DRF Luftrettung is extending its reach in rescue mission aviation by opening a new operational base at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport. Among the 400 invited guests at the opening ceremony were figures from the fields of politics, healthcare and the charity sector. The new maintenance hangar houses 11 docks with optimal repair facilities for DRF's fleet of Eurocopters and Learjets and the base will also allow it to build on its flight training programmes.

Helmut Nanz, chairman of DRF, spoke at the opening ceremony: “Today, DRF Luftrettung is setting the standard in European air rescue. More than 100 missions of the red and white helicopters every day speak for themselves.”

The company is enhancing its fleet by replacing its Bell 412 and BK 117 helicopters with the more advanced EC145 T2. The T2 is ideally suited to night missions and will be ready to commence HEMS operations in 2014. In the coming weeks a Learjet 45 will also be launched as a new air ambulance.