Federal army with helicopters in avalanche operations
The Austrian Federal Army has been in the Alps since Thursday on an avalanche assistance mission. Agusta Bell 212 and Alouette III helicopters are also being used. Reconnaissance and transport flights are also being carried out. The avalanche blasting in Styria was carried out by a three-man crew (pilot, on-board technician and avalanche blasting officer), who flew to a blasting point after checking the so-called avalanche lines. The blasting was carried out using industrial explosives, which are dropped from the helicopter in packages of around five kilograms each. The explosion pressure then deliberately triggers potential avalanches. During the blasting, lift operations are restricted for safety reasons. Since yesterday, an Agusta Bell 212 transport helicopter has been stationed at the helicopter base in Vomp and in the Walgau barracks. Over the weekend, aircraft are on standby on an alert basis following assistance requests from the states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg. During the winter, three helicopters including crew, an "Alouette" III, an S-70 "Black Hawk" and an Agusta Bell 212 are available on request. These support the transport of the deployed forces into impassable terrain, the rescue of people or the transport of necessary goods, and the exploration of slopes at risk of avalanches. The Austrian Armed Forces will be ready to fight the snow masses until the beginning of April 2022. "The current tense avalanche situation in Austria shows how important military support is not only on land but also in the air. Natural disasters require the help of our Austrian Armed Forces, among other things. Our soldiers are deployed when civilian relief workers alone are no longer sufficient. The military supports an emergency, for example by providing a
and 