Prague will build a floating helipad on the Vltava river for rescue services

Prague will build the Czech Republic’s first floating emergency helipad on the Vltava River, creating a dedicated landing site for rescue helicopters near Vyšehrad and improving access to specialized medical care in the city center.

The project, approved by Prague city officials, is expected to be completed in 2027. The helipad will serve hospitals including the General University Hospital (VFN) on Karlovo náměstí, the U Apolináře maternity hospital and the Institute for Mother and Child Care in Podolí.

The new facility will replace the current temporary landing area in Zítkovy Sady near Palackého náměstí, where helicopters have landed for decades. The existing location requires public areas to be cleared before arrivals and is located close to a busy metro entrance and pedestrian areas.

The floating structure will be built on the Vltava near the railway bridge and Vyšehrad Rock. It will measure 20 by 20 meters and will be designed for 24-hour operation by the air rescue service.

The helipad will include navigation lighting, safety systems, a heated landing surface and remote monitoring technology. Officials said the design was selected based on safety, access to nearby hospitals and minimal impact on surrounding areas.

“Projects like this are not only about the construction itself, but primarily about the people whose lives it can save,” Prague Deputy Mayor for Health Alexandra Udženija said through a press release. She added that patients suffering serious injuries or sudden medical emergencies often depend on every minute during transport.

Petr Kolouch, director of Prague’s Emergency Medical Service, said the new helipad will make patient transfers safer and faster by allowing rescue teams to move patients directly from helicopters to ground ambulances.

The VFN complex on Karlovo náměstí is currently the only major Prague hospital without its own helipad. The new landing site will provide easier access to several specialized medical facilities in the city center.

The project has been under preparation for several years, with earlier plans delayed by technical and approval requirements. City officials said the construction process involved developing a unique engineering solution for a floating structure on the river. The contract for construction is valued at CZK 59.2 million, excluding VAT.

The current landing site in Zítkovy Sady has operated as a temporary solution for decades. Although it has allowed rescue helicopters to reach central Prague, emergency crews must coordinate with police to clear the area before landings.

The new floating helipad will also provide additional support during major emergencies, including mass casualty events requiring coordination between Prague’s emergency services.

Officials said the structure is expected to serve rescue operations for many years, including until a possible future hospital-based helipad solution is developed.