End of the road for the Chamonix rescue helicopter
Today, Thursday, was the last day of active service for the Securite Civile rescue helicopter, based at the DZ in Les Bois. And what an emotional day it was for the teams based at the centre, as the Alouette 3 chopper has given an incredible 45 years of 'good and loyal service'.
For those of you that don't know, there are two rescue helicopters based in Chamonix and they work on rotation covering either the Chamonix valley or further afield in Haute Savoie. The 'blue one' is the EC145 Gendarmerie helicopter and the 'red one' is the Securite Civil helicopter. Both essentially do the same job, but are funded differently.
The new Securite Civile helicopter will come into service on the 25th May and it's to be a rather swanky looking red and yellow EC145, exactly like the current 'blue one' which itself was replaced only a couple of years ago. These new Eurocopters boast more power, better equipment, space to carry a stretcher inside the chopper and a longer, more powerful winch.
As for the ever-faithful Alouette 3, she'll be making one last flight down the valley on Saturday with special guest passenger Michele Alliot Maire the Interior Minster, heading to retirement (the chopper, not the minister!) at the air museum at Bourget.
We can't even begin to imagine how many rescue missions the red Alouette 3 has flown in 45 years, but it's been estimated at well over 40,000. So, if you see her pass overhead on Saturday give them one last farewell wave!
