Acting to save lives. Innovating to improve rescue operations since 1988
A history built on commitment
LAR was founded in 1988 by a group of committed firefighters led by René Closter. Since then, our non-profit organisation has continuously evolved to handle even the most complex medical emergencies. Take a look at the key milestones in our journey.
Who we are
Founded in 1988 as a non-profit organisation, Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR) today counts around 185,000 members.
Together with its subsidiary Luxembourg Air Services (LAS), LAR operates a fleet of eight rescue helicopters – four MD902s and four Airbus H145 D3 – and five air ambulance jets, including three Learjet 45XR and two Challenger 605.
With a team of 190 experts, LAR fulfils its mission: saving lives and protecting the health of people in distress, 24/7, 365 days a year, in Luxembourg, the Greater Region, and worldwide.
We do this by applying the highest standards of safety and quality in medicine, technology, and aviation.
Luxembourg Air Rescue A.s.b.l. (LAR)
Its core activities are:
Saving lives in Luxembourg, the Greater Region and worldwide – using rescue helicopters and ambulance jets.
Philanthropic and humanitarian missions to deliver fast and reliable help to people in need.
Fondation Luxembourg Air Rescue (FLAR)
The Luxembourg Air Rescue Foundation raises funds to provide targeted financial support and technical equipment for LAR.
Luxembourg Air Services (LAS)
LAS is a public limited company wholly owned by Luxembourg Air Rescue A.s.b.l. and was established for the following reasons:
Operating an air transport company (passengers or goods, by helicopter or aircraft) for humanitarian and medical purposes
Carrying out commercial transport operations with the aim of optimising the efficient use of its aeronautical equipment
Providing services related to ground handling, training, flight operations, aircraft maintenance, as well as any support and consultancy in the field of aviation.
Handling VAT refunds, an essential source of funding.
For more than 35 years, Luxembourg Air Rescue has been dedicated to air rescue and medical repatriations across the globe.
Our values
What guides us every day
Care
We are deeply committed to delivering excellent services, even under emergency conditions, ensuring the highest level of care possible on every mission and for every life entrusted to us.
Team spirit
Our strong and unique “One LAR” spirit guarantees constructive collaboration within and across teams.
Responsability
Every day, all LAR Group employees undertake their specific roles with autonomy and responsibility, thereby contributing significantly to the bigger picture of our overall mission.
Professionalism
To be the best in a highly complex environment, we constantly strive for excellence. We adhere to best practices and pursue high-performance solutions, while continuing to learn as individuals and as an organisation.
Trust
Our success relies on trust between all experts involved in each mission. By respecting one another, and by doing what we say and saying what we do, we all continuously nurture a culture of trust.
Innovation
We aim to incorporate innovative technologies and insights to continuously improve our processes and services. We strongly believe that curiosity, paired with an entrepreneurial can do attitude, leads to the development of new, creative solutions for our patients, members, and customers.
Our teams: specialists dedicated to life
Helicopter pilots
All LAR helicopter pilots must meet special requirements in order to fulfil the unique demands of rescue missions, including frequent take-offs. Each pilot brings many years of flying experience – with at least 2,000 flight hours at the time of recruitment – to handle the challenging situations they may encounter on site.
In practice, crews only learn their destination when the alarm is raised. Two minutes later, the helicopter is airborne, without the opportunity to prepare a detailed flight plan. Experienced personnel are the key to ensuring fast and efficient operations.
At the scene, the crew must quickly identify a suitable and safe landing area. In addition to emergency missions (via 112), our pilots also carry out specialised operations using extra equipment such as winches or search devices, particularly during victim searches.
Aircraft pilots
Our aircraft pilots not only bring years of experience but must also pass psychological tests before joining the LAR team. In addition, all pilots complete what is known as “Type Rating Training” – specialised instruction for each aircraft model, as every type has its own technical characteristics. Co-pilots also undergo regular training to progress towards becoming captains over time.
Unlike their colleagues working for commercial airlines, LAR pilots frequently land at different airfields. They often learn their mission – and therefore their destination – only a few hours before departure and must adapt to the conditions of the destination airport as well as local cultural specifics. They also have direct contact with patients, who require the full attention of every crew member.
Intensive care nurses
LAR’s intensive care nurses perform a wide range of tasks and have many years of medical experience, including extensive expertise in emergency medicine and in the rescue and treatment of injured patients.
During rescue missions, they perform a dual role as both co-pilot and intensive care nurse. As co-pilot, they assist the pilot during the flight by helping locate the mission site, selecting a landing area, and supporting manoeuvres that benefit from their input. As intensive care nurses, they then provide initial patient care under the supervision of a physician – from arrival at the accident scene through to handover at the destination hospital.
In addition, LAR’s intensive care nurses are part of the crew on air ambulances for international repatriations. Under the responsibility of the LAR physician, they care for patients from the foreign hospital to the hospital at the destination. They carry out all necessary medical procedures and treatments required during transport.
Doctors
Around 35 doctors work freelance for Luxembourg Air Rescue alongside their hospital duties. Most of them are anaesthetists and intensive care specialists with expertise in emergency medicine. For the transport of newborns and young children, LAR also has specially trained neonatologists available.
Every day, two LAR doctors are on standby at Findel Airport to carry out emergency missions by rescue helicopter in Luxembourg and the neighbouring German border region. They also accompany transfer flights for patients from Luxembourg hospitals to specialised facilities abroad.
In addition, LAR doctors supervise repatriations from abroad using LAR ambulance aircraft. Before each mission, they obtain an overview of the patient's situation and medical history before assuming responsibility for their care – from the hospital abroad to arrival at the destination hospital.
Technicians and engineers
Maintenance and servicing of LAR helicopters are carried out by our own technicians in our dedicated hangars. In accordance with EASA Part-145, LAR technicians are authorised to perform both line maintenance and base maintenance on rescue helicopters. Their many years of experience, the teams’ 24/7 availability, and regular, intensive training ensure safe and seamless helicopter operations throughout the year.
Since 2015, LAR has also had its own in-house maintenance service for its aircraft fleet. Since then, line maintenance for LAR aircraft has no longer been handled by external technicians but by LAR’s qualified staff in our own maintenance hangar.
Furthermore, since January 2017, LAR’s internal maintenance team has been authorised to carry out 600-hour inspections as part of base maintenance. LAR engineers are responsible for the strategic planning of maintenance work on air ambulances, ensuring that at least three aircraft are always ready for deployment.
Tasks of the Operations Control Centre
The LAR emergency number +352 27 365 365 is available 24/7 for LAR members, guaranteeing medical assistance at any time in an emergency.
Providing advice and support to LAR members in medical emergencies abroad.
Organising patient repatriations worldwide by air ambulance, scheduled flight, or ground transport (ambulance).
Ensuring comprehensive medical coordination with local doctors to establish an accurate diagnosis, taking into account the patient’s transport limitations, and preparing a detailed report for the doctor and nursing staff accompanying the patient in the ambulance.
Flight planning that considers the geopolitical situation of the destination country, aviation regulations, required landing permits, possible refuelling stops, and numerous technical details.
Organising and carrying out organ transports across France (excluding the Paris region).
Planning and coordinating humanitarian missions within the framework of emergency.lu, in close cooperation with the Luxembourg government, NATO, and/or the United Nations.
To support our mission built on solidarity, choose single or family membership.
