NEWS
Flugplatzgesellschaft Arnsberg Menden mbH makes the airfield available as a training and instruction site for the DRF Luftrettung.
ARNSBERG / MENDEN. (July 2023)
©Text and images Flugplatzgesellschaft Arnsberg Menden mbH
The DRF Luftrettung is stationed at Dortmund Airport with an Airbus H145 helicopter and covers a large operational radius. The DRF Luftrettung pilots regularly have to demonstrate various training courses and need sufficient space to do so. Dortmund Airport is very busy with scheduled flights, which makes it difficult to complete the necessary training in Dortmund. We are therefore pleased to be able to make our premises and infrastructure available to the DRF Luftrettung.
When people need help in a medical emergency, the DRF Luftrettung helicopters stationed throughout Germany take off on their rescue missions. In emergency rescue operations, the helicopters often serve as the fastest ambulance service and enable patients to be transported quickly and gently to the appropriate hospital. Equipped as flying intensive care units, they also offer optimal conditions for the transportation of intensive care patients. Due to the high legal requirements for the aircraft and the pilots, emergency paramedics and emergency physicians, continuous training is required by law at defined intervals.
As the old saying goes, “practice makes perfect”, which is why DRF Luftrettung pilots from all over Germany regularly visit Arnsberg-Menden airfield to fulfill these obligations. On site, the crews can fly their practical exercises in peace and quiet; our training rooms are also available to the DRF Luftrettung teams.
Helicopters with a permanently installed rescue winch are now used at four DRF Luftrettung stations throughout Germany. The “Christoph Dortmund” – as it is often called in aviation circles (correct call sign Christoph 83) – also received such a winch some time ago. It has already been used several times on various missions. Most recently, in July 2023, the Christoph 83’s rescue winch was used in a quarry near the airfield: the topography did not allow for a safe landing, so the emergency doctor was lowered into the quarry using the rescue winch.
To ensure that the rescue winch with up to 90 m of rope is always ready for use, the winch must be regularly maintained and checked. This requires, among other things, a test flight during which the cable is fully extended and retracted with a 250 kg weight, known as stretching. These flights have also been carried out at Arnsberg-Menden airfield since the rescue winch was received.
Crew members who are roped down must also be lowered from the hovering helicopter on the rescue winch and pulled up again at prescribed intervals.
If you would like more interesting information about DRF Luftrettung, please follow this link.
DRF_1
Arrival of DRF Luftrettung helicopter H-145
DRF_2
Operator who operates the rescue hoist
DRF_3
Ready to pick up the test weight
DRF_4
Ready to stretch
DRF_5
Between heaven and earth.
DRF_6
Now it's going downhill
DRF_7
Soon on the ground
DRF_8
H 145 in hovering flight
DRF_9
Exercise briefing and refueling process
DRF_10
Now back to the base in Dortmund
Fire drill of the Arnsberg Vosswinkel volunteer fire department on June 24, 2023 at Arnsberg Menden airfield.
ARNSBERG / MENDEN. (June 2023)
©Text and images Flugplatzgesellschaft Arnsberg Menden mbH
Not only air traffic is part of everyday life at Arnsberg Menden airfield, but also the possibility of using the airfield for training purposes for the fire departments from the nearby catchment area.
Flugplatzgesellschaft Arnsberg Menden is also happy to make a contribution here by providing suitable areas on the airfield to the volunteer fire departments that protect the safety of the population in the event of fire and other disasters. The entire infrastructure of the airfield can be used. Be it the water hydrants; underground extinguishing water tanks. In particular the LTB aircraft hangar; the aircraft hangars; the refueling facilities and buildings of the airfield.
It was assumed that unknown vapors were escaping from the aircraft hangar. The nature of the escaping vapors is unclear. The task force sets up a decontamination station. There, the firefighters are decontaminated from the liquids and chemical compounds after their deployment.
Due to the extreme heat, it was decided not to put on the full firefighter protective suits.
Another highlight of the day was a visit to the DRF air rescue service with its H 145 rescue helicopter, which is manufactured by Airbus.
The crew of the rescue helicopter, consisting of the pilot, the paramedic and the emergency doctor, introduced the fire department group to the helicopter in all its technical and medical facets. Anyone who wanted to could also take a seat in the pilot’s seat.
1
Arrival of the fire engines.
3
Exercise briefing
4
Classification of the firefighters
5
Set up decontamination equipment
6
Water supply for the washing area
8
Diesel-powered hot water supply
9
Cleaning-contaminated firefighters.
10
Landing of H 145 with registration D-HDSP.
11
Explanation of medicine.
12
View into the cockpit.
14
Partial view of the medical equipment.
13
Patient insertion for transportation.
15
Emergency equipment; oxygen supply.
16
Intensive care equipment.
17
Rescue winch with a 90 m long rescue rope.
18
Helicopter takes off for Dortmund.
Trigema hot air blimp:
Who doesn’t know him, the well-known Trigema employee – Charly the monkey, known from the TV commercials before the news.
ARNSBERG / MENDEN. (June 17, 2023)
On June 17, 2023, the Trigema hot-air airship took off from our Arnsberg Menden airfield for a Sauerland tour. The Trigema advertising medium is an impressive sight in the sky.
Technical details:
Length: 41 m
Diameter: 12.6 m
Volume: 3000 m³
Gondola: pilot and three passengers
Drive: Rotax engine with 65 hp
Speed: 35 km/h
Here are some photos from the ascent to take-off, past our tower. Charly can also be seen at the bow of the airship.
