Nurnberg Air Ambulance Upgrades to H145D3

DRF Luftrettung, October 18, 2023 - New helicopter for the region: Yesterday morning, a type H145 with a five-blade rotor and winch went into service as the new Christoph 27. The helicopter offers a higher possible payload compared to its predecessor.

After the model change, type H145 machines are now being used at all four DRF Luftrettung winch locations. The machine with a five-blade rotor in Nuremberg is even quieter in the air thanks to the fifth rotor blade, and both the crews and patients benefit from a higher payload, including on the winch. This means, for example, that more fuel can be absorbed and greater distances can be covered during operations.

The pilots and emergency doctors working on the Christoph 27 as well as the emergency paramedics, who are also winch operators, were able to get to know the new machine almost two weeks ago: They were presented with the new model in detail as part of the winch training that the station completes twice a year and trained its handling in practical exercises.

The first H145 helicopter with a five-blade rotor was converted for station service at the DRF Luftrettung shipyard in December 2020. Since then, DRF Luftrettung has continuously added more H145s with five-blade rotors to its fleet. Nuremberg is the 15th station to receive a machine of this type.

The Nuremberg station of the DRF Luftrettung

Two DRF Luftrettung helicopters are stationed at Nuremberg Airport.

The rescue helicopter Christoph 27 is used in emergency rescue as a quick emergency doctor shuttle and for the quick and gentle transport of patients. It is operational from 7 a.m. to sunset and can reach locations within a radius of 60 kilometers within a maximum of 15 minutes by plane. A type H145 machine with a five-blade rotor and rescue winch is used. This allows patients to be cared for and flown out even in very inaccessible terrain. The emergency paramedics deployed have additional training to become winch operators.

The Christoph Nürnberg intensive care transport helicopter is available for operations around the clock. He is alerted for urgent transports between hospitals, but also in emergency rescue. The crews regularly carry out highly demanding medical missions, for example with the mobile heart-lung machine or the incubator. An H145 helicopter with a five-blade rotor is used.

The crew includes a pilot (two at night), an emergency doctor and an emergency paramedic.