German aeromedical provider DRF Luftrettung has published its mission figures for 2021.

In total, the helicopters and aircraft in its red and white liveried fleet received 38,076 alerts, representing a four per cent increase in missions compared to the previous year (36,586 missions). The DRF Luftrettung Group also performed more missions last year, with 41,302 in 2021 versus 39,971 in 2020. It believes its job is to keep developing and enhancing air rescue: thus it has provided two additional helicopters for catastrophes; modernised its Airbus H145 helicopter fleet with five-bladed rotors; and started professional helicopter pilot training at DRF Luftrettung academy.

"We have just finished another year of the coronavirus pandemic, a year in which we had to face constant new challenges as an organisation and as individuals," says CEO Dr Krystian Pracz. "I am very proud that our many years of experience and our expertise, and most of all our committed staff, allowed us to still always be there for people, even when the conditions were difficult. In these times of pandemic, air rescue has again highlighted its special role in providing comprehensive medical care. By performing a total of 881 intensive care transport missions for Covid patients last year, DRF Luftrettung played a crucial role in relieving the pressure on hospitals that had reached their capacity."

The DRF Luftrettung helicopters received a total of 37,834 alerts for emergency rescue missions and intensive care transport. The crews on the two ambulance aircraft performed 242 repatriations, and the Learjet pilots flew aircraft to 69 countries, covering a total distance of 828,570 km.

The reasons behind the alerts were largely comparable to previous years, with crews most frequently being called to patients with cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks or strokes, or to accidents and falls. The three bases equipped with rescue hoists used them 118 times in order to provide rapid emergency care for patients in hard-to-reach locations and fly them out of there.

Despite the challenges of the ongoing Covid pandemic, DRF Luftrettung is determined to develop air rescue and to keep improving patient care.

"We have been providing two additional helicopters to relevant authorities since 1 October for deployment in catastrophes across the country," adds Pracz. "Moreover, the start of professional helicopter pilot training at our academy and the recently commenced modernisation of our H145 fleet, which is being upgraded from four-bladed to five-bladed rotors, are two pioneering projects that we will be continuing in 2022."