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Air bp
Air bp
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.
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DRF Luftrettung
Charter

Airbus Helicopters H145

BAN's World Gazetteer

Germany
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

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DRF leads the way for NVG ops
Whenever there is a serious medical emergency every second clearly counts. This applies equally at night, so DRF is reporting high utilisation for its night vision goggles in the past year.
Read this story in our April 2018 printed issue.

German air ambulance operator DRF Luftrettung performed more than 2,300 night missions in 2017, and anticipates another year of high night vision goggle usage for its operations.

Having pioneered night HEMS operations using non-military NVGs in Germany in 2009, DRF utilises high-tech goggles, digital glass cockpits and sophisticated autopilot systems on aircraft such as the H145 to complete its rescue missions. The H145 has favourable engine performance, a sophisticated stabilisation system and a Fenestron protected tail rotor.

Chairman Peter Huber comments: “Emergencies do not keep to office hours. If a person's life is at risk after a heart attack or a severe car accident, every second counts, whether it is day or night. We are making a key contribution in this sector and we are well equipped and prepared for night rescue flights with professional, highly experienced medical and flight personnel using the latest technology,” adds Huber. “Our pilots have extensive experience with instrument night flying and the use of night vision devices.”

Since it was founded in 1973, DRF has flown more than 800,000 missions, 38,509 of which were carried out last year alone. It operates 31 HEMS bases across Germany and Austria, has an operations centre in Karlsruhe, and employs 629 emergency doctors, 120 paramedics and 160 pilots.

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