For 18 years, the RK-2 helicopter of the ARA air rescue service, stationed at the district hospital of Reutte in Tyrol, has been saving lives, now it suddenly has to “take off”. Apparently it’s too loud for some residents.
Thomas Jank, director of the ARA air rescue service that operates the RK-2, is appalled: “As the airport operator, the Reutte Municipal Association has decided to close the ARA station at the hospital by 2027 at the latest. Allegedly because the noise nuisance for the care home and some residents is no longer reasonable.
Alternative location hard to find
“The neighborhood association has urged us to find an alternative location in the Reutte area as soon as possible,” says Jank. Of course, this is probably an undertaking as difficult as it will cost millions.
The airport operator must indirectly admit this. A few months ago he had aviation experts do a site survey – according to Jank, however, the result is not yet known.
Lifeguards of the nightlife
Equipped with a winch, the RK-2 flies longer at night than other emergency medical helicopters and is allowed to perform winch rescues at night. The crews have been able to save lives many times. Alpinists from the Zugspitze have repeatedly been rescued from distress with spectacular actions. Not only the Ehrwald mountain rescuers praise the crew of the RK-2 and are enthusiastic about the cooperation.
Night flights Eye thorn?
However, it is reportedly these night flights that are a thorn in the side of some decision-makers and have fueled the escalation. In any case, it is doubtful whether moving to another location would reduce the noise situation at Ehenbichl Hospital, as the following example shows: When the RK-2 departs for a mission on the Zugspitze from an alternative location, it flies with the patient to the Reutte hospital and then has to return to the new location.
In Reutte there is no less rotation and noise, but in the Ausserfern there is another helicopter ride.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
