Accession Number:

ADA243739

Title:

Heliport VFR Airspace Design Based on Helicopter Performance

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

SYSTEMS CONTROL TECHNOLOGY INC ARLINGTON VA

Personal Author(s):

• Anoll, Robert K.
• McConkey, Edwin D.
• Hawley, Robert J.
• Renton, Margaret B.

Report Date:

1991-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

100.0

Abstract:

This document presents results of the efforts to classify helicopters and heliports based on the performance capabilities of a given rotorcraft and the protected ground and airspace available at a given heliport. Current VFR heliport protected airspace requirements are not broad enough to cover the wide range of helicopter models and conditions in which they operate. Additionally, they do not always provide an adequate margin of safety from allowable obstructions near heliports with regard to the performance capabilities of the helicopters using those heliports. A recommendation is made to replace the single heliport imaginary surface with a system of surfaces which allow use of the heliport based on helicopter performance and also provides a safety margin between obstructions and rotorcraft climb capability. Another recommendation encourages helicopter manufacturers to include necessary performance data in their helicopter flight manuals to inform pilots of their aircrafts capability for operations at a confined area heliport or landing site. This is one of a series of five reports that addressed helicopter performance profiles and their relationship to the VFR protected imaginary surfaces of approach and departure airspace at heliports.

Descriptors:

• *HELICOPTERS
• *HELIPORTS
• *AIR SPACE
• AIRCRAFT
• AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY
• PERFORMANCE(ENGINEERING)
• PILOTS
• SURFACES
• PROFILES
• FLIGHT
• CLASSIFICATION
• LANDING FIELDS
• RANGE(EXTREMES)
• AVIATION SAFETY
• AIRCRAFT MODELS
• HEIGHT
• VISUAL FLIGHT RULES
• ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT
• MANUALS
• MARGIN OF SAFETY
• CLIMBING
• GROUND LEVEL
• CONFINED ENVIRONMENTS
• VELOCITY
• REQUIREMENTS

Subject Categories:

• Military Aircraft Operations
• Helicopters
• Terminal Flight Facilities
• Commercial and General Aviation

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE