The police helicopter squadron of the state of Baden-Württemberg undertook more missions in 2022 than in the previous year. The number of flying hours also increased. Almost half of the missions took place at night. The aircraft took off for a total of 2,336 police missions in 2022 (2021: 2,190). The pilots flew a total of 2,253 flight hours, slightly more than in 2021 (2,176). A good 40 per cent of the total missions took place after sunset. In this area, there is no change compared to 2021.
The helicopters were used to search for missing persons, among other things. As a result, 74 people were found alive and rescued (2021: 71). In the search for fugitive suspects or vehicles, the squadron can look back on 35 successful missions (2021: 36). In 2022, the police helicopter squadron provided support 125 times: from tracking down open-air cannabis plantations to assisting in damage incidents. Security authorities also relied on aerial support in connection with G7 meetings and conferences as well as NATO-Ukraine conferences. “The police helicopter squadron makes an indispensable contribution to internal security: with highly qualified personnel and state-of-the-art technology, it complements the work of our police officers on the ground and at sea,” said Deputy Minister President and Minister of the Interior Thomas Strobl (CDU).
Helicopters are also a topic at the European Police Congress (www.european-police.eu).
