Helicopter over Lower Saxony: Police exercise for aspiring pilots!

Helicopter over Lower Saxony: Police exercise for aspiring pilots!

Last week there was a lot of activity in the skies over Lower Saxony and other federal states: the police and federal police pilots practiced their flying skills and sent a total of 13 helicopters on a demanding training route. The start of the 44th training course for professional helicopter pilots was an impressive formation flight that led from Sankt Augustin in Lower Saxony over numerous cities. How NDR reported, the aim of the exercises is to train “aeronautical tactical content”, which is learned as part of the training program for prospective police pilots.

The exercise route, which will last until September 26, 2025, spans a variety of locations: from Sankt Augustin via Gifhorn, Hamburg, Fuhlendorf, Barth, Neubrandenburg, Blumberg, Bautzen to Kassel-Calden and finally back to Sankt Augustin. The Federal Police emphasizes that the flying exercises take place in cooperation with the state police and are therefore intended to increase the efficiency of the operations Press portal added.

Training with responsibility

Police officers who have been in training since autumn 2023 will complete an approximately 22-month course that is tailored to the specifics of the job profile. In addition to the practice-oriented training, the curriculum also includes police tactical training and further education as well as instruction in formation flights. One aspect of this demanding training is that the Newly-Qualified Pilots become part of the flying squadrons of the federal police and the state police after successfully completing the training.

The aviation school for the police service in Sankt Augustin, which has existed for more than 60 years, trains prospective pilots for their diverse tasks. This includes border surveillance, transport during large-scale operations, air rescue services and, last but not least, support for emergency services at home and abroad. A good hand in training is essential because the helicopter pilots' responsibility includes the complete preparation and execution of missions in accordance with visual and instrument flight rules, such as Aviation world described in detail.

A strong team

The Federal Police Aviation Group, based in Sankt Augustin, is the second largest operator of civil aircraft in Germany. With a fleet of 93 helicopters, it plays an essential role in operational flight operations, which includes, among other things, border controls, rail and maritime surveillance and disaster relief. The training success of these young pilots is strengthened not only by their experience in the sky, but also by the close cooperation between the 13 federal states that operate their own police aircraft.

The next big stage for the aspiring pilots is already coming: the ceremonial license handover will take place on December 11, 2025, a moment that everyone involved is looking forward to. With the new license in their pockets, the newly qualified pilots have numerous exciting and responsible tasks ahead of them. So when a helicopter hovers over the cities soon, we know that behind it there is sound training that not only serves safety, but also protects our community as a whole.