DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht/German Air Rescue) has been saving lives with its air rescue missions, both with helicopters and ambulance aircraft, for over 30 years. In late August, the non-profit air rescue organisation flew its 300,000th mission.

The intensive care transport helicopter with the call sign ‘Christoph 51,’ stationed at Stuttgart Airport, Germany, flew the anniversary mission, in which the crew transported a six month old baby, who was born prema-turely, from a hospital in Göppingen to a special children’s hospital in Munich.

A paediatrician and a special children’s nurse from Göppingen hospital accompanied the 39 minute incubator flight.

The company began operating in 1972 with a single helicopter and one HEMS base. Today, DRF and its partners in Germany, Austria and Italy form one of Europe’s leading air rescue alliances – Team DRF. Together, they operate 43 HEMS bases with a combined fleet of 53 helicopters.

Approximately 700 emergency physicians, 500 paramedics, 180 pilots and 80 engineers are on duty for Team DRF, which specialises in emergency rescue, inter-hospital transfer and global emergency rescue management. Last year, Team DRF flew 32,865 missions.