This article is based on an official press release from DRF Luftrettung.

DRF Maintenance Opens New Hangar in Straubing to Serve Southern Germany

DRF Maintenance GmbH, a subsidiary of the non-profit air rescue organization DRF Luftrettung, has officially commenced operations at its new MRO facility at Straubing-Wallmühle Airport (EDMS) in Lower Bavaria. According to a company press release issued in early January 2026, the new hangar is now fully operational and has already completed its first major maintenance contract.

The expansion marks a strategic effort to decentralize maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities, specifically targeting fleet availability in Southern Germany and neighboring Austria. By establishing a foothold in Bavaria, the organization aims to reduce downtime associated with ferry flights to its primary headquarters.

Expanded MRO Capabilities and Infrastructure

The new Straubing facility operates as an EASA Part 145 certified maintenance organization. DRF Maintenance confirmed that the site is currently specialized in Base Maintenance for Airbus EC155 and H145 helicopters. The company plans to expand these capabilities in the near future to include the Airbus H135, a staple airframe in European air rescue fleets.

According to the announcement, the hangar is equipped with specialized maintenance docks and modern workstations designed for complex technical tasks. The infrastructure includes dedicated workshops for sheet metal repairs and avionics, allowing on-site technicians to handle base maintenance, detailed inspections, and modifications without outsourcing critical steps.

First Contract Completion

DRF Maintenance reported that the facility hit the ground running, successfully completing a comprehensive maintenance project immediately upon opening. The initial contract involved an “official helicopter”, designating a government or authority aircraft, which underwent software updates and detailed inspections of its engines and avionics systems.

Strategic Network Growth

The Straubing location serves as a complementary hub to DRF Maintenance’s existing network. The organization’s primary facility remains in Rheinmünster (Baden-Württemberg) at the Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, which is recognized as one of Europe’s largest helicopter MRO centers. A separate facility in Wilhelmshaven serves Northern Germany.

In the press release, the company emphasized that the Straubing site was selected to serve as a regional hub. This location is intended to support:

• Internal Fleet: DRF Luftrettung helicopters stationed at nearby HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) bases.
• External Clients: Private operators, public/government fleets, and ARA Flugrettung (DRF’s Austrian subsidiary).

Hendrik Schubien, Managing Director of DRF Maintenance GmbH, highlighted the customer-centric focus of the expansion:

“The opening in Straubing is an important step, both for us and for our customers. It brings our service quality closer to them and at the same time enables more efficient processes. As part of DRF Luftrettung, we benefit from over 50 years of experience in air rescue and maintenance. This expertise remains at the heart of our quality promise.”

, Hendrik Schubien, Managing Director of DRF Maintenance GmbH

AirPro News Analysis

The opening of the Straubing hangar represents a logical logistical evolution for DRF Luftrettung. As operators modernize their fleets, DRF recently transitioned to the five-bladed H145 (D3) and modern H135s, the demand for specialized, certified maintenance slots increases. By placing a Part 145 facility in Southeast Germany, the operator significantly cuts the “non-productive” flight hours previously required to ferry aircraft across the country to Rheinmünster for routine heavy maintenance.

Furthermore, the inclusion of third-party service capabilities suggests a business model designed to offset operational costs. Straubing-Wallmühle Airport is already an established ecosystem for aviation technology (hosting companies like Avionik Straubing), making it an attractive location for external clients seeking high-standard MRO services in the region.

Sources

• DRF Luftrettung