10 years of Christoph 65: A helicopter saves lives in Bavaria!

10 years of Christoph 65: A helicopter saves lives in Bavaria!

On July 12, 2025, it was time to celebrate in Sinbronn: the rescue helicopter Christoph 65 celebrated its 10th birthday. The helicopter, which has been in use at Dinkelsbühl-Sinbronn airfield since it was put into service on September 5, 2015, has set itself the task of closing one of the last “white spots” in Bavaria's airspace. With an impressive flight speed of up to 240 km/h, the Christoph 65 is not only fast, but also an indispensable part of the rescue service in the region.

Numerous partners came together to celebrate the day, including the BRK, the fire department, the police, the ADAC and the emergency chaplains. A colorful supporting program for visitors offered the opportunity to experience the helicopter and various emergency vehicles up close. There was a lot to discover, especially for the little visitors: a bouncy castle, face painting and even a cuddly toy clinic were waiting for the youngest guests. The cuddly toy clinic's goal of allaying fears of medical procedures attracted a lot of interest.

Realistic operations and important prevention

But not only was the fun not neglected, the seriousness of the rescue service was also impressively demonstrated. In a demonstration exercise by the fire department and BRK, a traffic accident between a car and a cyclist was recreated. The cyclist had to be resuscitated, while the driver of the car suffered serious back injuries. Emergency doctor Dr. Bernd Zollhöfer explained the various measures taken by the rescue services and emphasized the importance of a functioning rescue lane for quick access by the emergency services.

The operations of the rescue dogs, which worked without a leash and without visual contact with the dog handler, were particularly impressive. The training of these animals takes two to four years, during which they are comprehensively prepared for various challenges such as noise and crowds. Dog handlers must also have medical training and knowledge of map reading.

A successful balance sheet

Christoph 65 can look back on a proud record: the helicopter has already flown 14,000 missions in the past ten years. The number of missions has doubled compared to the early years, which underlines the urgency and importance of his work. District Administrator Dr. During the celebrations, Ludwig mentioned the construction of the helicopter station in Sinbronn, which began in autumn 2015. There are also plans to deploy a Volokopter in the region, which could advance air rescue even further.

The rescue service, such as that provided by the Christoph 65 rescue helicopter, is indispensable. In addition to primary emergency operations, helicopters are also used to transport intensive care patients between hospitals. This modern form of air rescue, which uses complex emergency medical technology such as anesthesia and surgery, is an important part of the healthcare system in Germany. The operational record of ADAC Luftrettung shows that the team of around 1,350 employees, including around 180 pilots and 645 emergency doctors, is always ready to act quickly and efficiently to save human lives.

Overall, the event shows more than clearly how important well-functioning air rescue is for the population and that rescue helicopters, like Christoph 65, have an established place in emergency care. Supported by a dense network of government and non-government operators, air rescue in Germany is well positioned and well prepared for the future.

For more information about Christoph 65 and air rescue in Germany, read the reports on fränkischer.de, rth.info and luftrettung.adac.de.