Helipads – Heliport

Areas dedicated to landing, take-off and parking of helicopters

Helipads or heliports are areas dedicated to the landing, take-off and parking of helicopters. They are designed to ensure maximum safety and efficiency during helicopter flight operations. Here is some general technical information:

Dimensions:: The size of a helipad depends on the type and size of helicopters that will be used. They must be large enough to allow safe maneuvering during landing and take-off.

In total area: The surface of the helipad should be smooth and free of obstacles. It is often made of concrete, asphalt or other similar materials, in order to provide a stable and durable surface.

Lighting: Heliports shall be equipped with lighting systems to permit operations at night or in conditions of poor visibility. These systems may include signal lights, approach lights and orientation lights.

Signage: Heliports must be well marked to enable helicopters to locate them easily. This may include painted markings on the heliport surface, light signals and radio signals.

Protections: To ensure the safety of people and surrounding buildings, heliports may be equipped with protections such as fences or safety zones.

RegulationsHeliports are subject to specific regulations established by the competent authorities, which define the rules for the design, construction and operation of heliports in order to ensure the safety of air operations.

Support ServicesHeliports may be equipped with support facilities such as refueling stations, helicopter maintenance hangars and air traffic control facilities.

LocationHeliports are often located in strategic areas, such as hospitals, rescue facilities, offshore platforms and urban centres, to allow rapid and efficient access in case of emergencies or for transport services.

These are just some of the basic technical information about heliports. The design and construction of heliports must take into account a number of specific factors, including the needs of helicopter operators, local regulations and the environmental conditions of the site.