Baden-Württemberg Launches New Air Rescue Base in Ravensburg for Faster Emergency Response
Baden-Württemberg is expanding its air rescue network with a new helicopter base in Ravensburg. The move follows a 2020 analysis that highlighted gaps in emergency coverage. A key helicopter, previously known as Christoph 45, will now operate under a new name and location.
The state began updating its air rescue services in 2025 by awarding contracts for Lahr and Mannheim bases through Europe-wide tenders. Ravensburg's new base, planned for tendering in early 2026, will address a critical need: ensuring emergency patients in remote areas receive helicopter assistance within 20 minutes during daylight.
The helicopter, renamed *Christoph Oberschwaben*, will reflect its regional role in Upper Swabia. Its daily operations will run from sunrise until 8:00 PM under the new call sign. Local authorities, including Ravensburg District and the city itself, helped select the site in Ravensburg-Bavendorf. This relocation fulfils a recommendation from the 2020 Structural and Needs Analysis of Air Rescue Services. Beyond Ravensburg, ten more bases across Baden-Württemberg are set for tendering by 2028, with 13 stations either new or reallocated in total.
The new base will improve emergency response times for previously underserved areas. With Christoph Oberschwaben now stationed in Ravensburg, residents gain faster access to air rescue services. Additional tenders will further expand coverage across the state in the coming years.
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