Police helicopter training sends 13 aircraft over Munich

Thirteen police helicopters are flying in formation over the Munich area as federal and state police train for operations in Alpine terrain, BR24 reports. The training runs through October 16 and may cause temporary aircraft noise around the city.

The helicopters take off at about 9 a.m. from the Federal Police aviation squadron in Oberschleißheim, north of Munich, and head towards the Alps. This week they are flying to the Chiemsee area; next week they are due to train near Füssen. They usually return between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The training is intended to prepare pilots and flight technicians for challenging terrain. It is the 45th course of its kind. Participants are trained police officers, and the professional helicopter pilot course lasts 22 months.

On the first day, trainees studied the particular challenges of mountain flying, including protecting nature. Crews also practised mountain navigation and off-site landings at heights of up to 5,000 feet, or about 1,500 metres. Previous training locations included the Inn Valley up to the Reiteralpe and the Alpine region between Lake Kochel and Ruhpolding.