Three Countries—One Passion: Air Rescue Teams Strengthen Cooperation in Nauders

In April 2026, teams from three countries gathered in Nauders to further develop cross-border rescue operations.

Nauders – On April 23 and 24, 2026, the Nauders Event Center became the gathering place for alpine air rescue: At the invitation of the ÖAMTC Air Rescue’s Christophorus 5 base, this year’s Three-Country Meeting took place at the foot of the tri-border marker between North Tyrol, South Tyrol, and Switzerland. The goal of the event was to further strengthen cross-border cooperation during missions—an issue that is also gaining increasing political significance.

Cross-Border Cooperation During Operations

In addition to the ÖAMTC bases C1 and C5 from Tyrol and C8 from Vorarlberg, the Pelikan Teams 1, 2, and 3, as well as Aiut Alpin Dolomites from South Tyrol, also participated. Switzerland was represented by Rega bases 5, 7, and 9. The field of participants was rounded out by the Tyrol Control Center and the Innsbruck Air Police.

Collaboration Makes the Difference

Following a welcome address by Mayor Helmut Spöttl, the event focused on practical presentations and professional discussions. The event was organized by the Christophorus 5 base under the direction of Base Commander Capt. Thomas Singer, who emphasized the importance of the meeting: “Smooth cooperation is crucial, especially in border regions, to ensure that patients receive the fastest and best possible care.”

Drones Coordinate with Air Rescue

Another area of focus was on new emergency response resources and their coordination. Fire Chief Christian Mayer from Landeck, along with Andreas Oblasser—the district fire chief of Kufstein and drone coordinator for the Tyrol Fire Department—highlighted the growing role of drones in emergency operations during their presentation. They focused in particular on coordination with air rescue services—an area that is likely to become even more important in the future.

Lessons from Crans-Montana

Patrick Maurer from Rega Zurich provided an international perspective. He reported on the fire disaster in Crans-Montana and raised the key question of how well other regions—including Tyrol—are prepared for a mass influx of seriously and critically injured patients. His remarks sparked intense discussions and highlighted the importance of shared strategies and coordinated procedures across national borders.

A passion unites them all

Under the motto “Three Regions—One Passion,” one thing in particular became clear over the course of the two days: the close camaraderie and the shared goalof all participants to ensure the best possible care for patients. The event thus also ties in with current political developments—most recently, the joint legislative assembly of South Tyrol, Tyrol, and Trentino had explicitly emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation in emergency medical services.

The meeting in Nauders clearly demonstrated that this collaboration is already being put into practice at the operational level—and is set to be further expanded.