Aviation: Alerting goes to the Kapo Zurich

As of January 1, 2016, the alerting and control center for the civil aviation search and rescue (SAR) service in Switzerland will be taken over by the Zurich Cantonal Police. In addition to a large network to all Swiss blue-light organizations, the Zurich Cantonal Police has a 24-hour operation. It also has the necessary aviation expertise, as it operates its own helicopter for search and rescue purposes. It also co-operates with the airport police in operating the Zurich Airport crisis unit, writes the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (Bazl).

The task of the alerting and control center for SAR is to coordinate and manage search and rescue measures for missing aircraft. According to the Bazl, search flights will continue to be carried out primarily by the Swiss Air Force. Any rescue operations would continue to be carried out by civilian rescue organizations (Rega, fire department, ambulance, police, SAC, etc.).

Overall supervision of the SAR will remain with Bazl. Until the end of the year, the control center will be operated by Rega, as the corresponding contract does not expire until the end of the year, according to the final statement.