The Landespolizei Baden Württemberg’s helicopter unit celebrated its 50th anniversary with an open day at Stuttgart International Airport.
One of the largest of Germany’s 12 state airborne police forces, the Landespolizei Baden Württemberg, celebrated its 50th anniversary with an open day on July 26, during which it performed two spectacular air displays for more than 20,000 spectators.
The force’s helicopter unit, which operates from bases at Baden-Baden Airport (a former Canadian Air Force Base) and Stuttgart Airport (where the display took place), currently has a fleet of two EC155 Bs and five MDHI MD 902s, both of which are to be replaced as deliveries of six Airbus Helicopters H145s begin later this year.
The air displays saw two of the unit’s MD 902s and an EC155 B fly in formation, as well as perform various mission scenarios with K9 units and Spezialeinsatzkommandos (special forces personnel, who are roughly the German equivalent of SWAT teams in the U.S.).
The unit currently has a fleet of seven aircraft, including five MDHI MD 902s and two Airbus Helicopters EC155 Bs.
The main demonstration followed a simulated kidnapping of a businessman by three armed suspects in a van. One of the unit’s MD 902s quickly arrived, dropping off one of the Spezialeinsatzkommando’s (SEK’s) dogs to give chase to one of the suspects. After another flyby, three SEK members were taken to the scene to apprehend the man.
The other two suspects, still in the van with the hostage, were then approached by the EC155 B. Six SEK personnel rappelled down from the aircraft, attacked the van, and released the hostage.
Also at the open day was an H145 (formerly known as the EC145 T2) on static display. When it enters service later this year, it will become the first of the type to be used for law enforcement.
The unit unveiled its first Airbus Helicopters H145 at the open house. It expects to take official delivery of the aircraft in October this year.
“The EC145 T2 is well suited for the Landespolizei Baden Württemberg´s broad range of missions, providing capabilities that come with the world’s most modern law enforcement helicopter,” explained Thomas Hein, Airbus Helicopters’ vice president – head of Western Europe. “We developed the EC145 T2 with police forces in mind, working closely with pilots and officers to meet their operational needs in Stuttgart.”
The new aircraft will join a very busy helicopter unit. In 2014, the unit flew 2,616 Missions with 3,220 flight hours; in the first six months of 2015, the unit completed 1,270 missions and 1,560 flight hours.
Over 20,000 people turned up to watch the unit demonstrate some of its mission capabilities during an air display. Here, a special forces dog jumps out of an MD 902 to locate a simulated kidnapping victim.
During the main demonstration, an EC155 B arrived with six special forces personnel to join the hunt for the “kidnappers.”
The special forces team members rappelled from the aircraft and quickly surrounded the van that contained the kidnapping victim during the exercise.
The six special forces members apprehend the hostage takers and free the hostage.
