During the Summer of 1976 a new helicopter appears in the sky of the south Swiss Alps. The helicopter concerned is the SA 341G Gazelle registered HB-XFW belonging to Air Grischa, a new helicopter company that had just been founded in Thusis/GR. At the controls there is the Austrian pilot Erwin Schafrath who had previously flown for Eliticino. In the beginning the Gazelle is based on the airport of Lugano-Agno/TI. The young company desires to expand its activities in the north of the Canton Graubünden and decides to use the small airfield of Bad Ragaz as an operational base for its SA 315B Lama HB-XFX. This aircraft is the company's second helicopter and has a greater lift capacity (800 kg) than the Gazelle (550 kg).
The Swiss Air Rescue Guard (SARG) signs a contract with Air Grischa and consequently the company receives the SE 3160 Alouette III HB-XDF (now displayed in the Swiss museum of transport in Lucerne) for SAR operations. In the meantime the Gazelle is transferred to San Vittore where the army gives its permission to use the military airfield for commercial helicopter operations. On this airfield, the company build then a new hangar with offices. Among the various missions the Gazelle is also used by the police to patrol the A13 motorway. This helicopter is unfortunately victim of a serius accident (the first which involvs the young company) on the 18^thof August 1979 on the St. Bernardino pass. Almost contemporary the company introduces the AS 350B Squirrel (Ecureuil) HB-XFY, one of the very first registered in Switzerland.
In the following years Air Grischa expands continuously and, in response to the increasing request of aerial transport, in 1981 acquires the Bell 205A-1 HB-XFZ. Around the same time, the operational base in the north of the Alps is transferred for various reasons from Bad Ragaz to Untervaz where a new hangar with offices has been built.
In 1990 the company helicopter fleet is again expanded with the acquisition of the Bell 214B-1 HB-XVZ capable to lift up to 3 tons which enter in service on the 21^stof August 1990.
In recent times the company relocated its base in San Vittore to the facility previously occupied by Heli-Rezia in Tavanasa. This last company then moved into the company’s original San Vittore base. In the alpine airport of Samedan Air Grischa possesses a third base. In over 30 years the Graubünden company has accumulated a considerable experience using various helicopters. In addition to those already mentioned, the company operated other models types such as the Hughes 269C and (Agusta-)Bell 206 Jet Ranger. Presently the helicopter fleet is mainly composed by AS 350B3 Squirrel and SA 315B Lama.

HAB 12/2008