Helipads At Airports: A Necessary Feature Or An Extra?

A helipad is a designated area for helicopters to take off and land. They are often constructed out of concrete and marked with a circle and/or the letter H. Helipads can be located at heliports or airports, but they may also be found away from these facilities, such as on the roofs of hospitals or large ships. Interestingly, the majority of airports do not have a designated helipad. In large metropolitan and urban areas, heliports can serve passengers needing to quickly move within or outside the city. For example, the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York City provides scheduled services to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Helipads at airports

A helipad is a designated area for helicopters to take off and land. While helicopters can land on any flat surface, helipads are clearly marked, designated, hard surface areas away from obstacles. They are often constructed from concrete and marked with a circle and/or a letter "H".

Helipads are commonly found at heliports or airports, where fuel, air traffic control, and service facilities are available. However, they can also be located away from these facilities, such as on the roofs of hospitals for emergency evacuations or on large ships to allow people to board or disembark while at sea.

In large metropolitan and urban areas, heliports can serve passengers who need to quickly move within or outside the city. For example, the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York City provides scheduled service to John F. Kennedy International Airport, catering to wealthy individuals and the quick transport of important goods.

Helipads are also commonly found at hospitals, facilitating helicopter air ambulance services and emergency evacuations. Some large trauma centres may have multiple helipads, while most small hospitals have just one.

While the majority of airports do not have designated helipads, they may have designated touchdown and liftoff areas for helicopters.

Helipads at hospitals

Hospitals often have helipads on their rooftops or at ground level to enable quick access to life-saving medical care. These helipads are designed to reduce transportation time and facilitate treatment for patients suffering from life-threatening injuries and conditions. The "golden hour" is a term used by doctors to describe the critical period during which a patient suffering from traumatic injury or a medical emergency should receive proper medical assistance to prevent death or irreparable damage to body parts and organs.

Helipads are designated landing areas for helicopters, providing a clearly marked, hard surface free from obstacles. They are often constructed from concrete and marked with a circle and/or a letter "H", visible to rotorcraft from the air. While helicopters can typically land on any flat surface, helipads offer a stable, secure, and perfectly flat surface for landing and takeoff.

There are several factors to consider when deciding between a ground-level or rooftop helipad for a hospital. Ground-level helipads offer a simpler design, lower cost, shorter construction time, and easier fuel installation. However, they have less privacy, more foot and vehicle traffic, reduced security, and more obstructions. On the other hand, rooftop helipads provide better privacy, security, and fewer obstructions but come with a more complex design, higher cost, and longer construction time, and fuelling can be more challenging.

The University of Michigan Health System provides detailed procedures for landing at its various helipads, including the UMMC Heliport (M132), which is located across the street from the emergency department. They specify aircraft limitations, approach and departure routes, weight limits, and communication protocols with the Survival Flight Communications Center.

• Abington Memorial Hospital
• Albert Einstein Medical Center
• Arnold Palmer Hospital
• Atlantic City Medical Center
• Baptist Medical Center
• Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital
• Adena Regional Medical Center
• Arizona Regional Medical Center
• Arkansas Children Hospital
• Avera Gettysburg Hospital
• Bay Area Medical Center
• Brevard Orthopedic Clinic
• Brigham & Women's Hospital
• Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital
• Charleston Area Medical Center (General Division)
• Charleston Area Medical Center (Memorial Division)
• ... and many more.

Helipads on skyscrapers

Skyscrapers are tall buildings that often have helipads on their roofs. These helipads are engineered to help a helicopter take off and land safely. They are designated landing zones for helicopters, providing a clearly marked, stable, secure, and flat surface free from any obstacles.

Helipads are commonly found on the rooftops of skyscrapers for several reasons. One reason is to accommodate air taxi services, providing convenient transportation for passengers. Additionally, helipads on skyscrapers facilitate emergency responses, such as medical evacuations or air ambulance transfers. In the event of a major fire or other disasters, helipads enable quick evacuation of individuals from the building.

The presence of helipads on skyscrapers is also influenced by local laws and regulations. For example, in certain locations, buildings taller than a specified number of floors and with a certain floor space are required to have helicopter landing pads for safety purposes.

Helipads are typically constructed from concrete and marked with a circle and/or a letter "H" to be visible from the air. They may also display weight limits and rotor diameter restrictions. Some helipads are portable, allowing for landing in areas with slopes or uneven terrain.

The inclusion of helipads on skyscrapers offers both convenience and safety, catering to various transportation, emergency, and evacuation needs.

Helipads on ships

A helipad is a designated area for helicopters to take off and land. While helicopters can land on any flat surface, helipads are engineered to provide a stable, secure, and flat surface free from any obstacles. They are often constructed out of concrete and marked with a circle and/or the letter "H" to make them easily identifiable from the air.

Helipads are commonly found at heliports or airports, but they can also be located away from these facilities, such as on the roofs of hospitals or corporate office buildings. Additionally, large ships and sea vessels sometimes have helipads onboard, referred to as helicopter decks or helo decks, which allow people to board or disembark the vessel while it is still at sea, especially in emergency situations.

Helicopter decks on ships are usually located on the stern, ensuring a clear and safe area for helicopter landings. In the UK's Fleet Air Arm, landing on a ship is typically achieved by first aligning with the port quarter parallel to the ship's heading. Once the deck motion is deemed acceptable, the pilot uses a white-painted line as a reference to sidestep the aircraft laterally.

Some shipboard landings are assisted by a haul-down device, which involves attaching a cable to a probe on the bottom of the aircraft prior to landing. This device, known as "Beartrap" in the Royal Canadian Navy and "RAST" in the US Navy, helps with accurate positioning and securing the aircraft to the deck. It also serves to equalize the electrostatic potential between the helicopter and the ship, preventing electrical charges from building up on the airframe and causing injuries to shipboard personnel.

The design, marking, and lighting of marine/offshore helicopter decks are typically regulated by standards defined within CAP 437, produced by the Civil Aviation Authority. These decks can vary in size, with the largest accommodating the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, while more typical decks are designed for the Sikorsky S-92.

Heliports vs helipads

A helipad is a designated landing area for helicopters, often marked by a circle and/or a large letter "H". They are typically flat, stable surfaces clear of any obstacles, and can be constructed from concrete or other materials. Helipads can be located at heliports or airports, but they are also found in remote areas, on rooftops, or even on large ships. They are commonly placed on hospital roofs to facilitate medical evacuations.

A heliport, on the other hand, is a facility similar to a small airport, designed specifically for helicopters and other vertical lift aircraft. It typically consists of one or more helipads and provides additional services such as fuel, maintenance, storage, and sometimes even passenger processing. Heliports serve as bases for helicopter operations and are usually located near airports, in urban centres, or industrial zones where helicopter traffic is higher.

The main difference between helipads and heliports is that a helipad is a single landing and takeoff zone for one helicopter at a time, while a heliport is a larger, more complex facility accommodating multiple helicopters and offering a range of services. Helipads focus on providing a safe landing and takeoff space, while heliports cater to the broader requirements of helicopter operations and services.

While most airports do not have designated helipads, they may include heliports to accommodate helicopter traffic. Heliports can be oriented in any direction but typically have definitive approach and departure paths. They are also numbered differently from runways at airports.

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