That says CEO Ernst Kohler
Rega wants to rein and headquarters to Kägiswil: « A location in Central Switzerland is ideal »
The Rega could soon move to Obwalden. It must leave the location at Zurich Airport at the end of 2030 at the latest and is looking for an alternative. The Rega CEO in Kägiswil explains why this location is perfect.
Why does the Swiss rescue flight guard (Rega) want to go to Kägiswil?
Rega CEO Ernst Kohler.
What role do the legal dispute between the Federal Office for Civil Aviation and the Kägiswil airfield cooperative and the uncertainty of how it will continue after the currently secured flight operations until September 2025?
Rega feels great support in the canton of Obwalden: the cantonal council and government council of Obwalden, the location community Sarnen and the neighbors and landowners basically support the project. The conversion process, which the Obwalden airfield cooperative has been striving for many years now, will not be feasible and has actually failed. The Federal Administrative Court also presented this in this way by judgment of May 6th. If there should still be aviatic use in Kägiswil in the future, then through the Rega and the Heli transport company Rotex based in Kägiswil. Together with the canton, the Rega would also dismantle and renaturalize the slopes that are no longer required. A parallel heli and flight operations are not possible and, last but not least, would be too risky for security reasons.
How far are the plans?
We are on schedule, but time is urged, as the Rega, as I said, is necessarily dependent on larger rooms for helicopter support due to the new fleet and, on the other hand, has to leave the current location at Zurich Airport at the end of 2030. For this reason and on the basis of the support from the canton of Obwalden, our plans are already in an advanced stage, the project is in full swing. There are currently no insurmountable hurdles. However, the canton of Obwalden as well as the Rega rely on the federal government that the Rega gives the necessary planning security. However, I am confident that the federal government does not want to give up the aviation infrastructure at the Kägiswil location and help to enable the Rega project.
