HELIPORTS & HELISTOPS

PRESENTER: BASIL HLATSHWAYO

FOCUS:

The main focus will be on the following items:

• Differences between Helistops and Heliports.

• Types of Heliports and Helistops.

• Design requirements.

OBJECTIVE:

To provide the delegates with guidelines that must be

considered for the planning and esign of Heliports and

Helistops and further to describe the minimum

requirements for licensing and approval.

• Helistop - An area either at ground level or

elevated on a structure for the landing and take-

off of helicopters but without auxiliary facilities.

Definitions

• Heliport – An area either at ground level or elevated

on a structure that is used for landing and take-off of

helicopters and includes some or all of the various

facilities such as helicopter parking bays, waiting

room, fixed fuel installations and maintenance

organisations.

Definitions cont...

• Touchdown and liftoff area (TLOF)

A load-bearing, generally paved area, normally

centred in the FATO, on which the helicopter

lands and/or takes off.

• Final Approach and Takeoff area (FATO)

A defined area over which the pilot completes the

final phase of the approach to a hover or a landing

and from which the pilot initiates takeoff.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements for Heliports and Helistops are

identical regarding the following:

• Landing and take-off areas

• Touchdown areas

• Transitional surfaces

• Approach surfaces

• Safety or peripheral areas

Types of Heliports & Helistops

• Surface/Ground level

• Elevated structure

• Commercial use

• Private use

• Public use

• Emergency use (Air Ambulances)

Restrictions

Restrictions can be imposed as follows:

• For emergency use only

• VFR daylight operations only

• VFR day and night operations

• Mass and/or rotor diameter of helicopter

• A restriction during certain hours of the day

Heliport Licensing Requirements

The SACAA will only license a Heliport to come into

existence if the following requirements are met:

• SA CARS Part 139

• SA CATS Part 139

• Letter of no objection from the Local Municipality

• Letter of no objection from ATNS*

• Approval from NASCOM*

• Publish for public comments

*Air Traffic & Navigation Services

*National Airspace Committee

Helistop Approval Requirements

• Approval from NASCOM (controlled airspace)

The SACAA will only approve a Helistop to come

into existence if the following requirements can be

met:

• The minimum Helistop design standards can be

complied with.

• Letter of no objection from the Local Municipality.

• Letter of no objection from ATNS.

Wind direction Indicator

• The windsock, at least one (1), shall provide the best

possible colour contrast to its background.

• To avoid presenting a hazard, the windsock shall be

located outside the safety area.

• If night operations are intended, the windsock shall

be illuminated.

• The length of the windsock shall be 2.4m for surface

level Heliports and 1.2m for elevated structures.

Requirements for Elevated Structures

• Only performance class 1 (twin turbine)

helicopters are permitted on elevated structures.

• A safety net extending between 1.5m - 2m for fall

protection and complying to local standards and

regulations is a requirement.

• Design the safety net to have a load carrying

capability of 122 kg/square metre.

• Make sure the net does not project above the

level of the Touchdown and Liftoff area.

Emergency Heliport

An emergency heliport is a facility which

accommodates helicopters that are limited to

serving traffic engaged in air ambulance operations

or other hospital-related functions.

• An emergency heliport shall be identifiable by a

letter H, white in colour and a red cross, both

positioned at the centre of the touchdown and lift-

off area.

• The white ‘H’ shall be superimposed over the red

cross and the stems of the ‘H’ shall be placed so

that they are orientated with the most desirable

direction for take-off and landing.

Helicopter facilities at

aerodromes • To facilitate the operation of helicopters at

aerodromes, provision should be made for a FATO

to be separate from aeroplane take-off, landing and

parking areas.

• The FATO should be so located as to:

a)provide adequate separation between aeroplane

and helicopter traffic so as to avoid conflict in take-off

and landing operations,

b) avoid areas where vortex wake generated by

landing aeroplanes is likely to affect helicopters in the

final approach phase or in a hover adjacent to a

runway,

Helicopter facilities at

aerodromes

c) avoid the risk of debris being ingested into the

engines of other aircraft as a result of the debris being

blown about by rotor downwash,

d) avoid the mixing of aeroplanes and helicopters on

aprons or on taxiways,

e) avoid the rotor downwash from large and heavy

helicopters affecting light aeroplanes parked on an

apron or taxiway during the approach or departure of

the helicopter.

Cautionary Signs & Security

• Provide a Heliport with appropriate means of

keeping the operational areas clear of people,

animals and vehicles.

• Control access, depending upon the location of

the Heliport and types of potential intruders.

• Display cautionary signs at strategic positions to

warn the public of helicopter operations.

References

• SA CARS 139

• SA CATS 139

• ICAO Annex 14, Vol 2

• ICAO Doc 9261- AN/903

• SANS

• OHS Act 85 of 1993 and supporting

Regulations.

Questions/Comments

Contact Details

Basil Hlatshwayo

Inspector: Cat Z and Heliports

Aviation Infrastructure

Tel: 011 545 1060

Fax: 086 641 2743

Cell:0834616340

Hlatshwayobs@caa.co.za

www.caa.co.za