View into the cockpit of a DRF Luftrettung helicopter: the pilot sits on the right, the HEMS TC on the left. (Credit: Olga von Plate / DRF Luftrettung)
As one of the largest air rescue organisations in Germany, DRF Luftrettung is committed to the principles and guidelines of aviation safety in Germany (State Safety Policy), which have been adopted by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the Federal Ministry of Defence. This reaffirms the non-profit air rescue organisation's ongoing commitment to maximum safety in air traffic - for the protection of the patients entrusted to it, its crews and all air traffic participants involved.
The new principles and guidelines for aviation safety in Germany are the first uniform nationwide basis for prioritising aviation safety. In addition to authorities, all players in the aviation industry – companies, organisations, associations and clubs – are invited to commit to these guidelines and integrate them into their management systems.
"The recently published guidelines reinforce the open safety culture that we have been actively practising for decades. It is firmly anchored in our internal processes and manuals – and is continuously being developed further." Examples of the prioritisation of safety at DRF Luftrettung include the transparent and proactive handling of safety-relevant incidents and errors as part of the DRF Luftrettung safety management system, the provision of the necessary human resources for the further development and implementation of safety in all areas of DRF Luftrettung and the targeted promotion of a Just Culture.
Going above and beyond the call of duty
DRF Luftrettung is regularly involved in national and international safety forums, integrates safetyguidelines into practical training courses and organises ‘integrative training’ for its crews. All crew members – pilot, emergency paramedic or HEMS TC and the emergency physician – are trained together to ensure optimum cooperation and operational safety.
Another component of this safety culture is the consistent use of innovative tools in risk management: since 2019, DRF Luftrettung has been using a digital platform adapted to the requirements of air rescue for the systematic recording and evaluation of risk-relevant events in daily operations. This makes it clear that safety is not just a claim for DRF Luftrettung, but a lived practice, day after day. At the end of 2024, DRF Luftrettung received the HRO (High Reliability Organisations) Award for its sustainable commitment.
Further information as well as the entire State Safety Programme is available under https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/DE/Artikel/LF/state-safety-programm-deutschland.html.
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