German flight observation service, Bavarian air rescue team
The German Flight Observation Service, Air Rescue Service Bavaria e. V. was founded in 1968. It has been an integral part of disaster control planning since 1973 and takes on the following tasks in the Free State of Bavaria :
- Primarily forest fire surveillance flights in hazardous situations (increased forest fire risk )
as well as upon request
- Observation tasks for monitoring and preventive observations from the air as part of all disaster protection tasks
- Observation and recording tasks in environmental and nature protection as well as monument protection
- Search for missing people or aircraft, avalanche monitoring , traffic monitoring and observation flights in flood situations
Operational flights take place by order of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for construction and transport via the intermediate authorities (local governments). Air observers support the pilots.
Organization of the air rescue team
The members of the Bavarian Air Rescue Squadron are 32 Bavarian air sports clubs, which voluntarily undertake to make their aircraft and pilots available for operational flights in a total of seven flight standby teams. All tasks are carried out on a voluntary basis.
The State Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Transport, confirmed mission pilots of the air rescue team . They receive a service card that entitles and obliges them to observe and report abnormalities from the air even outside of emergency flights. If necessary, you may also fall below the prescribed minimum safety height and carry out field landings .
Air observers for observation flights are provided by the forest offices, the fire brigades and the district authorities and trained at the State Fire Brigade School in Würzburg .
The Presidium of the Air Rescue Squadron is elected by the members every three years.
Initial and continuing education
Air observers and operational pilots receive training and regular training from the air rescue team. These take place in each of the seven flight readiness levels. Training is provided in assessing the danger and spread of forest fires, as well as tactical and technical fire-fighting procedures, flight navigation , documentation with the help of digital photography, and even how to drive fire engines from the air in impassable forest areas with analog or digital radio or, alternatively, in the event of radio failure Airplane sign. The Bavarian training center is the State Fire Brigade School in Würzburg.