Austrian Armed Forces in Carinthia

Disaster relief proves to be incomplete

Private companies have to be called in to shake the snow off the trees. This is because the Austrian Armed Forces do not have a helicopter at the ready in Carinthia.

Now that the precipitation throughout Carinthia has gradually calmed down, the question arises as to what would have happened if it had been even "heavier"? Why, for example, does Carinthia no longer have its own disaster helicopter stationed by the Austrian Armed Forces, as it did until a few years ago? The hangar and personnel would be available, but the aircraft was "saved away". There is now only support from Styria.

Machines on exercise and not available
"In the past few days, the majority of the aircraft were ordered to Tyrol and Vorarlberg for an exercise, which meant that the Blackhawk or the Agusta Bell 212 were unable to carry out the mission," says Christoph Hofmeister, the army's press officer in Carinthia.

When clearing trees from the snow masses, the so-called downwashing, the Blackhawk or the Agusta Bell 212 are used by the army due to their strength.