ADAC Luftrettung wins Schleswig-Holstein HEMS contract
The new contract will run from 1 July, and will see ADAC Luftrettung work in partnership with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
ADAC Luftrettung has been awarded a contract to provide helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) to the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.
The contract was announced by the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Justice and Health on 2 February. It will see the non-profit air ambulance provider use an Airbus H145 to conduct both emergency response missions and inter-hospital transfers.
The non-profit rescue organization will officially begin operations under the new contract from 1 July, initially operating exclusively in daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).
The main area served by the program will be Schleswig-Holstein’s densely populated southern regions.
The service will initially be operated from a temporary location until the construction of ADAC Luftrettung’s new permanent base at Hungriger Wolf Airport near the town of Itzehoe is completed. The contract includes provisions for the base’s construction.
ADAC Luftrettung will work in collaboration with University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, who will provide emergency doctors to the program. ADAC will supply pilots and emergency paramedics.
ADAC Luftrettung announced last year that it would trial the use of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for emergency medical services, in partnership with Volocopter.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.