For chief helicopter pilot Mario Agustoni, the new helicopter is a high-performance and versatile tool. “The helicopter is very stable in the air and surprisingly easy to operate.” He believes that this intuitive control gives the pilots an advantage: more mental capacity. “We can focus more on tactical issues: how should we position the helicopter in the terrain? How can we carry out a hoist operation if the angle of vision and visual references change?” The modern, digital cockpit, the improved view of the outside that allows for a permanently upright seating position, and the ergonomic arrangement of the instruments ensure an expanded awareness of the situation: “You have an almost 360-degree overview.”

“The large load capacity makes missions in thin and less sustainable air at Alpine heights safer and gives us sufficient reserves – especially for demanding missions: for additional persons such as members of the patient’s family or rescue specialists of Swiss Alpine Rescue, who support us in difficult terrain, as well as for medical equipment.” The H145 D3 already demonstrated its suitability for high-altitude use in May 2025: two climbers who were stuck at around 3,300 metres were rescued from the North Face of the Eiger by hoist – without the helicopter’s weight having to be reduced by removing equipment. “Missions like these show the helicopter’s potential.”

The switch from wheels to skids calls for a rethink. “With skids, we can make use of hillsides or we can set down just one skid for rapid entry or exit – a clear advantage in steep terrain.” Experience is key here: “We learn from each mission. All the processes are documented, we learn them during training. But with the new helicopter it’s like having a new home: you have to get used to it and find out where things are.”

The changes call for time, training and patience. “For all of us, it’s true to say that routine doesn’t come about overnight.” Rega invested accordingly in training and retraining. This was carried out in stages and at close intervals. “It was a demanding process, but motivation was high.” Retraining for the crew takes place before each handover of a new helicopter at a base. “On the handover day, basically only the equipment is moved – and operations continue seamlessly.”
We are proud of the fact that we can make the switch without having to close a base for even one hour or cancel a single additional helicopter service in high season.” This was purely down to the great commitment of the flight and other instructors and mechanics – and because Rega has sufficient flight equipment and staff to carefully plan and prepare for the transition.

Alongside the enthusiasm there is also an element of nostalgia. “The Da Vinci accompanied us for 16 years. We were familiar with every detail and every procedure. But the H145 D3 is ushering in a new chapter – and that’s what makes this moment so special.”

As a paramedic, Amos Brenn is the link between aviation – the pilot – and medicine – the emergency flight physician. “We make sure that the cockpit and the cabin work smoothly together.” With the new helicopter, it is precisely at this interface that all processes, actions and perspectives will change. This applies in particular to rescue hoist operations: “The rescue hoist is now on the left-hand side. I operate it outside while standing on the skid and have a different angle of vision from the pilot. With the Da Vinci we had the same angle of vision. So communication between me and the pilot will be more important.”

At the same time, the new configuration will bring noticeable improvements during a mission: “With the Da Vinci, we had to land in order to reach the cabin from the cockpit. Now we can go outside and operate the rescue hoist directly. That saves time – a crucial factor when every minute counts.”

The same applies to the cockpit, where the paramedic assists the pilot in navigating: “I can call up the same display on my screen as the pilot. It’s therefore easier to check and confirm parameters, for instance when flying on instruments.” What’s also new is that the patient is no longer loaded and unloaded at the side on the roll-in stretcher but from the rear – seemingly a small change, but one that brings ergonomic and organisational advantages in daily operation.

As the head of the base, Amos Brenn is experiencing the organisational aspects of the switch, as well as the operational ones. “The Ticino base crew underwent retraining together with the Erstfeld base crew. That required a lot of coordination and flexibility – but it worked very well.”

“For the crews at the mountain bases, the retraining is more comprehensive than at the Central Plateau bases which were already familiar with the previous model.” The commitment of everyone involved is key – as well as a common goal of prioritising safety and quality. Amos Brenn is proud that Locarno was the first Da Vinci base to have made the switch. “It is a huge responsibility, and we take it seriously.”

For Anna Brunello, the change is most visible in the cabin. It offers considerably more space and an optimised arrangement of medical supplies and equipment. “Providing emergency medical care in a helicopter cabin is extremely demanding. Additional room to move around and improved ergonomics make a big difference in terms of more safety and better quality of treatment.”

“Certain medical procedures – such as attending to patients with better access to the airways, placing an IV or using ultrasound – should be even easier under these conditions.” Even seemingly small factors have a major impact in medical terms: “Fewer vibrations, less noise and improved heating options mean greater comfort not only for the crew but also for the patients.” There is now also the possibility of providing initial medical treatment in a protected, heated environment in the helicopter, either on the ground or in the air. “With the Da Vinci, many things had to be done outside – in the cold, wind or snow.”

From a medical standpoint, the high load capacity of the new rescue helicopter is very important – as we can then do without intermediate landings.“We can get to the patients faster. In some cases this can be crucial in terms of successful treatment.” The H145 D3 also enables the transport of patients who rely on a heart-lung machine – as has been the case for years with the rescue helicopters at the Central Plateau bases. Likewise, there is also a more suitable place for the transport incubator for premature babies.

“As emergency flight physicians, we were also well prepared for this change. In February, we completed the theoretical part of the retraining, and then we had three intensive days at the Locarno base”, Anna Brunello says. The crew first got to know the new cabin on the ground and then practised routine procedures while entering and exiting as well as operations with the rescue hoist.

The new helicopter means getting used to new things: “The new cabin configuration brings a slightly clearer separation between cabin and cockpit. Communication and teamwork remain the same – but it’s still different from before.” Looking ahead, she says: “I’m looking forward to the future missions and expect to have many ‘wow moments’. I’m proud to be part of this change.”

The new Rega helicopter is more powerful than the current rescue helicopters and combines state-of-the-art avionics, four-axis autopilot  and high-precision satellite-based approach methods.

The larger cabin offers maximum flexibility, including for intensive-care special transports – for instance with a heart-lung machine or a transport incubator for premature babies. Improvements were developed, tested and produced in collaboration with Aerolite to ensure that the crew can make the best-possible use of the cabin space for medical care. For example, a new storage system for medical equipment ensures a better overview.