The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) meet returned to European aviation calendars in 2025. The Czech Republic’s 243rd Helicopter Squadron (243. vrtulníková letka, 243.vrl) played host to the meet, held from the 4th to 8th August at Prague’s Kbely AFB. AeroResource’s Nicholas Thompson travelled to Czechia to attend the media day, providing the opportunity to witness the culmination of the meet’s flying challenges.
At the heart of the meet were the participating search and rescue crews. 2025’s edition brought together participants from 8 nations, contributing 11 helicopters and a single fixed wing aircraft. This marks the largest SAR meet to date in terms of participation, thanks in part to strong contributions from the host nation, the Czech Republic. The host unit 243.vrl, which earned the privilege to host the event with a victory at the 2023 edition at Nordholz, Germany, contributed two SAR helicopter types: a PZL W-3 Sokół (0714) and Mil Mi-17 Hip (0849). The hosts also provided a small static display featuring the other type in the squadron’s fleet, the Mil Mi-8S Salon (0835), a VIP variant of the Hip family used by the Czech Air Force to transport high -ranking officials, such as the nation’s president.
A further two Mil types also participated from Czech units. Notable for its striking high-visibility yellow training markings was Mil Mi-17 (0825), of the Czech Republic’s Flight Training Centre, (Centrum leteckého výcviku, CLV) at Pardubice. CLV is a state-owned initiative operated by LOM Praha providing full flight training for pilots of the Czech Air Force and also offering services to foreign customers. The third participating Mil type was a Mil Mi-171Sh (9825) from 222nd Helicopter Squadron (222. vrtulníkovou letka, 222.vrl). This modernised Hip variant features a large starboard door, improved Czech-built APU, armour plating around the cockpit and engines, as well as a loading ramp in place of the traditional clamshell doors on earlier models.
The exercise kicked off at 09:30 local time on Tuesday. The host unit’s W-3A Sokół (0714) led an impressive formation of all participating helicopters to Plzeň-Líně airport as “Handy 01”. Plzeň-Líně airport hosts a search and rescue detachment from 243.vrl. The air rescue service at Plzeň-Líně is operated under callsign “Kryštof 07” by a W-3A Sokół. The detachment has been operated by the Czech armed forces since the establishment in July 1990. The W-3A Sokół has been covering Czechia’s western Bohemian region since 2012 from Plzeň operating to response times of 4 minutes during daytime operations and 10 minutes at night. With the unique flight of international SAR helicopters making their way to Líně, media gathered at Kbely for their return.
| TYPE – REGISTRATION | UNIT | OPERATOR | |
| PZL W-3A Sokół | 0714 | vrtulníkovou letka (243.vrl) – 24.Základna Dopravního Letectva (24.zDL) | Czech Air Force |
| Mil Mi-17 Hip | 0849 | vrtulníkovou letka (243.vrl) – 24.Základna Dopravního Letectva (24.zDL) | Czech Air Force |
| Mil Mi-17 Hip | 0825 | Centrum leteckého výcviku (CLV) LOM Praha | CLV/ Czech Air Force |
| Airbus H145M LUH SAR | 77+04 | Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 (THR30) – Division Schnelle Kräfte (DSK) | German Army |
| Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk | 7642 | Vrtul’niková letka – 51. Krídlo Presov | Slovak Air Force |
| Eurocopter AS365N3+ Dauphin II | BLUE 41 | Sraigtasparniu Eskadrilé – 1 Aviacijos Baze | Lithuanian Air Force |
| NHIndustries NH90 NFH | RN-02 | 40 Squadron – 1 Wing | Belgian Air Component |
| AgustaWestland AW101 SAR Queen (AW101 612) | 0265 | 330 Skvadron – 130 Luftving | Royal Norwegian Air Force |
| Westland Sea Lynx Mk88A | 83+17 | Marinefliegergeschwader 5 (MFG5) | German Navy |
| NHIndustries NH90 TTH | HD.29-17 | 803 Escuadrón – Ala 48 | Spanish Air Force |
| Mil Mi-171Sh Hip | 9825 | 222. vrtulníkovou letka (222.vrl) – 22.Základna Vrtulníkového Letectva (22.zL) | Czech Air Force |
| Cessna C182P Skylane | OE-BAX | Austro Control |
Departing Líně in staggered intervals, the participants returned to Kbely while completing the opening tasks of the Flying Challenge. This simulated the skills required in realistic SAR missions: precision flying, confined-area landing and hoisting in inaccessible locations, and marker drops on designated targets. Kbely hosted the final stages of the challenge, including a precision landing trial and culminating in the “Hoist Challenge” before gathered guests.
The Hoist Challenge has become synonymous with the SAR meet, showcasing the teamwork of flight, winch, and rescue crews. This year’s challenge tasked crews with navigating a weighted tyre through an oil drum slalom course while attached to the helicopter’s winch. Penalties were incurred for height infractions, striking the course, or touching the ground. The next steps included placing the tyre on the last drum, retrieving a medicine ball and delivering it to a basket, and finally guiding a grappling hook to collect a waiting ring. Once complete and cleared by the watching judges, the crewman returned to the helicopter via winch, and the aircraft departed back to their parking.
An alternate challenge was provided to Austria’s Austro Control fixed wing Cessna 182P Skylane, OE-BAX which conducted a search patrol of Czechia’s longest river, the Vltava. Additional fixed wing participation was provided by the Czech 533rd Unmanned Systems Battalion. The unit operated a Primoco One 150 over Prague-Kbely throughout the afternoon’s hoist challenge adding to the busy skies amongst the arriving helicopters.
“For the pilot, hoisting is one of the most demanding disciplines. What’s crucial is absolute precision while hovering and coordination of the entire crew. We want as many squadron members as possible to gain those kinds of experiences.” – – Lt. Col. Petr Šafařík – Lieutenant Colonel, Commander of the Helicopter Squadron at the 24th Transport Air Base Prague–Kbely speaking to Czech Air Force media team
With European air arms operating multiple types, the Flying Challenge provided valuable insight into daily operations and challenges. The larger helicopters fared differently. Belgium’s 40 Squadron, operating the NHIndustries NH90 NFH (RN-02), performed better than Norway’s AgustaWestland AW101 SAR Queen Mk.612 (0265). The Merlin’s powerful rotor downwash severely hindered the crewman during the trials. Although struggling in the Hoist Challenge, Norway’s 330 Skvadron, 130 Luftving, based at Stavanger Airport, excelled in the Rescue Challenge and were crowned winners of that event. The Rescue Challenge also involved firefighters and mountain rescue teams, testing teamwork with tasks such as climbing, abseiling, casualty care, and first aid.
Strangely for a search and rescue meet Spain’s NH90 TTH (HD.29-17) from Ala 48 participated without a winch, performing hovers and low fly-bys for the media before departing to their parking.
With downwash playing a part, smaller types excelled at the Hoist Challenge. The host’s PZL W-3A Sokół (0714), Lithuania’s Eurocopter AS365N3+ Dauphin II (BLUE 41), and the German Navy’s Sea Lynx Mk88A (83+17) all fared better. The overall winner of the Hoist Challenge was Náměšť air base’s 222.vrl with their Mil Mi-171Sh (9825), proving larger helicopters could still succeed. The squadron also won the Ground Crew Challenge, demonstrating their technicians’ skill and readiness.
“Technicians are the invisible backbone of our operation. Without their perfect work, no helicopter would have taken off.” – Capt. Michal Scherks – Captain of a helicopter at the 24th Transport Air Base Prague–Kbely and a member of the exercise’s organizing team speaking to Czech Air Force media team
It was Germany’s Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 (THR30), operating the Airbus H145M LUH SAR, that took the overall prize as the absolute winner of the exercise. Alongside this, the German Army team also took home the Navigation and Search Challenge trophies. Winning the overall prize not only brings a trophy but also, pending approvals, the privilege to host the next SAR meet at their home base of Niederstetten in central southern Germany.
The meet is more than just the flying and brings together other stakeholders in the European search and rescue community. The meet bears the name “Galileo,” derived from the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system, which plays a crucial role in modern search and rescue operations. Beyond providing highly accurate positioning, Galileo includes a dedicated SAR service to detect distress beacons faster and more precisely than older systems. It also offers a unique Return Link Service, confirming to people in distress that their signal has been received and help is on the way. By linking Galileo’s space-based technology with the hands-on training and competition of the SAR Meet, the event highlights how advanced space systems and practical helicopter rescue operations work together to improve survival chances in real emergencies. These advances were further explored in symposiums during the meet at the EU Agency for the Space Programme in Prague, offering SAR units, Rescue Coordination Centres, industry, and organisations a valuable chance to learn and network.
AeroResource would like to thank the Czech Air Force’s 24th Transport Air Force Base (24. základna dopravního letectva) at Prague-Kbely for hosting the gathered international media for SAR Meet 2025 and providing excellent access to activities both in the air and on the ground. Looking ahead, AeroResource’s attention now turns to Germany, where the next SAR Meet is expected to take place.
You can find out more about the Galileo SAR meet 2025 here; Galileo SAR meet 2025 | Galileo SAR meet 2025
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