There was a change at the Mannheim station of Germany-based air rescue provider DRF Luftrettung recently when an Airbus Helicopters H145 with a five-blade rotor began operations as Christoph 53. Its first assignment was a double one, and helicopter pilot Markus Becker, who was on duty that day, says the advantages of the machine are clear: "Thanks to the fifth rotor blade, the H145 is even more stable in the air, which means significantly less vibration for the interior, a brilliant difference."

Patients and crew also benefit from the significantly higher payload of the new model. It can carry more fuel, which means that longer distances are possible in operations and emergencies.

DRF Luftrettung received its first five-bladed H145 helicopter, converted for station service, in December 2020 and many more have been added to its fleet since then. Mannheim is the 14th station to receive a helicopter of this type.

Christoph 53 is operational from sunrise to sunset and is manned by a pilot, an emergency doctor and an emergency paramedic. It is an indispensable part of emergency rescue in the region around the industrially densely populated Rhine-Neckar conurbation of over two million inhabitants. Just last year, the Mannheim air rescue service was alerted to 1,118 missions.