Would you land on this helipad?
Thread Starter
Would you land on this helipad?
This is the 68 storey, 860' Bitexco Tower in Ho Chi Minh City
On the 52nd floor at 627' AGL is a helipad. The approach to the helipad is almost directly into wind for most of the year. Note the rounded shape of the building on the upwind side, and the concave face and sharp corners on the downwind side, immediately above the helipad. I suspect there would be some spectacular vortices shedding off those sharp corners on a windy day.
So my question is would you land on that helipad? It's actually an academic question since there are no light civil helicopters in Vietnam and aircraft are banned from flying over the city anyway! I like to refer to it as a "vanity helipad".
As a plank pilot with extensive helicopter passenger flying experience, I'm interested in the experts' opinions. Pay attention at the back - there will be a follow-up question.
On the 52nd floor at 627' AGL is a helipad. The approach to the helipad is almost directly into wind for most of the year. Note the rounded shape of the building on the upwind side, and the concave face and sharp corners on the downwind side, immediately above the helipad. I suspect there would be some spectacular vortices shedding off those sharp corners on a windy day.
So my question is would you land on that helipad? It's actually an academic question since there are no light civil helicopters in Vietnam and aircraft are banned from flying over the city anyway! I like to refer to it as a "vanity helipad".
As a plank pilot with extensive helicopter passenger flying experience, I'm interested in the experts' opinions. Pay attention at the back - there will be a follow-up question.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: bora scirocco
Age: 50
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When looking at picture no. 2...you can make an approach from 3 directions, one direct in, and two from the "side"... If one is not good, go from the other one...probably will be some rotors in short final when wind is stronger, but you will have to pass throw them...
Generally, answer is yes.
Generally, answer is yes.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: ...in view of the 'Southern Cross' ...
Posts: 1,383
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mmmmm ...
....... Would you land on this helipad ......
Yes ... no problems
... I would of course prefer to choose which machine I would do it with though ...
....... Would you land on this helipad ......
Yes ... no problems
... I would of course prefer to choose which machine I would do it with though ...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: sussex
Age: 75
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
unused heli pad
i like to walk the course, but otherwise looks ok for small medium heli any dims ? ps like to do first landing on my own, not with cab full that you just picked from the races helispeediii
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No problem at all. Of course there will be days when the wind could be tricky but with a correctly loaded helicopter absolutely no problem. Far worse pads in the bush & mountains.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: far east..longway from home..
Age: 52
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I42
I know well this helipad...and I slightly disagree with you regarding the wind..it's very often coming from behind the structure, and gives some kind of "interesting" turbulence there ...just check the Vietnamese flag on it...
Moreover, the weight limitation is 3T...which means, you have to fly a 355 or 135 or other light medium...
And yes it's forbidden, but MoD approved it already and CAAV worked on a corridor we proposed them...
I'm not a world champion regarding the "landing limitations", but I would suggest to check it very carefully first, and I think it could come with a maximum wind velocity/sector limitation, as per on frigates or other helipads...
TH
I know well this helipad...and I slightly disagree with you regarding the wind..it's very often coming from behind the structure, and gives some kind of "interesting" turbulence there ...just check the Vietnamese flag on it...
Moreover, the weight limitation is 3T...which means, you have to fly a 355 or 135 or other light medium...
And yes it's forbidden, but MoD approved it already and CAAV worked on a corridor we proposed them...
I'm not a world champion regarding the "landing limitations", but I would suggest to check it very carefully first, and I think it could come with a maximum wind velocity/sector limitation, as per on frigates or other helipads...
TH
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: In the desert southwest
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
dimensions
How big is this thing? That might have a bit to do with a consideration. It looks pretty big. I have seen some pads/LZ's in the EMS world that will make you go huh?
Thread Starter
Follow up question: Would you land if Ms. Vân was waiting for you?
Since the consensus seems to be that it would be OK to land there, my follow-up question is somewhat redundant.
However, since there is some interest in the size of the pad, I will post my pictures anyway. If you can tear your eyes away from Ngô Thanh Vân, you can assess the size of the pad.
I'm amazed that there is a permanent flag pole and a tall fire hydrant on the outboard side of the pad.
tophelios,
I met someone who had been working on the Bitexco Tower and he told me that there had been at least one trial landing on the helipad. Do you know if this is true?
However, since there is some interest in the size of the pad, I will post my pictures anyway. If you can tear your eyes away from Ngô Thanh Vân, you can assess the size of the pad.
I'm amazed that there is a permanent flag pole and a tall fire hydrant on the outboard side of the pad.
I know well this helipad
I met someone who had been working on the Bitexco Tower and he told me that there had been at least one trial landing on the helipad. Do you know if this is true?
Last edited by India Four Two; 1st Jul 2012 at 08:58.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: far east..longway from home..
Age: 52
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I42,
Not sure at all on this try...for all the reasons you mentioned already and the fact that the local operators don't have the heli for and are not very keen to try...
I never heard on it...despite I worked more than one year on the approval....but, in Nam, you never really know....
You also can note on the pictures that two glide slope indicators have been installed...but side by side and in a horizontal position...very helpful...
Not sure at all on this try...for all the reasons you mentioned already and the fact that the local operators don't have the heli for and are not very keen to try...
I never heard on it...despite I worked more than one year on the approval....but, in Nam, you never really know....
You also can note on the pictures that two glide slope indicators have been installed...but side by side and in a horizontal position...very helpful...
Last edited by tophelios; 1st Jul 2012 at 09:18.
