Baden-Württemberg to Establish New Air Rescue Helicopter Base by July 2027

The German state of Baden-Württemberg is expanding its air rescue services by establishing a new helicopter base in the Neckar-Odenwald district. This initiative, confirmed by the Interior Ministry, will introduce the tenth air rescue helicopter location in the state, aiming for operational readiness by July 2027.

The permanent base is planned for Ravenstein, with the procurement process having commenced at the end of June. However, the ministry anticipates that the Ravenstein facility may not be completed by the target date. Consequently, a temporary location will be utilized for the 'Christoph Odenwald' helicopter, with the Walldürn and Mosbach airfields being considered as potential interim sites, depending on operator bids.

This expansion is based on recommendations from a 2020 analysis of air rescue needs in Baden-Württemberg, conducted by the University of Munich's Institute for Emergency Medicine and Medical Management. The current nine bases are strategically positioned to ensure that all locations within the state can be reached by helicopter within 20 minutes during daylight hours and within 30 minutes at night, accounting for the additional preparation required for nighttime flights.

The new helicopter is expected to be available during daylight hours, and the contract for its operation is set to run until the end of 2052. The deadline for bids from operators is August 14. The ministry has not disclosed cost details for the project.