Christoph 15

Christoph 15 is an Airbus H135 rescue helicopter operating from St. Elisabeth Hospital in Straubing that provides emergency medical response across a 70-kilometer service radius. The aircraft carries modern medical equipment and is staffed by pilots and medical professionals ready to respond to critical situations.

The rescue helicopter station was established in 1977 and was originally managed by the Federal Border Guard Flight Squadron South before ADAC Air Rescue assumed control in 1995. This transition modernized air rescue operations in the region and significantly expanded response capabilities.

The rescue team brings together specialists from anesthesiology, surgery, and internal medicine at St. Elisabeth Hospital who work closely with experienced ADAC pilots. This partnership between the hospital and air rescue has become a trusted part of the region's emergency response system that residents depend on.

The helicopter can reach emergency locations in about two minutes from dispatch, bypassing road traffic to deliver medical assistance quickly. Since it operates from sunrise to sunset under visual flight conditions, availability varies with seasons and weather patterns.

The helicopter has been equipped with a rescue winch system since 2018 that enables specialized operations in difficult terrain. This capability allows around 60 rescue missions annually in locations that would otherwise be unreachable by ground teams.