DRF Luftrettung
Professional services
UnclaimedGerman nonprofit air-rescue organization providing helicopter emergency medical services, intensive-care transport, and international medical repatriation.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
DRF Luftrettung is a German civilian air-rescue organization and a participant in the country’s emergency medical services system. Based in Filderstadt, it operates rescue helicopters, intensive-care transport helicopters, and fixed-wing ambulance aircraft in Germany as well as in Austria and Liechtenstein. It is generally described as Germany’s second-largest non-commercial air-medical organization after ADAC Luftrettung. The organization’s origins lie in a gap in rapid emergency care exposed by the accidental death of a child, Björn Steiger, in 1969. His parents, Ute and Siegfried Steiger, established the rescue-service foundation that is now known as the Björn Steiger Foundation. Following advocacy and demonstrations by Siegfried Steiger, the foundation supported a pilot project with the German Red Cross. Under the medical direction of Rudolf Frey of the University of Mainz, an Alouette 3 helicopter operated for six weeks as a fully equipped emergency medical aircraft. The Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht German Air-Rescue e.V., abbreviated DRF, was founded on 6 September 1972 as Germany’s first civilian air-rescue organization. The Björn Steiger Foundation helped finance and develop the organization. The relationship was also reflected in DRF’s branding: from 1972 until 2008, the organization’s logo incorporated the foundation’s “Steiger Star,” and its helicopters carried wording identifying the organization as an initiative of the foundation. Siegfried Steiger became DRF’s first chairman, while Fritz Bühler, associated with Switzerland’s REGA air-rescue service, served as vice chairman. The first operational mission from the DRF helicopter stationed in Stuttgart took place on 19 March 1973. DRF initially concentrated on emergency rescue helicopters in Germany. From the 1980s onward, it expanded into intensive-care and long-distance patient transport, including operations from locations such as Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Halle, Hannover, Berlin, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Freiburg, Dortmund, Bremen, and Bad Berka. Some of these aircraft are authorized for night operations. The organization also coordinates medical repatriation flights using specially configured fixed-wing aircraft. Its rotary-wing fleet is recognizable by its red-and-white livery and has included Airbus Helicopters H135 and H145 aircraft. DRF became the first operator worldwide of the H145 in 2014, initially putting the type into service at its Munich base. In 2020 it became the first operator in the European Union of the five-bladed H145 D-3, while older H145 D-2 aircraft were progressively upgraded. Earlier types, including the Bell 412 and MBB/Kawasaki BK 117, were retired by the end of 2015 and in 2020 respectively. For worldwide repatriation of ill or injured patients, DRF uses two Learjet 35A aircraft configured with intensive-care equipment. These jets are based at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, which also houses the organization’s operations centre. The centre coordinates ambulance flights and monitors the helicopter fleet. In 2020, DRF reported 39,971 deployments, illustrating the scale of its role in emergency and critical-care aviation.
History
DRF Luftrettung emerged from efforts to improve the speed and quality of emergency medical care in Germany. The immediate catalyst was the accidental death of Björn Steiger on 3 May 1969. The circumstances highlighted the absence of a sufficiently rapid emergency-response system and prompted his parents, Ute and Siegfried Steiger, to establish the rescue-service foundation that became the Björn Steiger Foundation. Siegfried Steiger promoted the use of helicopters for emergency medical response by presenting the concept to police stations in the area around Mainz. The foundation subsequently organized a six-week pilot project with the German Red Cross General Secretariat in Bonn. A fully equipped Alouette 3 helicopter operated under the medical direction of Rudolf Frey of the University of Mainz. The project demonstrated the potential of aviation to bring medical personnel and equipment rapidly to severely injured patients. On 6 September 1972, the Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht German Air-Rescue e.V., commonly abbreviated DRF, was founded. It was the first civilian air-rescue organization in Germany. The Björn Steiger Foundation provided financial and organizational support during the early development of the service. Siegfried Steiger became DRF’s first chairman, and Fritz Bühler, who was associated with Switzerland’s REGA air-rescue service, became vice chairman. The founding relationship remained visible in DRF’s identity for decades: the “Steiger Star” appeared in its logo from 1972 to 2008, and rescue helicopters carried a statement describing DRF as an initiative of the Björn Steiger Foundation. The first DRF rescue mission took place on 19 March 1973 from Stuttgart. In its initial phase, DRF operated emergency rescue helicopters in Germany. During the 1980s, it broadened its work to include intensive-care helicopters and the transfer of patients requiring specialized medical supervision. Its network developed across numerous German locations, including Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Halle, Hannover, Berlin, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Freiburg, Dortmund, Bremen, and Bad Berka. Some aircraft received authorization for night flying, extending the service’s availability beyond daylight operations. DRF also developed a fixed-wing medical-repatriation capability. Its two Learjet 35A aircraft were adapted for worldwide patient transport and equipped for intensive-care use. They are stationed at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, which also serves as the location of the organization’s operations centre. The centre coordinates ambulance flights and tracks the helicopter fleet. Beyond Germany, DRF and its subsidiaries operate in Austria and Liechtenstein, giving the organization a cross-border footprint in the Alpine and Central European region. Fleet modernization has been an important part of DRF’s later history. Bell 412 helicopters were retired at the end of 2015, and the final MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 was retired in 2020. DRF became the first operator worldwide of the Airbus Helicopters H145 in 2014, initially deploying the aircraft from Munich. In 2020, it became the first operator in the European Union of the five-bladed H145 D-3. Older H145 D-2 aircraft were scheduled for retrofits to the newer standard. The organization’s helicopter fleet has primarily consisted of Airbus H135 and H145 aircraft, identifiable through DRF’s red-and-white colour scheme. The organization has also experienced operational risk inherent in air rescue. On 23 January 2018, a DRF EC135 collided in mid-air with a small aircraft near Oberhausen-Rheinhausen during a practice flight after departing Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport. Four people died. The supplied reference material does not provide a final cause for the accident. By 2020, DRF reported 39,971 deployments. Its present role combines emergency helicopter response, intensive-care transport, night-capable rescue at selected bases, and fixed-wing medical repatriation. The organization remains an active non-commercial air-medical provider operating in Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
- 2020
H145 D-3 introduced and BK 117 retired
[1]DRF becomes the first European Union operator of the five-bladed H145 D-3 and retires its last MBB/Kawasaki BK 117.
- 2020
39,971 deployments recorded
[1]DRF reports 39,971 deployments during the year.
- 2018
Fatal EC135 collision
[1]A DRF EC135 collides with a small aircraft near Oberhausen-Rheinhausen, killing four people.
- 2015
Bell 412 fleet retirement
[1]The organization retires its Bell 412 helicopters by the end of the year.
- 2014
First worldwide H145 operator
[1]DRF becomes the first operator worldwide of the Airbus Helicopters H145, initially deploying it from Munich.
- 1980
Expansion into intensive-care helicopter operations
[1]From the 1980s, DRF expands beyond emergency rescue helicopters into intensive-care transport and selected night operations.
- 1973
First DRF rescue mission
[1]The first mission of a DRF helicopter takes place from the organization’s Stuttgart base on 19 March.
- 1972
Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht is founded
[1]The Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht German Air-Rescue e.V. is founded on 6 September as Germany’s first civilian air-rescue organization.
- 1969
Björn Steiger’s death highlights emergency-response gap
[1]The accidental death of Björn Steiger leads his parents to establish a rescue-service foundation and campaign for faster emergency medical care.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit, civilian air-rescue specialist focused on rapid emergency response, critical-care transport, and international medical repatriation across Germany and neighboring German-speaking markets.
Helicopter emergency medical services · 1972
Emergency rescue helicopters
DRF operates emergency medical helicopters that bring crews, medical equipment, and rapid transport capability to accident scenes and acute medical emergencies. Its principal modern helicopter types are the Airbus Helicopters H135 and H145, operated in Germany and across its cross-border service area.
Critical-care patient transport · 1980
Intensive-care helicopters
Intensive-care helicopters support the transfer of patients who require continuous advanced medical supervision between hospitals or specialist facilities. DRF expanded into this field from the 1980s, with selected aircraft and bases authorized for night operations.
Rescue helicopter · 2014
H145 helicopter fleet
The Airbus Helicopters H145 is one of DRF’s principal rescue platforms. DRF was its first worldwide operator in 2014 and later became the first European Union operator of the five-bladed H145 D-3. Earlier H145 D-2 aircraft were subject to upgrades toward the newer configuration.
Fixed-wing air ambulance
Learjet 35A medical repatriation aircraft
Two Learjet 35A aircraft support worldwide repatriation of ill or injured patients. The aircraft are specially modified with intensive-care equipment and are based at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, alongside DRF’s operations centre.
Marketing campaigns
- 1972Björn Steiger Foundation partnership
Germany
The Björn Steiger Foundation financed and supported the creation and early development of the civilian air-rescue organization.
Outcome. The partnership shaped DRF’s early identity and remained visible in its logo and helicopter markings until 2008.
- 1969Campaign for faster emergency medical care
Germany
Siegfried Steiger presented the case for helicopter-supported emergency rescue to police stations in the Mainz region after his son’s death exposed shortcomings in rapid emergency response.
Outcome. The advocacy contributed to a German Red Cross pilot project and ultimately to the foundation of DRF.
Brand decisions
2020
Introduce the five-bladed H145 D-3Generation changeBackground
DRF pursued improvements to its H145 fleet and became the first European Union operator of the five-bladed D-3 version.
Action taken
The H145 D-3 was introduced, with older H145 D-2 aircraft planned for retrofit.
Aftermath
The move continued DRF’s use of modern Airbus platforms for emergency and critical-care aviation.
2020
Retire the final MBB/Kawasaki BK 117StrategyBackground
The organization continued replacing legacy aircraft with newer helicopter types.
Action taken
DRF retired its last MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 during 2020.
Aftermath
The active rotary-wing fleet became centered on newer Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters.
2015
Retire the Bell 412StrategyBackground
Fleet renewal led DRF to phase out older helicopter types.
Action taken
The Bell 412 fleet was retired by the end of 2015.
Aftermath
The organization continued fleet modernization around Airbus helicopter platforms.
2014
Adopt the Airbus H145 for rescue operationsProduct launchBackground
DRF sought to modernize its helicopter fleet and became the first worldwide operator of the Airbus Helicopters H145.
Action taken
The H145 was introduced into service at the Munich base.
Aftermath
The type became part of DRF’s modern rescue-helicopter fleet alongside the H135.
Sources2 sources
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