Helicopter accident happens during training exercise in Bad Vöslau, causing significant damage
Crashed helicopter in Bad Vöslau: Trainee and instructor unharmed
A police helicopter plummeted at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the airport in Bad Vöslau, Lower Austria. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), there were two individuals on board, suspected to be a flight instructor and a police helicopter trainee, who, as per initial reports, remained unscathed.
The helicopter, a training Airbus AS350-B1, crashed during a "low-level flight maneuver," according to the Ministry of the Interior, at an extremely low altitude and slow speed.
Austria's flight shortage: Police air wing experiences delay## Rudely interrupted takeoff
The damaged helicopter was a training machine belonging to the police air wing for pilot training. Inside police circles, it was disclosed: "There was an extraordinarily hard impact on the ground. The craft is heavily damaged." The cause and rationale were initially ambiguous.
Police air wing: A delayed takeoff## 17 helicopters and 50 pilots
"The operational capability of the Austrian police air wing is not affected by this incident," the ministry affirmed. Currently, the police air wing operates 17 helicopters across the country, with approximately 50 male and female pilots.
To become a professional helicopter pilot, one must undertake rigorous training comprising theory periods, 150 hours of flight time, and night vision flight certification. Following this, they attend special courses, such as high-altitude operations and external landings, and receive practical supervision.
After roughly two to three years, deployment pilots assume the roles of Pilot in Command (day) and Copilot (night). Their training continues to evolve with additional modules, such as external load or mountain rescue transport.
(Sources: Agencies, paw)
As part of continuous professional development, prospective helicopter pilots require a commercial pilot's license for helicopters (CPL-H) from approved aviation authorities, such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe. Training typically involves theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and specialized courses for specific roles like law enforcement or emergency services.
In police air wings like the Austrian Police Air Wing, trainees undergo additional tailored training, including tactical operations, emergency procedures, and coordination with ground units. However, specific details about the Austrian Police Air Wing's training process are not readily available.
- Despite the crash of a training Airbus AS350-B1 helicopter, the operational capability of the Austrian police air wing, which operates 17 helicopters with approximately 50 pilots, remains unaffected.
- To become a professional helicopter pilot, one must undergo rigorous training consisting of theoretical periods, 150 hours of flight time, night vision flight certification, and specialized courses such as high-altitude operations and external landings.
- Trainees in police air wings, like the Austrian Police Air Wing, also undergo additional tailored training, including tactical operations, emergency procedures, and coordination with ground units.
- Aspiring helicopter pilots must secure a commercial pilot's license for helicopters (CPL-H) from approved aviation authorities like the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe as part of their continuous professional development.
- The crash of the helicopter in Bad Vöslau, Lower Austria, serves as a reminder of the challenging nature of sports such as aviation and transportation, requiring the utmost skill, training, and consent for all maneuvers.
