ADAC Luftrettung adds winch and night operations in Saxony from 2027
ADAC Luftrettung will expand its helicopter emergency service in Saxony from January 2027, equipping the Zwickau-based Christoph 46 with a rescue winch and extending operating hours. Crews are already training for winch work and night flying with night vision goggles.
ADAC Luftrettung will expand its air rescue operations in Saxony starting in January 2027, according to the organisation. The rescue helicopter Christoph 46, based in Zwickau, will be fitted with a rescue winch. The three ADAC rescue helicopters in the state will also be available until 19:00 during the autumn and winter months; until now, operations ended at sunset at the latest.
Crews are currently carrying out winch training and preparing for flights in darkness using night vision goggles.
The winch is intended to allow missions in difficult-to-reach terrain, including the Erzgebirge and Vogtland regions. Larger helicopters of the Airbus H145 type will be used at the Zwickau and Leipzig stations.
The Landesdirektion Sachsen awarded the concessions for the Leipzig and Zwickau stations to ADAC Luftrettung again in May 2026. The contracts run from January 2027 to 2045. ADAC Luftrettung will continue to operate the three rescue helicopters Christoph 46, Christoph 61 and Christoph 63.
Sources
- aerotelegraph.comADAC Luftrettung: Hubschrauber-Crews in Sachsen trainieren mit Winden und Nachtsichtgerät