Roberta Aguirre
Helicopters are versatile aircraft that can take off and land in various locations, including airport runways and designated helipads. While helipads are commonly used for helicopter operations, there are instances where helicopters may use runways, especially at airports with both runway and helipad facilities. This flexibility in landing sites provides helicopters with options for landing and departure, depending on factors such as safety, traffic, and the pilot's judgment. In this paragraph, we will explore the topic of helicopter landings, specifically addressing the question: Can helicopters land on airport runways?
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What You'll Learn
Helicopters can land on runways or helipads
Helipads are designated areas on heliports, which are small airports suitable for helicopters and other vertical lift aircraft. They are common at hospitals, facilitating helicopter air ambulances and MEDEVACs for transferring patients. Heliports may have one or more touchdown and liftoff areas, and some have limited facilities like fuel or hangars.
Heliports are advantageous for quick travel within or to outlying regions of a city. They can be situated closer to a town or city center than airports for fixed-wing aircraft. However, heliports have become contentious in urban areas due to the excessive noise caused by helicopter traffic.
Helicopters may also operate from designated helicopter landing areas at airports. They can fly a much closer pattern than other aircraft and may stay on the opposite side of the runway from the typical pattern. They may also be cleared to take off or land in "non-movement" areas, which are not specifically designated for that activity.
When taking off from a runway, helicopters may perform a max performance takeoff, which begins with a near-vertical segment and then transitions to a horizontal flight path. They may also taxi on the ground or hover-taxi, depending on terrain conditions and aircraft design.
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Landing on runways helps avoid damage from rotor wash
Landing on runways can help helicopters avoid damage from rotor wash. Rotor wash is the air current generated by the helicopter's rotors, which can be strong enough to cause damage or disturbance to nearby objects or aircraft. In one instance, a helicopter pilot was instructed to land immediately as their rotor wash was causing strain on some light aircraft.
Helicopters typically operate from designated helicopter landing areas, such as helipads or heliports, which are separate from runways. These designated areas are often located within the airport's movement area, controlled by the tower controller, or in non-movement areas, which are outside the control of the ground or tower controller. While helipads are generally safer for take-off and landing, in some cases, helicopters may need to use runways to reduce the risk of damage from rotor wash.
Helicopters can generate significant rotor wash during take-off and landing, which can be hazardous to nearby objects and other aircraft. By landing on runways, helicopters can avoid potential damage to smaller aircraft or airport property. Additionally, at busy airports, using the runway can help keep helicopter operations separate from fixed-wing aircraft, minimising overall delays.
In some cases, helicopters may need to taxi to the runway before taking off to ensure they are clear of nearby objects or other aircraft. This practice helps to reduce the risk of damage or disturbance from rotor wash during take-off. Similarly, after landing, helicopters may taxi away from the runway to a designated helicopter landing area.
While helipads and runways serve similar purposes, there are some key differences. Helipads are typically smaller, designated areas within the airport, while runways are longer strips used primarily by fixed-wing aircraft. Helipads may be found in both movement and non-movement areas, while runways are generally located within the movement area, controlled by the tower controller.
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Helicopters can taxi on the ground or hover-taxi
Helicopters can use different taxi techniques, including wheeled helicopter taxi, hover taxi, and air taxi. The technique used depends on whether the helicopter has a skid or a wheel assembly. Wheeled helicopters can taxi without lifting off the ground, similar to fixed-wing aircraft. Helicopters with skid assemblies, on the other hand, must become airborne before taxiing.
Wheeled helicopter taxiing, also known as ground taxiing, is fuel-efficient and minimizes air turbulence. However, in certain situations, such as rough or uneven terrain, it may be safer to opt for hover taxi or air taxi. Hover taxiing, or hover-taxi, involves the helicopter hovering just above the ground. While this method consumes more fuel and produces more turbulence, it is necessary for helicopters with articulating rotors to avoid "ground resonance" and potential damage.
Air taxi is the preferred method for helicopter movements within airports, provided that ground conditions permit it. Air taxi allows the pilot to proceed above the surface via hover taxi or by flying at speeds exceeding 20 knots. Pilots are expected to maintain an altitude below 100 feet AGL (above ground level) unless otherwise instructed and are responsible for selecting a safe airspeed.
It is important to note that the rotorwash effect from hover-taxiing or taxiing helicopters can affect other nearby aircraft. Therefore, clearances should avoid requiring small aircraft or helicopters to taxi in close proximity to hover-taxiing or taxiing helicopters. Additionally, helicopters should maintain a distance of at least 200 feet between landing or takeoff points to ensure safe simultaneous operations.
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Helicopters can take off from runways or helipads
Helipads are usually found in non-movement areas, such as the Coast Guard helipads at SFO and JFK. However, they can also be found in movement areas, which are controlled by a ground controller. In some cases, helipads may be found in the area of the airport that is not controlled by the ground or tower controller, such as in the case of helipads at hospitals, which facilitate helicopter air ambulance and MEDEVACs for transferring patients.
When taking off from a runway, helicopters will first lift into a hover, accelerate in ground effect, and then gain translational lift until about 45 knots before climbing. This is the same process for taking off from a helipad. However, taking off from a runway can provide more clearance for helicopters with a high gross weight, as was the case with a Navy helicopter brought to an airshow in the 1980s. The pilot chose to take off from the runway to reduce the risk of damage or disturbance to other aircraft from the rotor wash.
Helicopters can also taxi on the ground, hover-taxi, or air taxi. Ground taxiing uses less fuel than hover-taxiing and minimizes air turbulence. However, hover-taxiing or air taxiing may be necessary for safety considerations, such as when the terrain is rough, soft, or uneven.
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Helicopters can fly a pattern similar to fixed-wing aircraft
Helicopters can land on airport runways and, in some cases, they follow a similar pattern to fixed-wing aircraft. Airports generally have designated landing pads for helicopters, but there are several reasons why a helicopter might use the runway instead of a helipad.
Helicopters can also air-taxi, flying out of ground effect up to 100 ft AGL and up to 60 knots, directly to the next point on the field, avoiding obstacles as needed. They will generally come in horizontally while descending, flying into the wind, and then come into hover, after which they will be instructed by the tower to taxi to their destination on the field.
Helicopters will usually be kept separate from fixed-wing aircraft to avoid overall delays. However, in some cases, faster or larger helicopters may be integrated with fixed-wing aircraft. Helicopters can fly a much closer pattern than other aircraft, and may stay on the other side of the runway from the typical pattern. They may also operate straight in/out of the landing area, depending on wind and traffic.
Helicopters can also take off from the runway in a max-performance takeoff, which begins with a near-vertical segment and then transitions to a horizontal flight path. This may be necessary to avoid damage or disturbance to other aircraft from rotor wash.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, helicopters can land on airport runways. Airports with helipads will usually direct helicopters to land there, but helicopters can also land on runways.
Helicopters may land on a runway to avoid other aircraft or personnel. They may also land on runways if there is a risk of rotor wash causing damage or disturbance to other aircraft.
Helicopters can fly a much closer pattern than other aircraft, and may stay on the other side of the runway from the typical pattern. They may also operate straight in/out of the landing area, depending on wind and traffic.
A heliport is a small airport with a helipad suitable for helicopters and other vertical lift aircraft. Heliports are usually closer to a town or city centre than an airport for fixed-wing aircraft.
