Christoph 19, Rescue helicopter at HELIOS Klinikum Uelzen, Germany.
Christoph 19 is a Eurocopter EC 135 rescue helicopter based at HELIOS Klinikum Uelzen in Lower Saxony, equipped with medical gear for emergency missions. The aircraft is part of the German air rescue network and is operated by a trained team of pilots and emergency physicians.
The helicopter entered service in 1981 under the name Phoenix 14 as part of the Lower Saxony police helicopter fleet. It was later transferred to civilian emergency medical services and given its current name, Christoph 19.
The crew on board consists of a pilot from ADAC Luftrettung, a doctor from HELIOS Klinikum Uelzen, and a rescue assistant from DRK-Kreisverband. These three specialists work closely together so that every action is coordinated when a call comes in.
The helicopter operates only during daylight hours and can take off within minutes of receiving an emergency call. The base at HELIOS Klinikum Uelzen can be seen from outside, but the operational area is closed to the public for safety reasons.
In January 2003, the helicopter crashed into water after flying under a bridge at low altitude. The incident is remembered in air rescue history as a rare example of the risks that come with low-level flying.
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