Change of leadership at the helicopter squadron: Bleibohm takes over!

Change of leadership at the helicopter squadron: Bleibohm takes over!

On July 8th, a lot will change in aviation circles: Lieutenant Colonel Sascha Bleibohm will take over command responsibility of Helicopter Squadron 64 (HSG 64), as the successor to Colonel Nicolas Bulitz. This change is associated with a lot of attention, as Bulitz only took over the leadership in April 2023 and was confronted with major challenges, such as the evacuation of German citizens from Sudan. Although the squadron's helicopters were available, they were not used for these missions, as schwaebische.de reported.

The new commander Bleibohm has led the air transport group at Holzdorf airfield since 2023 and sees taking over the squadron as the crowning achievement of his career. He has a personal connection to Laupheim, where the squadron will carry out a large part of its tasks. The organizational changes are planned until 2030, with a staff relocation to Holzdorf by October 2026. Around 1,000 posts and 37 helicopters are to be located in Laupheim, while around 1,500 posts will be set up in Holzdorf.

Investments for the future

The procurement of new helicopters plays a central role in the realignment of HSG 64. Germany will purchase 60 CH-47F “Chinook” transport helicopters for up to 7.3 billion euros to replace the aging CH-53G fleet. This decision was made in the summer of 2023, with the first deliveries expected in 2026, although some reports even speak of 2027, with ongoing deliveries until 2036. Lt Gen Ingo Gerhartz, head of the Air Force, highlighted that with this purchase Germany will become the second largest helicopter nation within NATO after the USA, as key.aero.

Around 50 of the new Chinooks are to be stationed at Holzdorf Air Force Base, which represents a significant upgrade of this unit. The purchase package also includes important technical systems, including the AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems and AN/ARC-231A safety radios. The total costs, which include service expenses and necessary infrastructure, amount to at least 7.2 to 8 billion euros.

A look at the future

With these extensive investments, the Air Force is facing a major upheaval. Bleibohm has already developed a good knack for leadership in various positions, including in the Ministry of Defense, and now wants to set the course for the future of the squadron. Apart from the new machines, the infrastructure in Laupheim and Holzdorf will also be significantly increased: investments of up to 400 million euros are planned in Laupheim, and almost a billion euros are expected to flow in Holzdorf.

The helicopter pilots and technicians are already being trained on the new weapon system in the USA, the Netherlands and Great Britain. These preparations are essential to keeping up with the times and raising the Air Force's operational readiness to a new level.

Colonel Nicolas Bulitz, who is now moving to Canada, will study at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. He describes his time as commodore as an important change management process in which staff support and involvement was central. Bleibohm will undoubtedly be confronted with new challenges, but has the opportunity to play a decisive role in shaping Helicopter Squadron 64.