Bundespolizei, Stützpunkt Gifhorn

In Germany, most of the police duties are carried out by the Bundespolizei (Federal Police) which is subordinate to the Bundesministerium des Innern (Ministry of Interior). The Bundespolizei has about 40.000 employees for a variety of tasks like e.g. border protection, railway police and the special units (including avaition service and GSG 9 ). Five regional headquarters (North, East, Middle, South and West) report to the Federal Police Section within the Ministry of Interior. Besides of the five regional offices, there are 19 Federal Police District offices all over Germany. A focal point of the duties is the protection of the liberal-democratic basic order of Germany and to ensure the basic rights that are written in the Constitutional law of Germany. The Bundespolizei and the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office) work together to ensure the public security/safety and order. However, there are other police duties that are carried out by other ministries. Like for example the customs which are subordinate to the Bundesministerium der Finanzen (Federal Ministry of Finances). The Bundespolizei Fliegergruppe has its own airman's school and carries out the maintenance of the helicopters at Sankt Augustin. On this page we take a closer look at one of the five Federal Police Air support units from the Bundespolizei Fliegergruppe: Fliegerstaffel Nord, Stützpunkt Gifhorn. Fliegerstaffel Nord executes their missions from Fuhlendorf (above Bremen), but the Fliegerstaffel also operates from Gifhorn (located east of Hannover). All the photographs are made at Gifhorn during on 10 May 2006.

EC.135T1, serial D-HVBU, is seen here shortly after touchdown. The Bundespolizei took delivery of 25 EC.135T1 helicopters and are used as a Verbindungs- und Beobachtungshubschrauber.

A visitor at Gifhorn was this AS-332L1 Super Puma, D-HEGC, which is in a VIP configuration and is wearing a new blue livery. This helicopter has been upgraded from AS.330J Puma to AS-332L1 standards. The upgrade included e.g.: digital multi-function displays, tactical multi-frequency radio set, a weather radar, a three-axis auto pilot, GPS navigation with a moving map and the helicopter is night vision goggle-compatible. In the past, this example was wearing 'Bundesgrenzschutz'-titles and a green livery....

....like this helicopter, an AS-330J with serial D-HAXS, that is seen here in the hanger at Gifhorn while waiting for another mission. The badge of Fliegerstaffel Nord is clearly visible under the radar. Also note the Emergency floatation gear.

A Bo-105S with serial D-HGSP returns at Gifhorn after a short testflight. Several (not all) Bo-105S helicopters are leased from Eurocopter, including this example. This helicopter wears a highly visible orange livery because of the HEMS-duties (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) that are carried out with the Bo-105S.