The year of Hansa Luftbild’s founding was marked by political unrest, economic storms, and a mood for radical change.

Aero Lloyd Luftbild GmbH was established from the aerial photography branch of Deutsche Luftreederei GmbH. The new company was to be a trail-blazer in new techniques and the commercial application of photogrammetry methods using aerial photography. The newly named Hansa Luftbild GmbH which became a subsidiary of the young Lufthansa in 1926 swiftly gained importance through the acquisition and execution of exclusive and challenging survey projects - particularly in the 30’s – and an international reputation. China, Antarctica, Greenland and Africa were at that time the global ‘playing field’ of Hansa Luftbild.

One of Hansa Luftbild’s projects during the 40’s was the production of the German national base map. The end of the war and the regaining of air sovereignty brought a new beginning in Muenster. The earlier occupying forces assisted as new allies as did corporations of the new Republic. The services of Hansa Luftbild’s aircraft were required for reorganization and rebuilding after the destruction. Aircraft and survey techniques continued to expand and develop. New aircraft were needed, since the 70’s digital techniques had proliferated in photogrammetry and cartography. New navigation systems such as GPS simplified the pinpointing of flight routes. The better and more modern the technology, the more productive and efficient the staff, the greater Hansa Luftbild’s competitive edge became not only in national and but also in international markets.

And that will remain the case in the new millennium.