ADAC Luftrettung upgrades Saxony HEMS fleet with H145s
Starting January 2027, ADAC Luftrettung will deploy Airbus H145 helicopters and expand flight hours using night vision systems and winches across Saxony.
ADAC Luftrettung is preparing an operational expansion of its helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) across Saxony, scheduled to take effect in January 2027.
Flight crews are currently conducting winch training and qualifying for night flight operations with night vision goggles. The rescue helicopter stationed in Zwickau, known as Christoph 46, will be fitted with a hoist to facilitate rescue missions over demanding terrain, including the Erzgebirge and Vogtland regions. Concurrently, operational coverage for the operator's three Saxon helicopters will extend until 19:00 during the autumn and winter seasons, lifting the current restriction that terminates flight operations at sunset.
The bases in Leipzig and Zwickau will upgrade their fleets to larger Airbus H145 helicopters. This fleet transition follows the concession renewal granted in May 2026 by the Landesdirektion Sachsen, securing ADAC Luftrettung's mandate from January 2027 through 2045. Under this contract, the operator will continue managing the operations of Christoph 46, Christoph 61, and Christoph 63 across the region.
Why it matters for your training
This development illustrates how specialized training in night vision imaging systems and hoist operations directly expands the operational envelope of commercial rotary-wing crews.
Sources
Article rewritten with the help of AI from the cited sources.