Poster: A snowHead
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Skiing in Lech a couple of days ago we watched a helicopter rescue of a young snowboarder who had boarded into a gorge and couldn't get out again OK, young guy, made a mistake, get up, learn and get on with it.
On the way back to the valley I wondered
a) would any insurance you might have cover this? He wasn't injured, just stuck. Wasn't in any immediate danger of losing his life, but had evidently called mountain resce because he was stuck.
b) just how much does a helicopter resuce cost?
Discussed this with my better half and we both arrived at the figure of maybe a couple of thousand €, which would make daddy unhappy, but lets face it, in Lech that just means pater barrs apple-of-his-eye from the disco for a couple of nights (fathers are unreasonable these days).
Talked to the guys at the ski schol about it and they just laughed. The true figure for a helicopter rescue in Voralberg is €1000... per minute of flight time of the helicopter! Meaning that the boys excursion had probably cost daddy a cool €30,000
So I guess sonny-boy is barred from the disco for a good few days now
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mike Lawrie, I think those instructors may be exagerating slightly, but not yet been able to find an alternative figure.
A few years ago a colleague was helicoptered off La Plagne with a broken leg and then found to her horror her premium had not got through to the insurance company, so she was not insured. Total bill for flight from Roche di Mio to Bourg St Maurice was under £2000.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Mike Lawrie, suspect it's covered on insurance if the policy specifically covers search & rescue... many policies don't mention it.
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€1000... per minute
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that can't be right. Like you, I reckon the rescue would cost a few grand.
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Jonpim, yes the price seemed a bit on the high side, but they did insist. I was wondering where one would find out about such things, and probably more importanly, what insurance one would take out against the offspring's self estimation. Specifically, what kind of insurance covers you against all forms of stupidity, irrespective of whether it is directed at yourself or others?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Can't see why a heli would cost more than £500.00 - £1000.00 per hour?
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I know someone choppered off at Verbier last year, no insurance, cost £1700. I think it would have been more if it was an insurance claim.
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what kind of insurance covers you against all forms of stupidity
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Mike Lawrie, none. Principle of insurance is to indemnify you against unforseen, unavoidable "accidents". If someone is acting stupidly it means they aren't acting responsibly and taking reasonable precautions to protect others, themselves or their effects... therefore the inevitable accident isn't really an accident... no payout!
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The guides in Monterosa call them in if they get stuck in the wrong valley after the lifts close, I've seen that a few times so they have used them as personal taxis.... they must be owed a few favours...
!!
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I believe in Whistler they charge about $2000 for an hour, touch wood I won't find out for sure
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When I worked in a flying school about 10 yrs ago we reckoned it cost about £55 an hour to keep a light aircraft flying (fuel, maint, ins etc) and about £80 for a 2-seater helicopter. Rescue choppers are obviously larger and their insurance will be astronomical given the conditions/places in which they fly. Then there are the associated staffing costs (including public liability ins), the specialist equipment costs etc. No way does that come to a thousand Euros a minute though.
As jbob says, I am sure there is a range of charges, depending on who is paying, and how mean/charitable those responsible for deciding the amount are feeling.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The cost of chartering a helicopter for heliskiing purposes in Switzerland when we did it last year worked out at about 1800CHF (£900 or so) for a flight of about ten minutes. This also included the cost of the guide as well. Costs were slightly cheaper in New Zealand. To charter a Twin Squirrel in the UK costs about £1500 an hour. 1000 Euros a minute should get you a lift home in a Eurofighter with a troupe of dancing girls meeting you on arrival
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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BGA, I knew that Eurofighters are versatile but I didn't know they are good for mountain resue as well! And at that price those dancing girls would have to do a very good job to lift my morale
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You know it makes sense.
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He may of had the Helicopter Rescue Card which is around €25 for the whole season
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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This is an alternative answer:
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