ADAC Luftrettung opens new air rescue base in Schleswig-Holstein

Non-profit ADAC Luftrettung officially opened the air rescue location in Schleswig-Holstein with a ceremonial commissioning of the rescue helicopter Christoph 67 at Itzehoe ‘Hungry Wolf’ Airfield in the northernmost state in Germany. It will now be able to launch aerial rescue missions and ensure emergency medical care for the population in the region. The Airbus H145 can be used both for rescue missions and as a flying intensive care unit for patient transport from clinic to clinic.

“Air rescue enables quick and targeted help, which in many cases helps save lives,” said Schleswig-Holstein’s Health Minister, Kerstin von der Decken. “It complements the ground-based rescue service and helps ensure high-quality medical care, even in areas that are difficult to access. Air rescue is particularly important in a large region like Schleswig-Holstein. It is therefore a good decision that the ‘Hungry Wolf’ airfield has become the new air rescue location. It complements the existing air rescue stations in Niebüll, Rendsburg and Siblin, and ensures a more comprehensive air rescue service. I am also pleased that the new central dispatching center for air rescue in Kiel is starting its service today. It will play a key role in efficiently coordinating the operations of the rescue helicopters and thus ensuring optimal use of the available resources.”

The new ADAC rescue helicopter is ready for use every day from sunrise (7:00 hrs at the earliest) to sunset. If there is a need in the future, it can also be equipped for operations at night.

ADAC Luftrettung is operating a station in Schleswig-Holstein for the first time – the organization’s 38th. “People can rely on our preparedness in emergency situations. We are there,” said Frédéric Bruder, Managing Director of ADAC Luftrettung. “Quality, performance and safety are our top priority in Schleswig-Holstein,” he explained at the inauguration, and stated that the comparatively long 20-year award period for operating the station would provide everyone involved with stability and planning security, especially the crews and their families.

The ADAC rescue helicopter is alerted via the new central dispatching of air rescue for Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel. This scheduling concept is the first of its kind in Germany: until now, there was no control center for the dispatch of rescue helicopters that also centrally dispatched rescue missions for an entire federal state.

The German Federal Police has also recently signed a contract for new Airbus helicopters to update its operations.