In future helicopter rescue operations, it must be assumed that the helicopter arrives at the scene of the accident as the first rescue unit. Today, it is becoming apparent that in sparsely populated, structurally weak regions the emergency rescue efficiency and quality is negatively affected. The reasons for this are the demographic change, alterations to the hospital landscape and the increasing lack of doctors.
Based on these aspects, primary rescue operations will also be subject to change: the ambulance will be increasingly supplemented or even replaced by the rescue helicopter. Based on this development, it can be concluded that the operational period of a rescue helicopter must be extended to 24/7. Another important constraint is the retention of the time-to-arrival period at the location of the emergency of 12 minutes.
The DLR project SALVARE focuses on rescue helicopter missions in both poor visibility through fog and at night. Various assistance systems are to support the pilot in this, such as the use of a multimodal cockpit. The establishment of a so-called Low Level IFR route network will help the pilot to reach his destination by instrument flight even in lower airspaces. A local precision landing system at the hospital will guide the helicopter safely to its destination even in bad weather conditions. Improvements of cabin comfort by reducing vibrations during flight will make it possible to transport even seriously injured patients.
This scenario provides a decisive contribution to the DLR guiding concept "The Rescue Helicopter 2030".
DLR Institute of Flight Systems (Coordinator) DLR Institute of Flight Guidance DLR Microwaves and Radar Institute DLR Flight Experiments