FAQ

Emergency services: Wherever you are in Switzerland, dial 144 (the Swiss emergency services number). A qualified and experienced emergency operator will guide you through the initial steps to take and determine the resources required to assist you (am​bulance, helicopter, etc.).

Repatriation: For any repatriation requests, please contact us by telephone on +41 27 329 14 15.

On average, a helicopter rescue operation carried out by Air-Glaciers cost CHF 3,800 in 2022. However, it is important to note that this figure can rise very quickly depending on the complexity of the mission, the weather conditions and the actual flight time. Indeed, our average flight time per mission is 29 minutes, and each minute of flight time in a twin-turbine helicopter is charged at CHF 101.20.

An ambulance call-out costs at least CHF 600, for transport within the area covered by the ambulance service in question.

Please note that, depending on the circumstances, your basic health insurance (Basic Health insurance) may only cover 50 per cent of the costs, up to a maximum of CHF 500 per year. Without supplementary insurance covering rescue services, you will be liable for several thousand francs.

No. As the rescue card only comes into play at a later stage (when costs are charged) and your personal details are stored in our IT system, you do not need to carry it with you at all times. Whether or not you hold a rescue card, someone will come to your aid.

No, we do not currently have a dedicated Air-Glaciers mobile app. However, we strongly recommend that you download the EchoSOS app (available free of charge on the App Store and Google Play). Among other things, it allows you to contact the emergency services in the country you are visiting (with over 128 countries listed) and sends your exact location to the local emergency services.

The rescue card comes into play after your insurance claims have been processed. Once the rescue operation has been carried out, please send the relevant invoices to your insurers (basic and supplementary cover), who will then send you a detailed statement of claim. If you are required to pay all or part of your rescue costs yourself, please email the following documents to us for processing atinfocarte@air-glaciers.ch or by post to Air-Glaciers SA, Carte de sauvetage, Route de l’Aéroport 25, 1950 Sion:

• Air-Glaciers Refund Application Form (download the form)
• Copies of your detailed insurance claims history
• Copies of the invoices in question
• Your full bank details

We will process your refund request as soon as possible in accordance with ​our terms and conditions.

It depends on the circumstances of the procedure, and in the context of our terms and conditions. For anything relating to helicopter or ambulance rescue operations, the rescue card will cover the costs not covered by your insurance, excluding any excess or deductible.

Other services covered by the rescue card are reimbursed in full, with no limit on the amount, with the exception of search flights, which are covered only as long as there is a reasonable hope of rescuing the missing person, and in the case of reckless behaviour.

Flights to evacuate injured, sick or dead cattle to the nearest location accessible by another means of transport (only in conjunction with other flights) are covered by the rescue card at CHF 80 per year. Flights to search for animals are excluded. Any other animals (horses, dogs, sheep, goats, etc.) are not covered.

ATTENTION:

• The holder of the rescue card must be the owner of the cow. The farmer may not use their rescue card for a cow on their farm that does not belong to them.
• The rescue card only covers cattle evacuation flights organised and commissioned by Air-Glaciers. The costs of operations organised without Air-Glaciers’ prior consent will not be reimbursed.

We are working on this, but it is not currently possible to access and manage your data online. If you have any questions or wish to make changes to your rescue card, please contact our team by telephone on +41 27 329 14 18 or by email to infocarte@air-glaciers.ch. 

No. Air-Glaciers is a private company which, thanks to the generosity and support of all rescue card holders, has been providing air and ground rescue services since 1965. In gratitude for your support, Air-Glaciers will cover the costs incurred for the assistance services listed in ​our terms and conditions, where insurance companies or any other third party with a duty to do so do not reimburse them, or only do so partially. These financial benefits are not contractual in nature and therefore cannot be regarded as insurance compensation.

Every year, you will be sent a renewal invoice and you can decide whether or not you wish to renew your rescue card. If you do not make payment by the time your card expires, it will be cancelled. No notice period is required.

You can notify us of any change of address, change in family circumstances (birth of a child, addition of a spouse, separation, etc.), or death by telephone on +41 27 329 14 18 or by email at infocarte@air-glaciers.ch. If you wish to add a member to your card, please provide us with the person’s surname, first name and date of birth.

Firstly, the Air-Glaciers rescue card offers you more benefits than some other cards (including cover for one ambulance transport per person per year, for example), at a very low price.

As a company on a human scale, our small team responsible for the rescue card offers you personalised support and follow-up in three languages (French, German and English). With a dedicated point of contact, you benefit from a fast and professional service.

As if that weren’t enough, by signing up for our membership card, you are supporting the development of mountain rescue in the Alps. Founded in 1965, Air-Glaciers is a pioneer in mountain rescue, born out of a desire to do everything possible to save lives, whatever the conditions. It operates without any cantonal or federal support or subsidies.

At Air-Glaciers, you can choose the start date for your rescue card. If you already hold a rescue card from another company, simply let us know the expiry date of your current card during the registration process. We will then ensure your Air-Glaciers rescue card comes into effect the following day, thereby preventing you from paying a membership fee twice.

Yes. However, the rescue card is only valid for rescues taking place within Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein, as well as for repatriation to Switzerland if you are a Swiss national. It is therefore very useful for anyone living in, on holiday in, or regularly visiting Switzerland.

We recommend that foreign nationals holding a European Health Insurance Card also register free of charge with the KVG (https://www.kvg.org/fr/) in addition to holding the emergency card.

As the mountains are our playground, it seemed only natural to offer a special rate to mountain guides, some of whom are integral members of our rescue teams or provide on-the-ground support when needed. They are entitled to a discount of CHF 10 on their annual rescue card subscription upon presentation of a copy of their guide card at the time of registration.

We also offer a preferential rate for groups of 10 or more people, for stays of 1 to 7 days, or 8 to 30 days. Please contact us on +41 27 329 14 18 or by email infocarte@air-glaciers.ch to take advantage of this offer.

There are no other special rates in place for students, pensioners or others.

Deploying a helicopter is a matter of urgency. Indeed, it is regularly called upon for medical emergencies (strokes, heart attacks, premature births, etc.) or road traffic accidents, for example, where rapid treatment increases the chances of survival or recovery. Helicopters are therefore not only used in the mountains for winter sports.

Your rescue card also covers one medically necessary ambulance journey per person per year, as well as other useful services (repatriation, search flights and evacuation flights).

Air-Glaciers does indeed carry out rescue operations in Valais and the Bernese Oberland. However, regardless of where you live in Switzerland, you are free to choose the rescue card provider that best suits your needs, as the card only comes into play once the services have been invoiced, irrespective of which company is commissioned to come to your aid. The Air-Glaciers rescue card covers, in particular, costs not covered by other rescue card providers (e.g. ambulance).

Deploying a helicopter is a matter of urgency. Indeed, it is regularly called upon for medical emergencies (strokes, heart attacks, premature births, etc.) or road traffic accidents, for example, where rapid treatment increases the chances of survival or recovery.

Your emergency card also covers one medically necessary ambulance transport per person per year, which is particularly beneficial for older people. 

Yes. Please call our rescue card team on +41 27 329 14 18 to arrange a payment over the phone.

When your card is renewed, any children over the age of 18 for whom we have a date of birth will automatically be removed from your card. They will be assigned a new membership number and a separate invoice will be sent. Please let us know if your child over the age of 18 is still listed on your rescue card invoice so that we can transfer them to individual membership.