From October 21st, DRF Luftrettung will provide rapid assistance in Bremen with another helicopter: A modern EC145 will replace the BK 117.

As an intensive care transport helicopter and also in emergency rescue, “Christoph Weser” makes an extremely important contribution to the emergency medical care of people in Bremen and the surrounding area, “emphasizes Dr. Krystian Pracz, chairman of the board of the DRF Foundation Air Rescue non-profit AG. The type EC145 machine offers many advantages compared to the previous type BK 117, especially for longer patient transports between clinics, which can also be abroad . Krystian Pracz added.

“For us pilots, the new helicopter type makes work easier,” explains pilot and station manager Ingo Reckermann, “the three-axis autopilot and the digital glass cockpit take the strain off longer flights.” At 700 km, the EC145 also has a much larger one Range, uses up to ten percent less fuel and has a higher operating speed of 254 km / h instead of 240 km / h than the previous model. It also offers more space for patient care and the optimized ergonomics ensure better working conditions for the medical crew on board.

DRF Luftrettung is modernizing its fleet

With this pattern change, DRF Luftrettung is continuing to modernize its fleet. The BK 117 from Bremen is the last machine of this type in the air rescue fleet. Station manager Ingo Reckermann emphasizes that “the BK 117 has provided us with loyal service and we have been hearing from interested citizens for weeks that they think it is a shame that this special helicopter has now become obsolete. We can understand that, but we are now looking forward to the EC 145, which will definitely make our work easier and offers numerous advantages in patient care ”.

Special features of the Bremen station of the DRF Luftrettung

The DRF Luftrettung station in Bremen is in the immediate vicinity of another air rescue station. Both helicopters are requested from the same control center. Because of its excellent medical equipment, “Christoph Weser” is preferred for intensive care transports. To ensure that the mobile medical technology does not run out of power on board, a 230V inverter is used on board by “Christoph Weser”. Thanks to this voltage converter, a permanent power supply is guaranteed, which serves patient safety: In addition to 12-volt connections, a redundant power supply is available during the flight, which prevents these vital devices from failing due to insufficient battery capacity. If necessary, “Christoph Weser” is also requested for emergencies. Since many missions take place in the Bremen city area, this requires special skills on the part of the pilots. Before the corona pandemic, increasing passenger numbers at Bremen Airport ensured that the crew of “Christoph Weser” were alerted more frequently about emergencies on the airport premises. That is why DRF Luftrettung also made a first aid defibrillator available to City Airport Bremen in 2010. This enables visitors and travelers as lay rescuers to provide first aid to people with cardiac arrest quickly and easily. That is why DRF Luftrettung also made a first aid defibrillator available to City Airport Bremen in 2010. This enables visitors and travelers as lay rescuers to provide first aid to people with cardiac arrest quickly and easily. That is why DRF Luftrettung also made a first aid defibrillator available to City Airport Bremen in 2010. This enables visitors and travelers as lay rescuers to provide first aid to people with cardiac arrest quickly and easily.

Historical development

Between 1984 and 1996, different operators in Bremen were responsible for air rescue: different helicopter types, such as the AS 350, Bell Jet Ranger, BO 105 and the S-76 were used. After the DRF Luftrettung took over the station in 1996, the helicopter was initially requested almost exclusively for intensive care transports. Shortly after the Central Coordination Office of Lower Saxony began its work in 1998, the DRF Luftrettung was asked to carry out emergency operations.