Swiss Air Force aircraft squadrons
Other aircraft units
Table:
Image

Name

Status

Homebase

Aircrafttype

History

Notes

Berufsfliegerkorps
active
Dübendorf Air Base HQ
all AC types

former UeG Überwachungsgeschwader[32]

Lufttransportdienst des Bundes
active
Bern Airport
Cessna Citation Excel, DHC-6, B350, B1900, Falcon 900, EC635
Learjet 35, Falcon 50, Eurocopter Dauphin
[33]

Pilotenschule
active
Emmen Air Base
Pilatus PC-21
F-5F, BAE Hawk, DH-100 VampireT

Drohnenstaffel 7
active
Emmen Air Base
ADS-95

GRD Armasuisse
active
Emmen Air Base
Pilatus PC-6 Turbo-Porter, Pilatus PC-12, Diamond DA42 Aurora Centauer
Hawker Hunter, Mirage IIIC, F-5E(J-3001)
Flight test Service

Patrouille Suisse
active
Emmen Air Base
F-5E
Hawker Hunter AFB Dübendorf
Created from parts of the Fliegerstaffel 1[34]

PC-7 Team
active
Dübendorf Air Base
Pilatus PC-7

[35]

MHR Militär-Helikopter-Rettungsdienst
Inactive

Alouette III
SAR, Today made by the civil Rega (air rescue)

ADDC
active
Dübendorf Air Base

Air Force HQ, Air Operations Centre, Air Defence& Directions Center

Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17
active
Locarno
MT-1

Para reccon

Taking into account the tabular data plus the context paragraphs provided.

Give the answer to the question: What squadron based at the Emmen Air Base has a history of using the second jet fighter to be operated by the RAF ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

The Berufsfliegerkorps ( BFK ) ( English : professional flying corps , French : corps of the aviateurs professionnels , Italian : corpo degli aviatori di professione ) are the professional pilots of the Swiss Air Force .
Militärflugplatz Dübendorf ( ICAO : LSMD ) is a military airfield northeast of Dübendorf in Switzerland , located east of Zürich .
The Überwachungsgeschwader ( UeG ) ( English surveillance squadron , French escadre de surveillance , Italian Squadra di vigilanza ) was the overall unit of the Swiss Air Force professional pilots .
The Lufttransportdienst des Bundes ( LTDB ) ( English : Swiss Federal Government 's air transport service , ( LTDB ) French : Service de transport aérien de la Conféderation , ( STAC ) ) , operates the aircraft and helicopters of the Swiss government . The LTDB is located at Bern Airport . Since 2005 , the LTDB has been part of the Swiss Air Force . Prior to that , she was assigned to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation .
The Regional Aerodrome Bern-Belp ( IATA : BRN , ICAO : LSZB / LSMB ) , ( marketing designation Bern Airport , officially referred to as Regionalflugplatz Bern-Belp in German ) , is a regional aerodrome serving Bern , the capital of Switzerland . The aerodrome is located within the town limits of Belp , and used to feature scheduled flights to some European metropolitan and several leisure destinations . It handled 183,319 passengers in 2016 , a decrease of 3.5 percent over 2015 . It was the home base of now defunct SkyWork Airlines whose grounding caused the aerodrome to lose more than 1/3 of its turnover . Currently the charter operator Helvetic Airways and Peoples Airways offer a limited number of flights during the holiday season , the Swiss Federal Government 's air transport service Lufttransportdienst des Bundes have based two business jets at the aerodrome , the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service operator REGA has one of its bases at Belp and two helicopter transport companies as well as two flying schools ( one motorised , one for gliders ) operate at the aerodrome .
The Cessna Citation Excel ( Model 560XL ) is an American 2,100 nmi-range ( 3,900 km ) , midsize business jet built by Cessna , part of the Citation Family . Announced in October 1994 , it first flew on February 29 , 1996 , certification was granted in April 1998 and over 900 have been delivered . The 20,200 lb ( 9,200 kg ) MTOW jet is powered by two 3,650-4,080 lbf ( 16.2-18.1 kN ) PW500 turbofans , has the Citation V ( 560 ) cruciform tail and unswept supercritical wing of 370 sq ft ( 34 m² ) , and the Citation X stand-up cabin slightly shortened . The XLS 2004 update had upgraded engines and a glass cockpit and the 2008 XLS+ had upgraded engines and a revised nose .
The de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter , currently marketed as the Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter , is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL ( Short Takeoff and Landing ) utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air . The aircraft 's fixed tricycle undercarriage , STOL capabilities , twin turboprop engines and high rate of climb have made it a successful commuter passenger airliner as well as a cargo and medical evacuation aircraft . In addition , the Twin Otter has been popular with commercial skydiving operations , and is used by the United States Army Parachute Team and the United States Air Force 's 98th Flying Training Squadron .
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft . The Model 200 and Model 300 series were originally marketed as the Super King Air family ; the Super designation was dropped in 1996 . They form the King Air line together with the King Air Model 90 and 100 series . Beechcraft currently offers the 250 ( design . B200GT ) and the larger 350i ( B300 ) models . The 350ER ( B300CER ) is available to government , military and commercial customers for special mission operations such as aerial survey , air ambulance , flight inspection and surveillance . The Beechcraft 1900 regional airliner was derived from the Model B200 King Air . The Super King Air family has been in continuous production since 1974 , the longest production run of any civilian turboprop aircraft in its class . It outlasted all of its previous competitors ; the only other pressurized multi engine turboprop utility aircraft now in production is the Piaggio P.180 Avanti .
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger , pressurized twin-engine turboprop fixed-wing aircraft that was manufactured by Beechcraft . It was designed , and is primarily used , as a regional airliner . It is also used as a freight aircraft and corporate transport , and by several governmental and military organisations . With customers favoring larger regional jets , Raytheon ended production in October 2002 . The aircraft was designed to carry passengers in all weather conditions from airports with relatively short runways . It is capable of flying in excess of 600 miles ( 970 km ) , although few operators use its full-fuel range . In terms of the number of aircraft built and its continued use by many passenger airlines and other users , it is one of the most popular 19-passenger airliners in history .
The Dassault Falcon 900 , commonly abbreviated as the F900 , is a trijet French-built corporate jet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation .
The Eurocopter EC635 ( now Airbus Helicopters H135M ) is a multi-purpose light helicopter developed by Eurocopter ( now Airbus Helicopters ) as a military version of the Eurocopter EC135 . It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 8 people , including the pilot , and a range of military equipment or armaments . The helicopter is marketed for troop transport , medical evacuation , cargo transport , reconnaissance and surveillance and armed combat support missions .
The Learjet Model 35 and Model 36 are a series of American multi-role business jets and military transport aircraft manufactured by Learjet . When used by the United States Air Force they carry the designation C-21A . The aircraft are powered by two Garrett TFE731-2 turbofan engines . Its cabin can be arranged for 6-8 passengers . The longer-range Model 36 has a shortened passenger area to provide more space in the aft fuselage for fuel tanks . The engines are mounted in nacelles on the sides of the aft fuselage . The wings are equipped with single-slotted flaps . The wingtip fuel tanks distinguish the design from other aircraft having similar functions .
The Dassault Falcon 50 is a French super-midsize , long-range business jet , featuring a trijet layout with an S-duct air intake for the central engine . It has the same fuselage cross-section and similar capacity as the earlier twin-engined Falcon 20 , but was a new design that is area ruled and includes a more advanced wing design .
The Eurocopter ( now Airbus Helicopters ) AS365 Dauphin ( Dolphin ) , also formerly known as the Aérospatiale SA 365 Dauphin 2 , is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters . It was originally developed and manufactured by French firm Aérospatiale , which was merged into the multinational Eurocopter company during the 1990s . Since entering production in 1975 , the type has been in continuous production for more than 40 years . The intended successor to the Dauphin is the Airbus Helicopters H160 , which is yet to enter operational service as of January 2020 . The Dauphin 2 shares many similarities with the Aérospatiale SA 360 , a commercially unsuccessful single-engine helicopter ; however the twin-engine Dauphin 2 did meet with customer demand and has been operated by a wide variety of civil and military operators . Since the type 's introduction in the 1970s , several major variations and specialised versions of the Dauphin 2 have been developed and entered production , including the military-oriented Eurocopter Panther , the air-sea rescue HH/MH-65 Dolphin , the Chinese-manufactured Harbin Z-9 and the modernised Eurocopter EC155 .
Militärflugplatz Emmen ( Emmen Military Air Base ) ( IATA : EML , ICAO : LSME ) is a military airfield north of Emmen , Switzerland , located northwest of Lucerne .
The Pilatus PC-21 is a turboprop-powered advanced trainer with a stepped tandem cockpit . It is manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland .
The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation . There are two main models , the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants and the extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants . The design team wrapped a small , highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines , focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance . Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II , the F-5 cost less to procure and operate , making it a popular export aircraft . Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role , the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform . The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s . During the Cold War , over 800 were produced through 1972 for U.S. allies . Though at the time , the United States Air Force ( USAF ) did not have a need for a light fighter , it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft , which was based on Northrop 's N-156 fighter design . After winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition , a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies , in 1970 , Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II in 1972 . This upgrade included more powerful engines , larger fuel capacity , greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for better turn rates , optional air-to-air refueling , and improved avionics including air-to-air radar . Primarily used by American allies , it remains in US service to support training exercises . It has served in a wide array of roles , being able to perform both air and ground attack duties ; the type was used extensively in the Vietnam War .
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine , jet-powered advanced trainer aircraft . It was first flown at Dunsfold , Surrey , in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk , and subsequently produced by its successor companies , British Aerospace and BAE Systems , respectively . It has been used in a training capacity and as a low-cost combat aircraft . Operators of the Hawk include the Royal Air Force ( notably the Red Arrows display team ) and a considerable number of foreign military operators . The Hawk is still in production in the UK and under licence in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( HAL ) , with over 900 Hawks sold to 18 operators around the world .
The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company . It was the second jet fighter to be operated by the RAF , after the Gloster Meteor , and the first to be powered by a single jet engine . Work on the Vampire commenced during 1941 in the midst of the Second World War ; it was initially intended as an experimental aircraft , albeit one that was suitable for combat , that harnessed the groundbreaking innovation of jet propulsion . Out of the company 's design studies , it was quickly decided to settle on a single-engine , twin-boom aircraft , powered by the Halford H.1 turbojet engine ( later produced as the Goblin ) . Aside from its propulsion system and twin-boom configuration , it was a relatively conventional aircraft . Despite being originally ordered as an experimental aircraft only , during May 1944 , it was decided to mass-produce the aircraft as an interceptor for the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) . During 1946 , the first production Vampire entered operational service with the RAF , only months after the Second World War had come to an end . The Vampire quickly proved to be an effective aircraft and was adopted as a replacement for many wartime piston-engined fighter aircraft . During its early service , it was recognised for accomplishing several aviation firsts and various records , such as being the first jet aircraft to traverse the Atlantic Ocean . The Vampire remained in front-line service with the RAF up until 1953 ; after this date , it was progressively reassigned to various secondary roles , such as ground attack missions and pilot training operations , for which specialist variants of the type were produced . During 1966 , the Vampire was officially retired by the RAF , having been withdrawn from its final role as an advanced trainer after having been replaced by the Folland Gnat . The Royal Navy had also adopted the type as the Sea Vampire , a navalised variant suitable for operations from its aircraft carriers .
The Drohnesstaffel 7 is a Militia squadron , stationed on the Militärflugplatz Emmen and is under the drone command 84 ( Dro Kdo 84 ) . Drohnesstaffel 7 has as Coat of arms a round badge that shows the head of an owl against a dark blue background and the yellow inscription Dro Staffel 7 . It is the only UAV squadron of the Swiss Air Force . The owl symbolizes the good sight of the UAV sensors by day and night .
RANGER is a tactical UAV system ( TUAV ) built as a Swiss-Israeli joint venture between Swiss aerospace enterprise RUAG Aviation and Israeli aerospace company Israel Aerospace Industries . Its design and some of its technology is based on the Scout UAV system by Israel Aerospace Industries . The RANGER UAV uses a compact hydraulic launcher for takeoff . Due to a modular payload , the system can be adapted to a wide range of civilian and military missions . A skid-based landing system enables the UAV to land nearly anywhere , on grass or on concrete runways , on snow or ice . According to the manufacturer , RANGER is the only tactical UAV system worldwide certified to fly in civilian airspace as well as over populated areas . The prototype is now at the Flieger-Flab-Museum in Dübendorf .
The Federal Office for Defence Procurement ( Armasuisse ) is a federal agency of the Swiss Confederation . It is the procurement organization for armaments of Switzerland and is affiliated with the Federal Department of Defence , Civil Protection and Sport . Armasuisse employs around 750 people . The budget was 217 million Swiss francs in 2006 . National Armaments Director is Martin Sonderegger . The Armasuisse group covers many skills as a provider with a broad field of activity . This ranges from the evaluation , procurement , maintenance and liquidation of materials and systems for the Comprehensive Real Estate Management in VBS to ensuring scientific and technical services . Main clients and partners is the army .
The Pilatus PC-6 Porter is a single-engined STOL utility aircraft designed by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland . First flown in 1959 , the PC-6 continues in production at Pilatus Flugzeugwerke in Stans , Switzerland . It has been built in both piston engine- and turboprop-powered versions and was produced under licence for a time by Fairchild Hiller in the United States . After around 600 deliveries in six decades , Pilatus will produce the last one in early 2019 .
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Stans , Switzerland , since 1991 . The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators . The PC-12 is the best-selling pressurized single-engine turbine-powered aircraft in the world and has been for several consecutive years , with 1,700 deliveries as of October 2019 .
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a four seat , twin engine , propeller-driven airplane developed and manufactured by Austrian company Diamond Aircraft Industries . It was Diamond 's first twin engine design , as well as the first new European twin-engine aircraft in its category to be developed in over 25 years . In 2004 , the DA42 became the first diesel-powered fixed-wing aircraft to perform a non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic . By 2012 , the DA42 had become a key revenue generator for the company , having gained popularity with government and military operators in addition to the civil market that had suffered as a result of the Great Recession . Government customers have typically employed the type in the aerial surveillance role , which contributed towards the development of the Aeronautics Defense Dominator , a medium-altitude long-endurance ( MALE ) unmanned aerial vehicle ( UAV ) , which had been derived from the DA42 .
The Hawker Hunter is a transonic British jet-powered fighter aircraft that was developed by Hawker Aircraft for the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) during the late 1940s and early 1950s . It was designed to take advantage of the newly developed Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine and the swept wing , and was the first jet-powered aircraft produced by Hawker to be procured by the RAF . On 7 September 1953 , the modified first prototype broke the world air speed record for aircraft , achieving a speed of 727.63 mph ( 1,171.01 km/h ; 632.29 kn ) . The single-seat Hunter was introduced to service in 1954 as a manoeuvrable day interceptor aircraft , quickly succeeding first-generation jet fighters in RAF service such as the Gloster Meteor and the de Havilland Venom . The all-weather/night fighter role was filled by the Gloster Javelin . Successively improved variants of the type were produced , adopting increasingly more capable engine models and expanding its fuel capacity amongst other modifications being implemented . Hunters were also used by two RAF display teams : the Black Arrows , who on one occasion looped a record-breaking 22 Hunters in formation , and later the Blue Diamonds , who flew 16 aircraft . The Hunter was also widely exported , serving with a total of 21 overseas air forces . During the 1960s , following the introduction of the supersonic English Electric Lightning in the interceptor role , the Hunter transitioned to being operated as a fighter-bomber and for aerial reconnaissance missions , using dedicated variants for these purposes . Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary roles with the RAF and the Royal Navy until the early 1990s . Sixty years after its original introduction it was still in active service , being operated by the Lebanese Air Force until 2014 . The Hunter saw combat service in a range of conflicts with several operators , including the Suez Crisis , the Aden Emergency , the Sino-Indian War , the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 , the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 , the Rhodesian Bush War , the Second Congo War , the Six-Day War , the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War .
The Dassault Mirage III ( French pronunciation : ​ [ miʁaʒ ] ) is a family of single-seat , single-engine , fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by French aircraft company Dassault Aviation . It was the first Western European combat aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in horizontal flight . During 1952 , the French government issued its specification , calling for a lightweight , all-weather interceptor . Amongst the respondents were Dassault with their design , initially known as the Mirage I . Following favourable flight testing held during 1954 , in which speeds of up to Mach 1.6 were attained , it was decided that a larger follow-on aircraft would be required to bear the necessary equipment and payloads . An enlarged Mirage II proposal was considered , as well as MD 610 Cavalier ( 3 versions ) , but was discarded in favour of a further-developed design , powered by the newly developed Snecma Atar afterburning turbojet engine , designated as the Mirage III . During October 1960 , the first major production model , designated as the Mirage IIIC , performed its maiden flight . Initial operational deliveries of this model commenced during July 1961 ; a total of 95 Mirage IIICs were obtained by the French Air Force ( Armée de l'Air , AdA ) . The Mirage IIIC was rapidly followed by numerous other variants . The Mirage III was produced in large numbers for both the French Air Force and a wide number of export customers . Prominent overseas operators of the fighter included Argentina , Australia , South Africa , Pakistan and Israel , as well as a number of non-aligned nations . Often considered to be a second-generation fighter aircraft , the Mirage III experienced a lengthy service life with several of these operators ; for some time , the type remained a fairly maneuverable aircraft and an effective opponent when engaged in close-range dogfighting .
The Patrouille Suisse is an aerobatic team of the Swiss Air Force . The team flies six Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter/bomber jets .
Dübendorf is a fast growing municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland . It is a suburb of Zürich in Switzerland with a population of about 28,000 ( 2018 ) . It is the fourth largest city in the canton , after Zürich , Winterthur , and Uster .
Soon after the PC-7 was introduced in 1982 , the Swiss Air Force started to present the new airplane in solo displays . The first public team display was in 1987 , performed by an ad-hoc team of nine volunteer pilots . When the Swiss Air Force celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1989 , the PC-7 Team was officially established . Since then , it has been performing in Switzerland several times a year , and since 1992 also occasionally abroad . Since its establishment the team has flown the Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer . In October 2006 , it was replaced by the NCPC-7 , which is a PC-7 equipped with a new cockpit . The PC-7 Team currently flies nine Pilatus PC-7 in the standard configuration of the Swiss Air Force 's PC-7 . The PC-7 Team still uses the unique Swiss Air Force Bambini-Code for its radio communication . The PC-7 Team 's homebase is Dübendorf Air Base , but they often operate from Militärflugplatz Emmen or Locarno Airport . All pilots of the PC-7 Team are full-time military pilots and usually fly the F/A-18 . The show program is made from 23 different elements . In 2014 the nine aircraft were fitted with smoke generators , it was publicly used for the first time on 1 August 2014 at Buochs Airport at the roll-out of the Pilatus PC-24 .
The Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft designed and manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland . The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics , instrument , tactical and night flying . The PC-7 was developed from the preceding Pilatus P-3 , largely differing by the adoption of a turboprop engine , a bubble canopy , and a new one-piece wing . Introduced during the 1970s , it has since developed a sizable presence of the global trainer market . The type has been adopted by in excess of 20 air forces as their ab initio trainer , as well as multiple civilian operators . Over one million hours have reportedly been flown by PC-7s worldwide . [ citation needed ] In addition to training operations , some aircraft are armed and have been used for combat missions by several customers , including Chad , Iran , and Mexico , often in violation of the relevant export agreement between the customer and the Swiss government . An improved model of the aircraft , the PC-7 Mk II , was developed during the 1990s by combining the newer PC-9 's airframe and avionics with the PC-7 's smaller turbine engine . Reportedly , in excess of 500 [ needs update ] PC-7s have been sold to various operators , the majority of which still being in service . In Pilatus ' line-up , the PC-7 has been succeeded by the newer PC-9 and PC-21 trainers .
The Militär-Helikopter-Rettungsdienst ( MHR ) ( French Service de sauvetage militaire héliporté SMH ) was a helicopter unit of the Swiss Air Force , and belonged to the Überwachungsgeschwader . It had professional military pilots and militia part-time pilots . Its main task was to provide air medical services for the Swiss military . At the time of its dissolution the MHR was based at Dübendorf Air Base .
The Aérospatiale Alouette III ( French pronunciation : ​ [ alwɛt ] , Lark ; company designations SA 316 and SA 319 ) is a single-engine , light utility helicopter developed by French aircraft company Sud Aviation . During its production life , it proved to be a relatively popular rotorcraft ; including multiple licensed manufacturers , in excess of 2,000 units were constructed . The Alouette III was developed as an enlarged derivative of the earlier and highly successful Alouette II . Sharing many elements with its predecessor while offering an extra pair of seats and other refinements , it quickly became a commercial success amongst both civil and military customers . Further variants were also developed ; amongst these was a high-altitude derivative , designated as the SA 315B Lama , entered operational service during July 1971 . The Alouette III was principally manufactured by Aérospatiale ; the type was also built under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( HAL ) in India as the HAL Chetak , by Industria Aeronautică Română ( IAR ) in Romania as the IAR 316 and F+W Emmen ( de ) in Switzerland . Similar to the Alouette II , in military service , it was used to perform missions such as aerial observation , photography , air-sea rescue , liaison , transport and training ; it could also be armed with anti-tank missiles , anti-shipping torpedoes , and a fixed cannon . In a civilian capacity , the Alouette III was commonly used for casualty evacuation ( often fitted with a pair of external stretcher panniers ) , crop-spraying , personnel transportation , and for carrying external loads . By the 2010s , many operators were in the process of drawing down their fleets and replacing them with more modern types ; the French military intend to replace their Alouette IIIs with the newly-developed Airbus Helicopters H160 .
Search and rescue ( SAR ) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger . The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields , typically determined by the type of terrain the search is conducted over . These include mountain rescue ; ground search and rescue , including the use of search and rescue dogs ; urban search and rescue in cities ; combat search and rescue on the battlefield and air-sea rescue over water . International Search and Rescue Advisory Group ( INSARAG ) is a UN organization that promotes the exchange of information between national urban search and rescue organizations . The duty to render assistance is covered by Article 98 of the UNCLOS .
Swiss Air-Rescue ( German : Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht , French : Garde aérienne suisse de sauvetage , Rega ) is a private , non-profit air rescue service that provides emergency medical assistance in Switzerland and Liechtenstein . Rega was established on 27 April 1952 by Dr Rudolf Bucher , who believed the Swiss rescue organization needed a specialized air sub-section [ citation needed ] . Rega mainly assists with mountain rescues , though it will also operate in other terrains when needed , most notably during life-threatening emergencies . Rega also provides a repatriation and medical advice service for members who experience a medical emergency while abroad and local treatment is not available . Rega also aids alpine farmers during the summer months in rescuing livestock and retrieving dead animals . As a non-profit foundation , Rega does not receive financial assistance from any government . They are quite unique within Europe , with the majority of their costs paid through the annual fees of private contributors ( As of 2016 : 3.2 million patrons , 38% of the population ) . In exchange , Rega does not charge its contributors for its search , rescue and repatriation costs . One other rare aspect of Rega is that people in distress can call for a helicopter rescue directly ( phone number 1414 ) . In case of insufficient mobile phone coverage , alpinists can also use emergency radio telephone ( 161.3 MHz ) . The head office , the Rega Centre , ( home to the Rega operations center where all missions are coordinated ) is a hangar located at the northeast section of Zurich Airport within the municipality of Kloten ; the hangar has direct access to the runways of the airport . All Rega helicopters carry a crew of three : a pilot , an emergency physician , and a paramedic who is also trained to assist the pilot for radio communication , navigation , terrain/object avoidance , and winch operations .
The Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17 ( German : Fallschirmaufklärer Kompanie 17 , Fsch Aufkl Kp 17 ; French : Compagnie d'éclaireurs parachutistes ; Italian : Compagnia di esploratori paracadutisti ) , also known as the Fernspäh-Grenadiers , is Switzerland 's principal special forces unit . They are organized as a militia long-range reconnaissance patrol scout type unit , unlike the full-time counterterrorism Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10 ( ARD 10 ) unit . Formed in the 1970s , they fall under the operational control of the Swiss Air Force .
Locarno ( Italian : [ loˈkarno ] , German : [ loˈkarno ] ; Ticinese : Locarn [ luˈkɑːrn ] ; formerly in German : Luggárus [ luˈɡaːrʊs ] ) is a southern Swiss town and municipality in the district Locarno ( and its capital ) , located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore at its northeastern tip in the canton of Ticino at the southern foot of the Swiss Alps . It has a population of about 16,000 ( proper ) , and about 56,000 for the agglomeration of the same name including Ascona besides other municipalities . The town of Locarno is located on the northeastern part of Maggia 's delta ; across the river lies the town Ascona on the southwestern part of the delta . It is the 74th largest city in Switzerland by population [ citation needed ] and the third largest in the Ticino canton , after Lugano and Bellinzona . The official language of Locarno is Italian . The town is known for hosting the Locarno International Film Festival which takes place every year in August and involves open-air screenings at the main square , the Piazza Grande . It is also known for the Locarno Treaties , a series of European territorial agreements negotiated here in October 1925 . In January 2004 , the Italian historian Marino Vigano speculated that Locarno 's castle may have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci .