Christoph 65, ADAC Luftrettung’s rescue helicopter based at Dinkelsbühl-Sinbronn Airfield, has flown more than 14,000 missions since operations began in 2015. Positioned to serve patients directly in rural northern Bavaria, the site helped close one of the last remaining gaps in Germany’s air rescue network.

Last year, the Airbus H135 completed 1,310 deployments, with 1,054 flights in Bavaria, 255 in Baden-Württemberg and one in Rhineland-Palatinate. Accidental injuries accounted for 41 per cent of missions, followed by cardiovascular cases at 23 per cent and neurological emergencies at 18 per cent.

Managing director Frédéric Bruder of ADAC Luftrettung says the helicopter "continues to make a significant contribution to equal opportunities in rural areas and to providing medical care to less developed regions". Dr. Jürgen Ludwig of the Zweckverbands für Rettungsdienst und Feuerwehralarmierung Ansbach describes the milestone as "a cause for great celebration" and praised the crew’s work under “the most difficult conditions”.

In most cases, Christoph 65 serves as an emergency response vehicle; in the remaining third it transports patients to hospital. The H135’s design supports intensive care transfer, inner-city landings and fuel-efficient operations. The station will also take part in a multicopter emergency research project set to begin in 2026.