Dogs and helicopters: the H145 goes on paw patrol

The dogs are nervous. They can sense that something is about to happen. In a state of excitement, they sniff the unfamiliar surroundings. After all, their owners are wearing the technical gear that they always have on when they’re heading out on a mission. And they drove here with them, to this car park, where other dogs are already waiting with their owners. Five of them are due to undergo important training today. Once the gate to the airfield opens, Miko, Odin, Bella, Mia and Hugo will then see, hear and smell a helicopter.

Canine support that’s not to be sniffed at

The five dogs belong to the canine unit of the Nordschwaben District Association of the Bavarian Red Cross. They are area search dogs, in other words, they search for missing persons over large areas. “That can be older people with dementia, children, suicidal people, and people in general who find themselves in a helpless situation,” explains Sina Raab, head of the unit. “Last year, we were deployed in fifty-five missing person searches. We are alerted by the police via the integrated control centre at any time of day or night.” A rescue dog team on duty consists of a dog handler, a dog and at least one helper, who search an area covering around 45,000 m².

The members of the unit are all volunteers. The dogs belong to them and also live with them. The training to become a sniffer dog begins when the dogs are still puppies and takes about two to three years. It starts with socialisation with people and other dogs, and playfully searching for and finding people in different environments and situations. This strengthens and trains the cooperation between human and dog, and working at a distance and with distractions. “The training and the commitment are very time-consuming. Our members do this work alongside their normal jobs and their family life,” says Raab. “In addition, we also visit kindergartens, retirement homes and other public events, since we rely on donations.”

An unbeatable team

When the rescue teams go on search missions, there are usually helicopters in the air, flying over the area, which is why the dogs need to overcome their fear of them. That’s why they come to Donauwörth, the German headquarters of Airbus Helicopters. There’s a H145 standing on the airfield. This type is used by rescue organisations, police forces and armed forces worldwide for a wide range of missions. Wherever human life is at stake, that’s where they fly to, so it’s highly likely that the dogs will encounter a H145 on a mission.

On the first run through, the helicopter stands on the heliport with its engine switched off. The teams approach with the dogs on a lead, walk around the helicopter, then the dogs are placed in the cabin. The dogs show no signs of anxiety. It’s then back to the car park. The next test is more demanding. The five-bladed rotor of the H145 is now rotating. The teams approach the helicopter individually, each with two people and one dog. The vibrations and downwash of the rotor unsettle the dogs. The closer they get, the more they cower. All that can help now are kind words from their human partner and a few treats from their pockets at the right moment. The helpers climb into the cabin, then the dog handlers lift their four-legged friends inside. Four of the five dogs overcome their fear, the fifth doesn’t manage it. But that’s not a problem, since area search dogs don’t normally fly with the helicopter. They are deployed in locations where the terrain can also be accessed by car. The primary aim of the training is to ensure that the dogs are not irritated by the presence of helicopters and can carry out their task.

The situation is different for rubble search dogs. They look for buried persons, particularly in earthquake areas. They usually get there by helicopter, since access by land vehicles is often not possible. Training to become a rubble search dog is therefore only suitable for dogs with no fear of aircraft.

Jan Siewert, who works at Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth and is also a volunteer helper in the Nordschwaben Red Cross dog unit, is also at the exercise. For him, dogs and helicopters are a very good match: “They’re both tireless helpers in the search for missing persons – an unbeatable team. Quite simply our loyal canine companions.”