GÖKBEY Search and Rescue (SAR) Variant: Rescue Hoist, Searchlight, EO/IR and Maritime Missions
Search and rescue is one of the most demanding civil roles a helicopter can fly. The survivor’s position is often uncertain, weather and sea state are poor, many sorties take place at night, and the pickup itself usually means holding a steady hover while a winch operator brings the casualty aboard. The T625 GÖKBEY lists search and rescue (SAR) among the mission configurations Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) has announced for it. This article looks at how the 6-tonne-class helicopter lines up against SAR requirements, which equipment is standard in its class, and which details remain officially undisclosed.
What a SAR helicopter needs
SAR effectiveness comes down to four things: reaching the scene quickly, staying on station long enough to search, recovering survivors safely from the hover, and doing it repeatably at night and in bad weather. Each of these maps directly onto power, fuel, cabin volume and the flight control system.
Time on station: speed, range and endurance
Range alone does not describe SAR capability. What matters is how far out the aircraft can go, how long it can search once there, and whether it can still make it home. Endurance of more than 3.8 hours on internal fuel and more than 5 hours with an auxiliary tank gives the GÖKBEY a wide search window for a medium helicopter.
At a maximum cruise speed of 297 km/h, a point 100 km away is roughly 20 minutes out. The figures below are straight-line theory and exclude start-up, wind and weather.
SAR mission equipment
What separates a SAR fit from a utility fit is the mission kit mounted in the cabin and on the airframe. The list below reflects equipment that is standard on medium SAR helicopters.
TUSAŞ has not published an item-by-item SAR kit for the GÖKBEY: hoist capacity, searchlight and EO/IR models, and the scope of emergency flotation have not been officially disclosed. The table reflects equipment common to the class; the final fit is set by the customer’s specification.
Holding the hover: the autopilot’s role
The critical phase of a hoist rescue is holding position over the survivor for an extended period, whether against swell at sea or turbulence in the mountains. The GÖKBEY’s 4-axis digital autopilot is designed to reduce pilot workload with height and position hold modes, while the glass cockpit brings mission data onto shared displays so the crew can concentrate on the search pattern and the survivor.
The twin-engine layout matters too. Hover is one of the highest-power flight regimes. The two TEI-TS1400 turboshafts allow the surviving engine to deliver short-duration high power if the other fails (OEI), improving the safety margin over water and rough terrain.
Maritime, mountain and disaster scenarios
Türkiye has long coastlines on the Black Sea, the Aegean and the Mediterranean, and high-altitude terrain in the east. That combination demands both long over-water search legs and hover performance at altitude.
- Maritime SAR: sinking vessels, persons overboard and offshore platform evacuation. Endurance, flotation and the hoist are the key factors.
- Mountain SAR: missing climbers and people stranded in winter conditions. A 6,096 m service ceiling and a design optimised for hot-and-high conditions provide the required margin.
- Post-disaster: casualty evacuation and moving rescue teams after earthquakes and floods. A cabin for up to 12 passengers helps carry personnel and equipment.
Programme status and announced users
SAR has been part of the GÖKBEY’s advertised mission set since its unveiling. Turkish media reported that the Coast Guard Command is among the users in the 57-aircraft order. The SAR kit’s content, its certification status and a separate delivery schedule for this configuration have not been officially announced.
Reading the numbers correctly
SAR performance depends heavily on mission equipment weight. The hoist, searchlight, EO/IR turret, flotation system and crew consume a significant share of useful load, so real-world range and endurance can fall below catalogue values. The transit table is theoretical, and differences between prototype and series configuration may also affect final figures.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a search and rescue version of the GÖKBEY? Yes. SAR is among the mission configurations TUSAŞ has defined for the GÖKBEY. The modular cabin and airframe hardpoints allow a hoist, searchlight and sensors to be fitted.
What is the GÖKBEY’s rescue hoist capacity? Hoist capacity and model have not been officially disclosed. The final fit follows the customer’s specification.
How long can the GÖKBEY stay on a search? Official endurance is more than 3.8 hours on standard fuel and more than 5 hours with an auxiliary tank. Mission equipment and transit distance reduce the time available on scene.
Can the GÖKBEY fly SAR at night? The glass cockpit and 4-axis digital autopilot are designed to reduce workload at night and in low visibility. The EO/IR sensor and searchlight models for the SAR kit have not been officially announced.
Will the Turkish Coast Guard operate the GÖKBEY? Turkish media reported the Coast Guard Command among the users in the 57-aircraft order. Delivery timing and configuration details have not been officially disclosed.
