On Tuesday, President Petr Pavel embarked on a two-day visit to the Pilsen Region. The itinerary includes a tour of the brewery, the Šumava, and discussions with mayors, citizens, and students. He will also visit the air rescue service in Líně near Pilsen.
As President, Pavel has visited ten of the 14 regions. His stop in Líně will likely be one of the most closely watched in the Pilsen region. The location has caught the attention of the Volkswagen conglomerate, which had planned to build a giant battery factory for electric cars there. However, the army, which plans to establish a large logistics center and a base for domestic and allied troops, now wants to keep the premises. The Chief of the Army of the Czech Republic, Karel Řehka, recently confirmed this information.
The rescue service, which Pavel will visit on Tuesday afternoon, should remain in place at least until 2028. “The President will see airborne medics in action. We will demonstrate a technical intervention of a helicopter in inaccessible terrain,” said Jolana Číhová, a spokesperson for the Líně base.
Last year, the rescue service in the Pilsen and Karlovy Vary regions, which it covers, made 908 flights, including 160 at night. It transported 915 patients. “Our main task is to transport injured soldiers to the Czech Republic. Last year, we transported fifteen patients, involving flights to three countries,” Číhová enumerated.
They also serve as a training center for soldiers. “We teach them to handle first aid in the field and combat,” she said, adding that they also organize courses for other components of the integrated rescue system.
Despite the army’s interest in the premises and the presentation of its plans, the government’s resolution is still valid. It clearly defines that a gigafactory will be built in Líně. Therefore, Fiala’s cabinet must cancel the resolution.