Skip to main content
AirMed&Rescue

Main navigation

  • Latest
  • Magazine
  • Marketplace
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Latest
  • Magazine
  • Marketplace
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Latest
  3. Latest news
  4. Christoph 31 helicopter celebrates 35 years of rescue operations

Christoph 31 helicopter celebrates 35 years of rescue operations

Publishing Details

HEMS/SAR

13 Oct 2022
Megan Gaen

Share

ADAC Christoph 31

© Nico Hellmann

ADAC Luftrettung’s helicopter has since become one of the most used rescue aircraft in the world, providing emergency medical care to tens of thousands of people in Berlin

The helicopter celebrates 35 years of service today, after making its maiden flight from Berlin on 13 October 1987. The occasion will be marked by a social media campaign by ADAC rather than an official ceremony due to rising Covid-19 cases in Germany, requiring the Gelben Engel helicopters to be available.

There will also be a virtual open day hosted on the ADAC Luftrettung website on 29 October, allowing visitors to gain an insight into the work of the Gelben Engels through three videos.

The ADAC rescue helicopter has provided emergency medical care to thousands of people in the more than 3,000 missions they undertake every year. Managing Director Frédéric Bruder explained why these missions present a particular challenge to the crew: “Take offs and landings in the middle of urban canyons and busy streets are among the most difficult of all.”

The crew of Christoph 31 consists of pilots and emergency paramedics (TC HEMS) from ADAC Luftrettung, while the emergency physicians come from the Charité at Campus Benjamin Franklin in Steglitz.

From Cold War to Covid-19

Christoph 31’s first mission took place before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. At that time, only Allied aircraft were allowed to fly in West Berlin due to the four-power status of the region, and not in the airspace of the German Democratic Republic in the East. The helicopter was also only allowed to be flown by Americans under the US flag until the Wall fell. In 2002, Christoph 31 was stationed at the Charité-Klinikum Benjamin Franklin in Berlin-Steglitz and has been operating from there ever since.

"With the commissioning of the first civilian rescue helicopter for Berlin, ADAC Luftrettung demonstrated a pioneering spirit 35 years ago," emphasized Bruder on the anniversary day.

ADAC celebrated another milestone last year, with the air rescue in Bayreuth and the ADAC rescue helicopter Christoph 20 celebrating their 40th anniversaries.

Publishing Details

HEMS/SAR

13 Oct 2022
Megan Gaen

Share

Keep on reading

Italian helicopter operator to join Leading Helicopter Academies of Europe

Specialist transport service support to evacuate babies in areas affected by Hurricane Ian

Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust rated outstanding by the CQC

East Anglian Air Ambulance promotes blood donation after NHS amber alert

AirMed&Rescue

Social

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Footer

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Writers
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Voyageur

Footer menu

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Writers
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Voyageur

© Voyageur Publishing & Events 2019