DRF Luftrettung has placed an order worth close to $200 million for 25 EC145 T2 helicopters, making the air rescue organisation Europe's largest customer for the type.

The first five aircraft will go into operation in the window from December 2013 to the end of 2015, and will successively replace BK 117s. The remaining 20 are to be delivered in phases up until 2022.

DRF is based in Filderstadt and operates a total of 31 helicopter stations in Germany, Austria and Denmark, eight of them in 24-hour service.

"To meet our own high quality targets, DRF has been setting standards in the areas of flight operations, technology and medicine for many years. Top priority is safety and efficiency, so the continuing development of the helicopters we deploy is essential," said Dr Hans Jörg Eyrich, member of the board of directors, at the signing of the deal. "The EC145 T2 is excellently suited for air rescue missions thanks to its performance capability and the fenestron. Particularly in night rescue missions, the shrouded tail rotor provides a further measure of safety.

"After Munich and Regensburg, we will soon be flying night time emergency operations with night vision goggles from Berlin as well. With the deployment of the EC145 T2 in our 24-hour operations, we will be able to rely on a helicopter that is optimally suited for the broadly varied requirements of modern air rescue," he added.