing them. Messerli said that it was the political will for Switzerland to adopt the provisions of the European EASA.
EASA regulation and its scope are repeatedly criticized in Switzerland and other European countries. EASA had a study carried out on excessive regulation, explained the President of the European Helicopter Association EHA, Peter Möller.
He called on EASA to publish the results of the study and take steps to change this situation, because smaller companies with less than five helicopters in particular could no longer cope with the excessive flood of regulations. SHA President Martin Candinas agrees with him: “The Swiss helicopter industry is suffering from two pandemics at once: In addition to Covid-19, it is primarily EASA's glut of rules that is burdening companies and at the same time hardly ever contributes anything to the safety of flight operations.”
“Helicopter companies are losing some of their most experienced employees.”
As an example, Candinas cited the EASA regulation that professional pilots over 60 years of age may no longer operate commercial transport flights. “This provision is nonsensical. Even an EASA study has shown that pilots over 60 pose no medical risk. Nevertheless, this regulation forces them out of working life. They lose their income and the helicopter operators lose some of their most experienced employees.”
Another government intervention in the helicopter market was also criticized. Time and again, the Air Force carries out transport flights for civilian companies and farmers. “Since these operations are free of charge for beneficiaries, helicopter companies are being unduly competed. However, it is precisely these companies that provide services free of charge, which provide important services to the public in the event of natural disasters and accidents, for example.” SHA President Candinas has therefore intervened with Federal Councillor Viola Amherd. “Army helicopters may only be used on a subsidiary basis,” he says. “As a last resort, when civilian resources have been exhausted.”
More information
Martin Candinas, President SHA, telephone +41 78 841 66 86
Philip Kristensen, managing director of SHA, tel +41 58 796 99 60 / info@sha-swiss.ch
Christian Gartmann, Communications and Media Officer SHA, tel +41 79 355 78 78 / medien@sha-swiss.ch
About the Swiss Helicopter Association (SHA)
The Swiss Helicopter Association brings together the 20 most important helicopter companies in Switzerland. The association represents its members vis-à-vis authorities and other organizations in Germany and abroad. It aims to protect, support and promote the common interests of Swiss and Liechtenstein helicopter companies.
Christian Gartmann is the Communications and Media Officer of the Swiss Helicopter Association.