DRF Luftrettung, July 03, 2025 - The Göttingen base of the DRF Air Rescue turns 45 today. Since its official start of service on July 3, 1980, the red and white helicopter has become an indispensable component of emergency medical care in southern Lower Saxony. The base at Göttingen University Hospital stands for fast and competent assistance from the air – day after day.
Whether it's a heart attack, stroke, or an accident at work, Christoph 44 is on hand quickly when patients with serious illnesses or injuries require rapid emergency medical assistance. The team, consisting of a pilot, emergency physician, and paramedic, is available for emergency operations in southern Lower Saxony, northern Hesse, and parts of Thuringia. Christoph 44 can be called upon for rapid transport of critically ill patients throughout Lower Saxony and beyond.
Over the years, the crews at the Göttingen base have been called out over 58,500 times and, with their extensive training, state-of-the-art equipment, and the time savings offered by the helicopter, have saved countless lives.
"The fact that we can look back on 45 years of successful air rescue in Göttingen today is thanks not only to the dedication of the colleagues who built the station, but also to the years of trusting cooperation with our local partners – from hospitals and control centers to ground-based rescue services," emphasizes Markus Sandmann, Head of Station Operations for the Northern Region. "We are driven by the same goal: to ensure rapid and optimal assistance for people in need in the region."
The idea of stationing a rescue helicopter in Göttingen originated in the 1970s. Two anesthesiology professors were early advocates for improving emergency medical care. After intensive negotiations with the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, the City of Göttingen, and the German Air Rescue Service (DRF Luftrettung), the station was finally established.
On July 3, 1980, the base began operations as the fourth DRF Air Rescue station nationwide – initially with a Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter. The very next day, the first rescue mission took place at a traffic accident near Wöllmarshausen. In 1984, the aircraft was replaced by a BO 105, followed by the modern EC135 helicopter in 2007. Since last year, a state-of-the-art H135 helicopter has been in use, which is ideally suited to the station's mission profile.
The crew includes a pilot, an emergency physician, and an emergency medical technician/HEMS TC. The crew can reach emergency locations within a 60-kilometer radius in a maximum of 15 minutes. The rescue helicopter is available for missions from sunrise (at the earliest 7 a.m.) until sunset.
Whether it's a heart attack, stroke, or an accident at work, Christoph 44 is on hand quickly when patients with serious illnesses or injuries require rapid emergency medical assistance. The team, consisting of a pilot, emergency physician, and paramedic, is available for emergency operations in southern Lower Saxony, northern Hesse, and parts of Thuringia. Christoph 44 can be called upon for rapid transport of critically ill patients throughout Lower Saxony and beyond.
Over the years, the crews at the Göttingen base have been called out over 58,500 times and, with their extensive training, state-of-the-art equipment, and the time savings offered by the helicopter, have saved countless lives.
"The fact that we can look back on 45 years of successful air rescue in Göttingen today is thanks not only to the dedication of the colleagues who built the station, but also to the years of trusting cooperation with our local partners – from hospitals and control centers to ground-based rescue services," emphasizes Markus Sandmann, Head of Station Operations for the Northern Region. "We are driven by the same goal: to ensure rapid and optimal assistance for people in need in the region."
The Göttingen Air Rescue Station
The idea of stationing a rescue helicopter in Göttingen originated in the 1970s. Two anesthesiology professors were early advocates for improving emergency medical care. After intensive negotiations with the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, the City of Göttingen, and the German Air Rescue Service (DRF Luftrettung), the station was finally established.
On July 3, 1980, the base began operations as the fourth DRF Air Rescue station nationwide – initially with a Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter. The very next day, the first rescue mission took place at a traffic accident near Wöllmarshausen. In 1984, the aircraft was replaced by a BO 105, followed by the modern EC135 helicopter in 2007. Since last year, a state-of-the-art H135 helicopter has been in use, which is ideally suited to the station's mission profile.
The crew includes a pilot, an emergency physician, and an emergency medical technician/HEMS TC. The crew can reach emergency locations within a 60-kilometer radius in a maximum of 15 minutes. The rescue helicopter is available for missions from sunrise (at the earliest 7 a.m.) until sunset.
See also |
Christoph 44 (DRF) DRF Luftrettung German air rescue 
Air Medical Ambulance Services 
