AIR - TRANSPORT EUROPE, spol. s r.o.
was established by physical entities in 1991 with primary objective to perform helicopter emergency medical service (EMS) in the Poprad region, namely in the High Tatra Mountains. In the same year the company started to pursue activities in the field of special aerial Works (logging, liming, construction and assembly works and aerial Works in agriculture).
It employs more than 100 people in its headquarters in Poprad and in operational centers in Bratislava, Nitra, Trencin, Zilina, Banska Bystrica, Kosice, Olomouc and Ostrava.
2021 - Year of Positive News
January 2021 – starting the operation of Air Rescue Service in Moravskosliezsky Region in the Czech Republic with EC 135 helicopter.
March 2021 – the part-task trainer for hoist operation placed in the Poprad base hangar was introduced to air rescuers´ “life”.
June 2021 – in the Poprad-Tatry Airport Park – ATE placed the skeleton of Agusta A109K2 helicopter, which completed its emergency air mission in 2020, for the wide public.
The EC 135 helicopter was put into HEMS operation at Trenčín base.
The AIR-TRANSPORT EUROPE Company agent Mr. Milan Hoholik was awarded the Prize for Life´s Work in Golden Wings public enquiry – National Prize of the Slovak Republic Airforce on September 5, 2021. Mr. Milan Hoholik is one of founders and fans of aviation who was at the birth of ATE Company and who has merit in the existence of helicopter emergency service in Slovakia for over 30 years continuously.
Prize for Life´s Work and benefit in rescue world by the Slovak Chamber of Medical Rescuers was awarded to the rescuer Eng. Marián Hudák, MPH, who was listed on the Rescue Gallery of Honour.
2020 - Beginning of COVID-19 Pandemic
In the course of July and September another two EC 135 helicopters arrived to Slovakia.
In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic within inter-hospital assistance ATE started to realize air transportations of critically ill patients suffering with the above diagnosis on the territory of Slovakia but also to foreign medical establishments.
2019 - Year Full of Challenges
In competitive tendering of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic for operation of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service bases the ATE Company defended its position on all 7 bases in Slovakia and became their operator for the next 6 years.
Based on the competition of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic the ATE Company defended its position of helicopter Air Rescue Service operator in the Olomouc Region and at the same time acquired into its field of action another Czech base – Air Rescue Service of the Moravskosliezsky Region (Ostrava).
Helicopter EC 135 started its ARS operation at Olomouc.
2018 - New ATE fleet member EC 135
Open Door Day in Žilina - newly built Krištof 06 in Žilina was presented to the general public in September.
The new helicopter EC 135 (OM-ATW) arrived to the fleet of the AIR TRANSPORT EUROPE Company.
The HEMS pilot Eng. Stanislav Hudec was at the Rescue Day Conference in February 2018 listed on the Rescue Gallery of Honour.
Helicopters Bell 429 started their operation at HEMS bases in Košice, Banská Bystrica and Žilina.
2017 - New operational center in Olomouc
On 1st January 2017, following the tender of Ministry of Health in Czech republic, began AIR – TRANSPORT EUROPE providing the rescue flights at the HEMS base Olomouc.
In 2017 ATE has built a new modern building for HEMS crew in Žilina and has reconstructed the current heliport there.
2016 - Huge tragedy
Bell 429 helicopter crashed on 7/9/2016 late evening during a rescue mission near the village of Strelniky. Unfortunately all three crew members and 38 year old patient died during the accident. Pilot Ing. Ján Rušin, medical doctor Patrícia Krajňáková and paramedic František Bartoš were the crew members.
In December three new Bell 429 helicopters were added to the fleet, these helicopters will be deployed to helicopter emergency services in Slovakia gradually.
2015 - Business jet Cessna Citation 550 Bravo
To satisfy the demand for international business flights, the company has enlarged its fleet by second business jet Cessna Citation 550 Bravo. In 2015 operates ATE two business jets Citation Bravo OM-ATN and OM-ATS for both medical and business flights. The aircraft Cessna Citation 560 Encore sold the company to US customer.
The helicopter accident Agusta A109K2 OM-ATB on 17.7.2015 hit the whole company. There were four people onboard: pilot Ľubomír Majerčák, doctor Marek Rigda, operator Martin Svitana and mountain rescuer Dušan Leskovjanský. The reason was helicopter contact with electric line above the valley.
2014 - Opening the flight school
Approved Training Organisation, Flight and Maintenance School for Agusta, Eurocopter and Bell helicopter.
2013 - New ATE fleet member Bell 429
ATE was successful in tenders for permission to operate all seven HEMS bases in Slovakia, the permission is valid for 6 years.
New ATE fleet member Bell 429 arrived in Poprad on September 29, 2013.
2012 - New premises in Bratislava
The new premises for HEMS base Krištof 01 in Bratislava were opened in the Airport M.R. Štefánika area.
2011 - ATE member of ICAR-CISA
The company AIR-TRANSPORT EUROPE, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service operator, became the regular member of ICAR-CISA in Åre, Sweden, at the Congress of International Commission for Air Rescue. By this step the Slovak air rescuers have joined 63 rescue organizations from 33 countries all over the world that are already the members of this professional association.
Opening of a new hangar and headquarters of the VZZS Košice - Krištof 04 station in the premises of the University Hospital L. Pasteur in Košice.
April 2011 - The company AIR-TRANSPORT EUROPE celebrated 20th anniversary of its establishment.
2010 - The ninth rescue helicopter Agusta A109K2
The ninth rescue helicopter Agusta A109K2 (OM – ATL) has arrived to the seat of the company.
ATE has upgraded its fleet by up-to-date jet aircraft Cessna Citation 560 Encore, which will be used for medical purposes for transportation of patients, as well as for passenger transportation.
2009 - New centers Zilina, Trencin
In order to improve the quality of provided services ATE has expanded its fleet by another rescue helicopters Agusta A109K2 (OM–ATJ, OM-ATK).
On the basis of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic License for Operation of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service bases ATE took over the operation at HEMS at Žilina (located in the area of Teaching Hospital with Polyclinic) on November 9, 2009.
ATE opened another HEMS base at the airport at Trenčín on December 10, 2009.
2008 - The first night technical rescue mission
The first night technical rescue mission using the hoist in high-mountain terrain in the history of Slovak aviation implemented.
HEMS ATE has started an intensive cooperation with members of the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service – volunteer group (TMRS VG).
Signing of contract for purchase of two twin engine helicopters “Grand light” with option for another two helicopters during the air show at Farnborough in Great Britain.
The Agreement on Cooperation in Rescue with Tatrzańske Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe (TOPR) was signed.
2007 - New station and hangar in Banska Bystrica
The first night emergency mission in high-mountain terrain performed using night vision goggles in the Western Tatra Mountains.
The new rescue system Rollgliss is being introduced. The new rescue technique is taken over by Helicopter Emergency Medical Service ATE from the Swiss rescue organization REGA that is successfully applying this technique in the Alps.
Opening of a new HEMS base and hangar in the area of Roosevelt Hospital with Polyclinic at Banská Bystrica.
2006 - Night vision goggles flying
Opening of a new HEMS base at Nitra.
Training of ATE pilots for flying with special technology for night vision under supervision of Swiss HEMS REGA instructor was implemented. Within the V4 countries AIR- TRANSPORT EUROPE is the first one to use the Night Vision Goggles for emergency missions.
2005 - Special ambulance car
The list of superior-quality Helicopter Emergency Medical Service bases was completed with the base at Banská Bystrica. The fourth A109 K2 helicopter of the company AIR - TRANSPORT EUROPE was stationed there.
For the needs of HEMS the company purchased a special ambulance van RTW Mercedes Benz Sprinter 903.6 with navigation video-system, positioning bed and complete medical equipment for emergency medical service.
2004 - Helicopter Agusta A109K2
In the presence of governmental agents ATE officially introduced to operation three specialized helicopters of Italian made Agusta A109 K2 intended for Helicopter Emergency Medical Service bases at Poprad, Košice and Bratislava.
2003 - An-124 Ruslan
The company started to use giant aircraft of Ukrainian made An-124 “Ruslan” for transportation of over-sized cargo.
AIR - TRANSPORT EUROPE purchased highly specialized helicopter of Italian made A109K2, specially constructed for the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. The real technical top helicopter thus becomes the standard technical equipment of HEMS.
1997 - Operational centres in BB, BA
In 1997 the company updated the fleet by world top French helicopter AS 355N Ecureuil and PLZ Kania helicopter.
New bases of HEMS at Bratislava and Banska Bystrica were opened.
1996 - Tu 154B, L-410 UVP-E1
Rental and operation of 164-seat aircraft Tu-154B for flights for travel agencies from Bratislava.
The company purchased the aircraft L-410 UVP-E1 for long-distance transportation of patients.
1995 - Tu 134A
Purchase of 76-seat aircraft Tu-134A, transportation of travel agencies clients, first of all from the Poprad and Košice airports.
1993 - AS355 F1 Ecureuil
ATE expanded its helicopter fleet by French helicopters AS355 F1 Ecureuil.
1992 - New Helicopter Emergency Medical Service at Košice
The company started to operate charter transportation of persons and cargo by rented aircraft of Russian made: An-24, An-26, An-30, YAK-42, Tu-134A a Tu-154M.
Opening of a new Helicopter Emergency Medical Service at Košice.
1991 - First EMS helicopter in the company
The first EMS helicopter in the company – French SA 316B Alouette III – was introduced to operation on the base of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service at Poprad.
ATE introduced to operation Polish helicopters Mi-2 and also helicopters Mi-8T and Mi-8P for special aerial works.
Rental of Mi-17 helicopter and the largest cargo Mi-26T helicopter for transportation of over-sized cargo.