The Austrian Alpine Membership subsequently advises mountaineers to reduce the monetary danger by taking out rescue insurance coverage. 12 % of all rescue flights in Austria – 4,373 to be exact – had been carried out in alpine terrain between November 1st, 2022 and October thirty first, 2023. “In Austria we will depend on a contemporary, complete air rescue system, and we will take into account ourselves fortunate,” explains Alpine Affiliation President Wolfgang Schnabl.
Prices of just regarding 5000 euros
Who pays for it, nonetheless, is a separate matter. “Statutory medical insurance doesn’t cowl the prices of a helicopter rescue in impassable terrain, or doesn’t at all times adequately cowl it. If an injured individual is rescued from alpine terrain, they’re normally left with the rescue prices. With out rescue price insurance coverage, such an operation may be very costly for the person. A median helicopter flight of 40 minutes price an accident sufferer in Austria virtually 5,000 euros final yr,” says Clemens Matt, Secretary Normal of the Austrian Alpine Affiliation. For that reason, the Alpine Membership advises all mountain athletes to take out acceptable rescue insurance coverage for his or her leisure actions on the mountain.
Helicopter operations in price comparability
In Austria, a mean helicopter flight of 40 minutes price an accident sufferer a mean of 4,984 euros final yr. To place this quantity into perspective, Secretary Normal Matt makes a value comparability. “In Germany final yr, common helicopter rescue prices, assuming a 40-minute flight, amounted to three,120 euros, round 37 % lower than in Austria. In Switzerland, common prices of three,681 euros had been incurred by chance victims final yr, nonetheless round 26 % lower than with us”.
In response to Matt, these variations can primarily be defined by the per-minute flight worth set by the home helicopter corporations themselves.
The insurance coverage included within the Alpine Membership membership coated a complete of three,239,964 euros in prices for rescues in alpine terrain at residence and overseas (ground-based and by helicopter) from November 1st, 2022 to October thirty first, 2023.
