The Swiss Air Force will transport horses by helicopter over the Saignelégier region.

This is a scientific project conducted jointly by the veterinary faculty of Vetsuisse Zürich and the veterinary service of the Swiss Armed Forces in collaboration with the Swiss Air Force.

The aim is to train the transport and the rapid evacuation of injured horses to a medicalized veterinary infrastructure. These transports will be done with horses belonging to the Swiss Army and are tranquilized before each flight.

It is also a unique opportunity for the Swiss Air Force to practice these horse transports knowing that they could be engaged in a subsidiary capacity if necessary. These flights have been authorized by the Jura cantonal veterinarian for animal experimentation.

The first part took place at the National Equestrian Center of Bern and had for goal to test the protocols of seadation and to make sure that a horse could last at least 45 minutes suspended in a rescue net specially adapted to this kind of transport. Here are some pictures and videos.