Case study · Austria
How ÖAMTC Air Rescue uses Panomax weather cameras in a nationwide weather map
ÖAMTC Air Rescue (Christophorus Flugrettungsverein) runs helicopter emergency medical services across Austria, a country of alpine valleys, passes and fast-changing weather. Together with Panomax, it built an interactive weather map that puts radar, weather-station data and live camera images in front of its pilots in one view.
The challenge
Austrian HEMS crews fly between mountain ranges where the weather at the nearest reporting station often says little about the valley a patient is in. Pilots needed to see actual conditions at bases, hospitals and along routes, not only the numbers from the closest station, and they needed that view before launch and during the mission.
What ÖAMTC and Panomax built
- Live day and night weather cameras at ÖAMTC and Panomax locations across the country.
- One interactive weather map that combines weather radar, data from various weather stations and the camera images, developed jointly by ÖAMTC and Panomax.
- Real-time access for pilots, so crews can plan the safest route with current information rather than forecasts alone.
Panomax camera images are supplemental visual information. They are used alongside official weather sources and do not replace METARs, TAFs or regulatory weather minimums.
In their words
“Safe flight preparation begins with the right understanding of weather, and timely weather data is absolutely essential for this. With Panomax, we have had not only a technologically strong but also a reliable partner by our side for years. The combination of high-resolution camera images and jointly developed software goes far beyond a standard solution – they provide us with an interactive weather map that covers the entire country. This map combines weather radar images, data from various weather stations, and camera images from ÖAMTC and Panomax locations. This allows our pilots to access all the necessary data in real time to quickly and safely plan the best flight routes. As ÖAMTC Air Rescue, we were the first to use this innovative approach for effective mission planning. In this way, Panomax supports us daily, even indirectly, in our often life-saving missions.”
Why it matters for other operators
ÖAMTC was the first operator to combine radar, station data and camera images this way for mission planning. The same approach now runs for air rescue operators in Germany, Luxembourg and the United States: the operator's pilots choose the camera sites, Panomax installs and maintains the cameras, and crews get one map with the official data and the live view side by side. See the camera models or how cameras compare with AWOS and METAR.
Frequently asked questions
What did ÖAMTC Air Rescue build with Panomax?
A nationwide interactive weather map for its pilots that combines weather radar, data from weather stations and live camera images from ÖAMTC and Panomax locations in one view, so crews can plan routes with real-time information.
Did the cameras replace ÖAMTC's official weather sources?
No. The map brings official data and live camera images together. Pilots still decide against official weather reports and minimums; the cameras add a visual check of actual conditions at the locations that matter.
Can other operators do the same?
Yes. Panomax builds the same type of overview map and camera network for HEMS and air rescue operators in Europe, the United States and Canada, with camera positions chosen by the operator's own pilots.