DRF Luftrettung will take part in AIRMED World Congress, in Brighton (UK) from 24^th-27^th May 2011. Chief representatives from DRF Luftrettung’s flight operation, technical and medical department will give lectures during the scientific programme of the congress. The conference will present the latest facts on air rescue in the fields of emergency medicine, flight safety, management and maintenance.

On May 24^th, between 11 and 12 a.m, DRF Luftrettung’s safety manager Karl Heitmüller will report on the advantages and benefits of DRF Luftrettung’s Safety Management System (SMS). In his lecture ”What to do with the outcome of SMS” he will also include practical examples to show how critical incidents can be prevented and what the prospects and challenges of a good reporting system are.

Between 2 and 3 p.m. on May 24^th, Dr. Jörg Braun, DRF Luftrettung’s Medical Director, will give a lecture on “Rescue Track – Where is the helicopter”. Almost all of German dispatching centers have been equipped with the monitoring system which is linked to the navigation system in the rescue helicopters. In this way, the mission dispatchers are able to check at any time, where the rescue helicopters are on which status. Dr. Jörg Braun will explain in how far “Rescue Track” makes the disposition of the rescue helicopters more efficient and contributes to lower costs for the German health system. DRF Luftrettung has contributed to a successful development of the system since the air rescue organisation had initiated the project together with the IT company Convexis GmbH in 2005.

The following day, on May 25^th, Jürgen Zoller, DRF Luftrettung’s Director of Technic Operations, will provide new professional input into the session “Maintenance”. His lecture “Effect of growing bureaucracy on safety” will deal with questions like “How do aviation authorities’ regulations influence safety? Which systems can contribute to an increase of safety?”

Jürgen Zoller will also participate in the workshop “The Ideal Aircraft” on May 26^th at 12 p.m. His topic will be “HUMS – A critical cost-benefit analysis”. He will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the Health and Usage Monitoring System which surveys the helicopter’s engines and shall deliver references about changes concerning the engine parameters before having an impact on the flight performances of the helicopters. Zoller will also include practical experiences since DRF Luftrettung uses the system in all of its helicopters of type BK 117-B2.

Information about DRF Luftrettung

DRF Luftrettung is a dedicated air rescue organisation with almost 40 years of experience in air rescue. It operates 31 HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) bases in Germany, Austria and Denmark with more than 50 helicopters for emergency rescue and intensive care transport between hospitals, at eight bases even around the clock. All helicopters are optimally equipped for the care of emergency and intensive care patients.

In addition DRF Luftrettung uses ambulance aircraft for worldwide repatriations. Under the name of European Air Ambulance (EAA) DRF Luftrettung and LAR (Luxembourg Air Rescue) operate six ambulance aircraft, and employ experienced pilots and medical teams for the worldwide repatriation of patients. The experienced dispatchers can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, under the emergency telephone number +49-(0)711-7007-7007.

In total, approximately 500 emergency physicians, 260 paramedics, 170 pilots and 70 technicians are on duty for DRF Luftrettung. In 2010 they flew a total of 36,900 missions.

For more information see: www.drf-luftrettung.de/english.htm