Ahelipad is thelanding area of aheliport, in use byhelicopters,powered lift, andvertical lift aircraft to land on surface.
While helicopters and powered lift aircraft are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where such aircraft can land safely.
Larger helipads, intended for use by helicopters and othervertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, may be calledvertiports. An example is Vertiport Chicago,[1] which opened in 2015.[2]
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Helipads may be located at aheliport orairport where fuel,air traffic control and service facilities for aircraft are available.
Most helipads are located away from populated areas due to sounds, winds, space and cost constraints. Someskyscrapers have one on their roofs to accommodateair taxi services. Some basic helipads are built on top of highrise buildings for evacuation in case of a major fire outbreak. Major police departments may use a dedicated helipad at heliports as a base forpolice helicopters.
Largeships andoil platforms usually have a helipad on board for emergency use. In such a case, the terms "helicopter deck", "helideck", or "helodeck" are used.
Helipads are common features athospitals where they serve to facilitatemedical evacuation orair ambulance transfers of patients totrauma centers or to accept patients from remote areas without local hospitals or facilities capable of providing the level ofemergency medicine required. Inurban environments, theseheliports are sometimes located on the roof of the hospital.
Rooftop helipads sometimes display a large two-digit number, representing the weight limit (in thousands of pounds) of the pad. A second number may be present, representing the maximum rotor diameter in feet.[3]
Location identifiers are often, but not always, issued for helipads. They may be issued by the appropriate aviation authority. Authorized agencies include theFederal Aviation Administration in the United States,Transport Canada in Canada, theInternational Civil Aviation Organization, and theInternational Air Transport Association. Some helipads may have location identifiers from multiple sources, and these identifiers may be of different format and name.
Helipads are usually constructed out of concrete and are marked with a circle and/or a letter "H", so as to be visible from the air. Sometimeswildfire fighters will construct a temporary one fromtimber to receive supplies in remote areas.Rig mats may be used to build helipads. Landing pads may also be constructed in extreme conditions such as on ice.
The world's highest helipad,[4] built byIndia, is located on theSiachen Glacier at a height of 21,000 feet (6400 m) above sea level.[5]
A portable helipad is a helipad structure with a rugged frame that can be used to land helicopters in any areas with slopes of up to 30 degrees, such as hillsides, riverbeds and boggy areas. Portable helipads can be transported by helicopter orpowered-lift to place them where aVTOL needs to land, as long as there are no insurmountable obstructions nearby.
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