Published on
September 30, 2025
Luxembourg helicopters increasingly in demand
When something happens in the Trier region, they quickly fly in: the helicopters of Luxembourg’s air rescue service. Last year, they were deployed more than 1,000 times, and the trend is rising.
A radio call comes in at the control centre at Luxembourg Findel Airport. In Trierweiler, in the Trier-Saarburg district, a man is suffering from heart problems. Pilot Marcel Kurpiers puts on his red helmet and starts up the helicopter. Together with a German intensive care paramedic and an emergency doctor, he takes off. At 250 km/h, they arrive within ten minutes. The exact coordinates were provided by the Trier control centre.
A well-coordinated team
Cooperation with the emergency control centres in Trier and Saarbrücken works perfectly, reports President René Closter. Joint training exercises with the fire brigade are even carried out at Bitburg Airport. “I am pleased that this cross-border assistance now works smoothly and without bureaucracy, allowing us to help people in need,” he says. René Closter is himself a helicopter pilot and founder of Luxembourg Air Rescue, a non-profit organisation.
Initial scepticism
The foundation of the organisation 26 years ago was far from easy, as neither politicians nor administrations supported the idea, Closter recalls. He therefore decided to build the air rescue service himself with a few friends, taking out a mortgage on his house and leasing the first helicopter for medical transport. Today, more than 60% of Luxembourgers are members of Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR), making it the largest association in the country.
Operating worldwide
Today, 150 people from twelve nations work for LAR, half of them from the German border region, including most of the pilots and emergency doctors. They now operate worldwide, including in disaster areas. “We have partnered with the German Air Rescue Service and operate seven ambulance jets. We transport people all over the world,” explains Closter.
The organisation’s leader is particularly proud that his life’s work is now getting a proper home. The foundation stone has just been laid for a state-of-the-art building with offices and two hangars at Luxembourg Airport.
According to LAR, helicopter missions in the Trier region and Saarland increased by 10% last year, with around 1,100 deployments in total.
The rescue helicopter is dispatched by the Trier control centre when an emergency doctor is needed. It also provides backup for the ADAC rescue helicopter Christoph. The aircraft is based at Findel Airport in Luxembourg.
Source: SWR Landesschau aktuell
Luxembourg helicopters increasingly in demand
When something happens in the Trier region, they quickly fly in: the helicopters of Luxembourg’s air rescue service. Last year, they were deployed more than 1,000 times, and the trend is rising.
A radio call comes in at the control centre at Luxembourg Findel Airport. In Trierweiler, in the Trier-Saarburg district, a man is suffering from heart problems. Pilot Marcel Kurpiers puts on his red helmet and starts up the helicopter. Together with a German intensive care paramedic and an emergency doctor, he takes off. At 250 km/h, they arrive within ten minutes. The exact coordinates were provided by the Trier control centre.
A well-coordinated team
Cooperation with the emergency control centres in Trier and Saarbrücken works perfectly, reports President René Closter. Joint training exercises with the fire brigade are even carried out at Bitburg Airport. “I am pleased that this cross-border assistance now works smoothly and without bureaucracy, allowing us to help people in need,” he says. René Closter is himself a helicopter pilot and founder of Luxembourg Air Rescue, a non-profit organisation.
Initial scepticism
The foundation of the organisation 26 years ago was far from easy, as neither politicians nor administrations supported the idea, Closter recalls. He therefore decided to build the air rescue service himself with a few friends, taking out a mortgage on his house and leasing the first helicopter for medical transport. Today, more than 60% of Luxembourgers are members of Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR), making it the largest association in the country.
Operating worldwide
Today, 150 people from twelve nations work for LAR, half of them from the German border region, including most of the pilots and emergency doctors. They now operate worldwide, including in disaster areas. “We have partnered with the German Air Rescue Service and operate seven ambulance jets. We transport people all over the world,” explains Closter.
The organisation’s leader is particularly proud that his life’s work is now getting a proper home. The foundation stone has just been laid for a state-of-the-art building with offices and two hangars at Luxembourg Airport.
According to LAR, helicopter missions in the Trier region and Saarland increased by 10% last year, with around 1,100 deployments in total.
The rescue helicopter is dispatched by the Trier control centre when an emergency doctor is needed. It also provides backup for the ADAC rescue helicopter Christoph. The aircraft is based at Findel Airport in Luxembourg.
Source: SWR Landesschau aktuell
Luxembourg helicopters increasingly in demand
When something happens in the Trier region, they quickly fly in: the helicopters of Luxembourg’s air rescue service. Last year, they were deployed more than 1,000 times, and the trend is rising.
A radio call comes in at the control centre at Luxembourg Findel Airport. In Trierweiler, in the Trier-Saarburg district, a man is suffering from heart problems. Pilot Marcel Kurpiers puts on his red helmet and starts up the helicopter. Together with a German intensive care paramedic and an emergency doctor, he takes off. At 250 km/h, they arrive within ten minutes. The exact coordinates were provided by the Trier control centre.
A well-coordinated team
Cooperation with the emergency control centres in Trier and Saarbrücken works perfectly, reports President René Closter. Joint training exercises with the fire brigade are even carried out at Bitburg Airport. “I am pleased that this cross-border assistance now works smoothly and without bureaucracy, allowing us to help people in need,” he says. René Closter is himself a helicopter pilot and founder of Luxembourg Air Rescue, a non-profit organisation.
Initial scepticism
The foundation of the organisation 26 years ago was far from easy, as neither politicians nor administrations supported the idea, Closter recalls. He therefore decided to build the air rescue service himself with a few friends, taking out a mortgage on his house and leasing the first helicopter for medical transport. Today, more than 60% of Luxembourgers are members of Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR), making it the largest association in the country.
Operating worldwide
Today, 150 people from twelve nations work for LAR, half of them from the German border region, including most of the pilots and emergency doctors. They now operate worldwide, including in disaster areas. “We have partnered with the German Air Rescue Service and operate seven ambulance jets. We transport people all over the world,” explains Closter.
The organisation’s leader is particularly proud that his life’s work is now getting a proper home. The foundation stone has just been laid for a state-of-the-art building with offices and two hangars at Luxembourg Airport.
According to LAR, helicopter missions in the Trier region and Saarland increased by 10% last year, with around 1,100 deployments in total.
The rescue helicopter is dispatched by the Trier control centre when an emergency doctor is needed. It also provides backup for the ADAC rescue helicopter Christoph. The aircraft is based at Findel Airport in Luxembourg.
Source: SWR Landesschau aktuell
