Prague to Build Floating Helipad on the Vltava River

Prague is moving forward with the construction of a floating helipad on the Vltava River near Vyšehrad. On Tuesday, the City Council awarded the contract for the technically demanding project. Completion is scheduled for 2027.

The new helipad is intended to enable critically injured or seriously ill patients to be transported more quickly and safely to specialised hospitals in Prague. According to the city, it will be the first floating helipad in the Czech Republic. Its technical design is also considered exceptional by European standards.

“A new helipad has been discussed in Prague for many years,” said Deputy Mayor for Healthcare Alexandra Udženija. She explained that it had first been necessary to find a suitable solution, develop a unique technical design and complete a demanding permitting process.

The facility is designed for continuous air ambulance operations seven days a week. Planned features include modern navigation lighting, extensive safety systems, a heated landing surface, and remote monitoring and operational control capabilities.

Foto: Portál hlavního města Prahy

According to the city, the helipad will meet the highest aviation safety standards. At the same time, it will allow patients to be transferred quickly to specialised medical facilities in central Prague.

Udženija stressed that, in cases of severe injuries or sudden medical emergencies, every minute often counts. The new facility could help ensure that patients receive the specialised treatment they need more quickly. The helipad will also be able to serve during major incidents or accidents involving large numbers of casualties.

The facility will primarily serve the General University Hospital in Prague's Karlovo náměstí area. The U Apolináře Maternity Hospital and the Institute for the Care of Mother and Child in the Podolí district will also be able to use the helipad. Neither facility currently has its own landing area for rescue helicopters.

Prague Emergency Medical Services Director Petr Kolouch welcomed the project. He said the existing helipad in the Zítkovy Gardens had been established several decades ago only as a temporary solution. Its location in a busy public park and immediately next to a metro entrance creates numerous operational constraints.

Before a helicopter can land, parts of the public area have to be cleared. A dedicated helipad will therefore enable patients to be transferred more quickly and safely to ground-based emergency crews, Kolouch said.

The site on the Vltava River near Vyšehrad was selected on the basis of several expert studies. According to the city, the decisive factors were flight safety, proximity to specialised hospitals and minimising the impact on the surrounding area.

The project has been developed jointly by the City of Prague, Prague Emergency Medical Services, civil aviation specialists and hydraulic engineering planners. Completion is scheduled for 2027.