Radiation measurements from the air: training across borders

A Federal Police helicopter returns from a measurement flight

German Federal Police and Austrian Air Police helicopters are a familiar sight in the border area between Bad Reichenhall and Salzburg. On 15 and 16 April 2024, however, they will be dispatched on a special mission. Namely, specialised measurement teams from Germany and Austria will jointly train to record radioactivity on the ground from helicopters.

"Radioactivity doesn't stop at national borders. With that in mind, it's important to maintain good neighbourly relations and engage in a regular exchange of expertise," says Christopher Strobl from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), which is providing the German measurement team together with the Federal Police. "This is particularly true for radioactivity measurements taken from helicopters, as these are demanding both in aeronautical terms and when it comes to measurement technology."

Information to protect the population

Large or impassable areas can be examined for radioactivity from the air in a short space of time. If radioactive substances are released into the environment in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant or another facility, important information can be gathered quickly to protect the population:

• Which areas are affected and to what extent?
• What radioactive substances have been deposited on the ground?
• How large is the quantity of deposited substances?

Larger radioactive sources from technology or medicine can also be detected from helicopters if they go astray – either accidentally or due to criminal activity.

Overview of the measurement area

Cross-border cooperation

During the training flights, a German and an Austrian measurement team will work on both sides of the border to measure and map the gamma radiation that is naturally present on the ground. Another task will be to locate radiation sources that are to be placed on Austrian territory for training purposes. The teams will then analyse their measurement results jointly.

In the German measurement team, specialists from the BfS and the Federal Police will work closely together, with the Federal Police providing helicopters and their crews. Experts from the BfS will perform the measurements and ensure the radiation protection of all involved parties.

The Austrian team will consist of experts from the CBRN Competence Center of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior, as well as radiation detection officers from Salzburg Police and officers from the Austrian Air Police.

Flight times and measurement area

The training flights will take place on Monday, 15 April, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, 16 April, from 9:00 a.m. to around 3:00 p.m. One helicopter each will be deployed from the German Federal Police and the Austrian Air Police. Both helicopters will be operated in Germany as well as in Austria.

The minimum flight altitude will be a uniform 150 metres above the ground. Different flight procedures will be used depending on the task in hand. For example, areas can be flown over in parallel paths or in a spiral pattern.

The measurement area extends to the west and south-west of Salzburg on German and Austrian territory. On the German side lie

• the south-easternmost point of the measurement area near Weißbach (town of Bad Reichenhall),
• the most westerly point at Anger,
• the most northerly point near Thundorf (municipality of Ainring),
• the north-easternmost point near Hammerau (municipality of Ainring).

On the Austrian side, the measurement area forms an approximate triangle extending from Walserberg in the north-west to Grödig in the east and Großgmain in the south-west.