Highly trained helicopter and jet crews are fundamental for performing rescue and repatriation flights safely and successfully. In the simulator, Rega’s cockpit crews can efficiently train standard situations as well as replicate emergency procedures that would hardly, if at all, be possible to practise in real life. Moreover, on doing so, they neither generate noise nor pollute the environment. The helicopter crews spend a total of around 1000 hours per year in the simulator.

The new helicopter simulator is a full flight simulator of the highest certification category, which functions with a “roll-on/roll-off” system. This enables replica cockpits of different helicopter types to be used on the same platform. Besides the H145, Rega has an Airbus H125 module in collaboration with Swiss Helicopter AG. Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) is responsible for operating the simulators and also offers free capacities to third parties.

In the past, the 28 jet pilots did their training in Montreal, Canada, which was where the nearest simulator for the aircraft type of Rega’s jets – the Bombardier Challenger 650 – was located. From 2023, the jet pilots are able to train in the immediate vicinity of Zurich Airport. This simplifies the duty planning for the crew members and increases their availability for the benefit of the patients. Thanks to the full flight simulator of the highest certification category, the jet crews receive top quality training for their missions all over the world.