Current Title:	Bundespolizei
Title in English:	German Federal Police
Abbreviation:	BPOL

Narrative Summary:
First formed in December 1954 as the Aviation Branch (Grenzschutz-Fliegertruppe) of the Federal Border Guard (Bundesgrenzschutz). Controlled by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. In 2005 the organisation was renamed to Federal Police, to more accurately reflect its present role following German reunification.

Key Dates:
1951		Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS, Federal Border Guard) first formed.
December 1954		Border Guard aviation force formally established.
1 July 2005		Organisation formally renamed Bundespolizei.

Current Status:
Main tasks are border and shipping patrol, VVIP transport, rescue/EMS operations and police support. The organisation is also responsible for the GSG9 anti-terrorist force.

Future Plans:
Acquire a total of 20 EC155s and 20 Super Pumas.

National Insignia:

Fin Flash
The service title BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ or BUNDESPOLIZEI is displayed on the fuselage sides only on helicopters. The fin flash is displayed on the tailfin.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
All Federal Police helicopters carry civil aircraft registrations.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:

Aircraft Type	Total Del'd	Total Now	Role	Origin
Aerospatiale SA.330J Puma	30	11	Utility/Transport	France
Aerospatiale AS.332L1 Cougar	13	13	Transport	France/ex-civil
Bell 212	10	10	Policing/EMS	USA
Eurocopter EC 120	6*	6*	Training	International
Eurocopter EC 135T	42*	25	Liaison	International
Eurocopter EC 155B	15	15	Light Transport	International
MBB Bo 105CBS-5	14	14	EMS/SAR	local
Sud Aviation SA.318C Alouette II	32	10	Utility/Training	France

* on order.

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Aerospatiale SA.330J Puma	30	19??	current	France
Aerospatiale AS.332L1 Super Puma	3/10	1990	current	France/ex-civil
Agusta AB.47G	?	1956	19??	Italy
Bell UH-1D Iroquois	16	1968	1998?	local
Bell 212	10	1990?	current	USA
Eurocopter EC 120	6*	2007	current	local
Eurocopter EC 135T	42*	2002	current	local
Eurocopter EC 155B	15	2003	current	local
Hiller 360/UH-12B	1	1955	1956	USA
MBB Bo 105CBS-4/5	22	1971	current	local
Sud Aviation SA318C Alouette II	32	1962	current	France

* on order.

Aircraft NOT Used:
13 Aerospatiale AS.365N4 Dauphin were reportedly ordered in 1998, but the improved EC 155 version was actually delivered.

Main Headquarters:
BPOL-Präsidium, Potsdam.

Current Organisational Structure:
The Federal Police is organised into five commands - Northern, Eastern, Central, Southern and Western. Each command has a Staffel (Flight) of helicopters. The Flying School is located at the main base of Bonn-Hangelar,

Current Order of Battle:

Command	Staffel	Type	Base
Northern	GSFlSt-Nord	Bell 212, SA330J, SA318C	Fuhlendorf-Bad Bramstedt*
Eastern	GSFlSt-Ost	UH-1D, SA330J, SA318C	Berlin
Central	GSFlSt-Mitte	UH-1D, SA330J, SA318C	Kassel
Southern	GSFlSt-Sud	UH-1D, SA330J, SA318C	Munich
Western	GSFlSt-West	UH-1D, AS.532, SA318C	Bonn-Hangelar
Western	Flying School	SA318C, UH-1D	Bonn-Hangelar

*2 Bell 212 detached to Eutin for Rettungdienst/EMS duties.

Historical Orders of Battle:
Not applicable.

All-Time Flying Units List:
Not applicable.

Current Air Bases:
The main base is at Bonn-Hangelar, but helicopters are operated from four other main bases. EMS operations are provided by the BPOL from 16 bases around the country.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
To be added.

Books:

Der BGS: Geschichte der Bundespolizei by Reinhard Scholzen (Motorbuch Verlag)

Magazines:

International Air Power Review Vol.17.

Websites:

Official Bundespolizei webpage

wikipedia: German Federal Police

airliners.net

airliners.net

photo gallery Bundespolizei

Bundesgrenzschutz

Hubschrauberflotte des Bundesgrenzschutz