NO In the High Hills Heli-Austria crewmember Claudia Juen is an accomplished mountain rescuer who also holds a surprising day job. Story & Photos by Tomas Kika You simply can’t overlook her pink helmet, be it in the left front seat of the red Heli-Austria MD 902 Explorer, or on the slope rushing to a patient along with a doctor and a large medical backpack. “Patients are often surprised,” admitted 38-year-old Claudia Juen, the only female helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) crewmem- ber in the Austrian Alps, “but always in a positive way! Especially if we come with a lady doctor colleague together. Well, we have no female pilot at Martin Flugrettung, so a three-lady crew is unfortunately not possible at this time.” A technical crewmember trained in helicopter hoist operations, human external cargo and mountain rescue, Juen flies with the rescue subsidiary of Heli-Austria, the Austrian helicopter company led by progressive entrepreneur and pilot Roy Knaus. Known for its expertise in technical rescues and high-altitude operations in the Austrian Alps, Martin Flugrettung mainly operates MD 902 Explorer helicopters (see p.62, Vertical 911, Fall 2015) although these will soon be replaced by the new Airbus Helicopters H135 (EC135 T3). When the occasion calls for it, Juen is all business, but behind the serious look is a little girl’s dream that began when she watched a helicopter landing on a ski slope. “It all must have started there, at a rather young age — while skiing with one of my five sisters, I happened to be watching a helicopter on a rescue mission,” Juen recalled. “A lot of noise, wind and power, but so awesome at the same time!” Growing up at the foothills of the Alps some 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level, mountaineering became a natural part of Claudia’s life. Due to a fam- ily situation, she had to take over some duties at their own local farm relatively early in her childhood. She later spent time just down the road, in the luxury ski resort town of Ischgl, where she slipped into a job in tourism. In fact, if you ever walk into the central Elizabeth Arthotel in Ischgl, it may well happen that Juen’s broad smile welcomes you at the reception desk. “I am responsible for sales and marketing at one of the top-notch hotels in Ischgl, that is my main job,” explained an elegantly dressed Juen while sitting in the hotel’s lounge, her high heels making it hard to believe that two to five times a month she jumps into a twin-turbine helicopter and heads towards the summits to help those in need. 42 Ver tical 911 Maga zine