Inquiry launched for locating helicopter sites
In a series of developments, the construction of a new landing site for a rescue helicopter at the Tübingen BG Clinic is set to commence in January 2026, with an estimated cost of 32 million euros. This announcement comes as the costly process of developing a helicopter base in Wittenhofen has been discontinued, and a decision on the construction of a rescue station at the future helicopter support point in Deggenhausertal is not currently foreseeable.
The "Christoph 45" helicopter, which has been stationed at the Friedrichshafen Clinic for over 40 years, will not be relocating to Deggenhausertal as initially planned. The relocation was necessary to reach white spots in the hinterland of Lake Constance within 20 minutes of flight time, but it was cancelled due to the site not meeting the stringent technical and operational requirements for a rescue helicopter base.
The state government is no longer willing to wait longer in the case of "Christoph 45", and a new air rescue map for Baden-Württemberg, which expands the number of rescue helicopter bases from eight to ten, was presented by the Ministry of the Interior in November 2022.
The new operator for "Christoph 53" is expected to receive a 15-year contract from November 2026, and a new station for the helicopter will be built on the City Airport grounds. The operating hours for "Christoph 53" are planned to be extended to 7 to 20 hours on weekdays and 8 to 20 hours on weekends and holidays, regardless of sunrise and sunset.
Meanwhile, the municipality of Deggenhausertal remains optimistic that a sensible location for a ground-based rescue station will be found. The municipality has consistently stated that a ground-based rescue station must be established simultaneously with the air rescue site on the property. The decision on whether a rescue station can also be built alongside the hangar is made by the regional committee for rescue services in Lake Constance and Upper Swabia.
A potential location in the District of Ravensburg is currently being examined, and the Ministry of the Interior is seeking an alternative location for the relocation of "Christoph 45" within the Bavendorf - Deggenhausertal axis. The decision on whether "Christoph 45" is relocated is ultimately decided by the state.
A report and its evaluation are needed before the committee can make plans for new or additional rescue stations. The committee will carefully consider all options to ensure the best possible emergency response for the people of Baden-Württemberg.
- The regional committee for rescue services in Lake Constance and Upper Swabia, responsible for determining locations for ground-based rescue stations, must address the science and technology requirements for a suitable site to meet the stringent operational standards for "Christoph 45".
- In order to address medical-conditions effectively and promote health-and-wellness across Baden-Württemberg, it is crucial that the new air and ground rescue stations, as part of the expansion of rescue helicopter bases from eight to ten, are managed in accordance with best practices in medical science and emergency response management.
