Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Everyone knows how helicopters can take off and land vertically, don't need a runway etc, etc...

So how come all most people seem to do is fly from airport to airport?

Does anyone know of any public use/rooftop heliports, hotels/restaurants with heliports or any other cool places to land legally? I'm thinking in N.E. US, but any other ideas would be welcome...

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Well, strictly speaking, helicopters don't land or take-off vertically. They can be raised into a hover which will be a vertical movement to an altitude of 5 feet and similarly, land vertically from a hover. But the actually take and approach will be done at an angle, the steepness of which will vary with many factors such as space available, wind conditions, visibility, characteristics of the aircraft etc.

The reason that so many operate from airport to airport is that it makes life so much easier. The pilot will know that the space available is appropriate and level and that there will be facilities available there such as fuel, weather infomation, flight information, engineering etc.

I don't know about the US but there are plenty of hotels in the UK where one can land a helicopter. However, you normally have to arrange permission first. Rooftops are much rarer due the structural capability of the rooftop and the inherent difficulty in landing on one. If you have the landowner's permission, you can land a helicopter anywhere you like provided that the landing area is safe and suitable so large private gardens are a possibility (as I have done!).

Hope that helps - are you thinking of learning to fly?

Cheers

Whirls

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Here is a link where you can purchase a publication of US heliports:

http://www.rotor.com/get.php?page=pu...blications.htm

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Edited for reasoning,

Helicopters do land and take-off vertically. What Whirly describes is the transition to and from the hover from where a vertical landing will take place. We can also carry out running/rolling take-offs if required.

I can't comment on US landing sites given that I am in the UK as is Whirly.

Airfields generally have more facilities is the general broad brush answer and the rational would be too in depth to go into in a short manner.

I thought the permission, roof structural integrity, and difficulty was a little off the mark since reading between the lines of Rudestuffs original post, I assume he is a pilot given he wants places to legally land that will be fun.

Hey, it may be me wide of the mark, apologies for the offence, Rudestufff : I hope you find loads of places to go have fun,

HEDP

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Oh, I thought Whirly's response a well measured reply to an obvious neophyte helicopter pilot of probably young age.

Lighten up a bit HEDP, its New Year...

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

moosp i thing he was being sarcastic.

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

HEDP BUM:E

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

HEDP,

If you have an issue with anything I've said, then please take it up with me privately. I didn't go into any technical detail deliberately as 1) my own PPL knowledge is not sufficient to get those details so "spot-on" accurately so as not to risk the wrath of that Rotorhead faction who love to point out everyone else's errors and 2) the original post, to me, appears to be written by someone new to aviation.

None of the "so-called" "gurus" on this site had bothered to explain to the original thread-starter in more "grown-up" terms so I didn't want a newcomer to think we are rude and impolite in not answering a couple of questions.

So, why don't you answer the original question in what you consider to be the correct tone and I shall bow down to your superior knowledge and use of English.

Cheers

Whirls

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Isn't this the reason we are in the HELICOPTER industry instead of the fixed wing industry - so we are not reliant on runways??

Back to the original question - the reason why lots of helicopters fly into and out of airports is because there are no helipads around. Also, most maintenance is carried out at airports and it may be connecting with a stiff wing flight for the boss.

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Whirlygig
your response was fine.

Just ignore the big school boy comments..too bad his was truely
" the most unhelpfull and condescending post I think I have seen on PPrune to-date,"

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Whilst it was a shallow answer by Whirlygig, that was arguably appropriate to the question. I couldn't personally see that it was either incorrect, or patronising.

Keep up the good work,

G

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Well to answer the question and cool things off a touch in this thread, here's some input.

The three public-use NY city area heliports are W30th St (JRA), Downtown/Wall St Heliport (JRB) and E34th St Heliport (6N5).

Basic info is available on www.airnav.com using the above airport identifiers.

Please note, all three charge decent landing fees, around $75 to $150 depending on aircraft (dont quote me on the exact fees).

Only W30th is open at the weekends.

Should you be interested in visiting one, as may be inferred by your original post, please, please, please be aware that all three are extremely busy with multiple/simultaneous helicopter operations. Use of the appropriate unicom freq is greatly appreciated and required before final approach or takeoff. (123.05 Hudson river, W30 and Wall, and 123.07 East river and 6N5)

Anyone considering visiting one of the three thats not au-fait with the area is strongly advised to call the heliport first for ops for assistance (and fees/times), and to maybe consider Downtown/Wall as the easiest to fly into. Can't advise on trying E34th unless you are 100% willing to make a backward (CAT A type) takeoff departure and are adept at precision approaches + tight parking.

Hope that helps.

NY Pilot

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Wow, catfight... How justhelicoptersdotcomlike.

If you're ever in Fort Lauderdale, rudestuff, make a pit stop at the Downtown Heliport. It's a rooftop facility (on the roof of a parking garage, to be precise) and you can walk to a number of great restaurants from there.

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Wow,
Not quite what I was expecting, I must admit.
Whirlygig, thanks for the info about takeoffs and landings; I fly helicopters for a living so I know a little about how they operate...
I was rather hoping that people would share any cool landing places with the rest of us - grass strip next to a truckstop, heliport next to a Hooters, Restaurant/Hotel with landing facilities etc...
Thanks for the tip on DT1 in Fort Lauderdale, BTW (although i have been there already!)
Regards

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

heliport next to hooters?!dream on.......:ok:

jacob.

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

There's a little roadside stand about five miles South of the Miami Zoo that sells incredible fresh strawberry milkshakes and ice cream. You can land right on the side of the strawberry field behind it (it's actually a little private grass strip). Mind you, it's only open during strawberry season.

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

If you fly in Ohio, Theres a grass strip called Elliots Landing (O74) right next to a truck stop/Diner - Just land next to the parking lot and stroll over for breakfast.

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

to add a few cents to ENG Brit's list, if you go a bit further away from the city. At the end of the day, you can just take the latest AFD and identify all the heliports/helipads open to public use. If they are not closed, there are no specific requirements for prior authorizations, and no NOTAMs, you should be able to land there.
- as recently as last year, you could land in downtown Newark by the train station - public pad, no fees!! but last time I checked in the AFD it was closed unfortunately.
- 0C9 (coach and paddock) in NJ, not on any of the maps but in the AFD. you have to find it with your GPS. It's in the backyard of the Grand Colonial, a nice restaurant. Last month, however, it looked like there was construction work and the pad seemed closed. Check the AFD+NOTAMs if you go.
- Haverstraw (on the map), up the hudson river before bear mountain. a small grass pad pretty much in the middle of nowhere. if you go there you might as well do some sightseeing and check out some of the hudson estates.
- Southhampton. This one is on the map. Right on the beach, 45 mins from NY.
- There is also a pad called Norristown. It's slightly north of philly, in a suburban area.
- Downtown philly. fees are less than Manhattan, but still 40 or 50 bucks.

There are a few more, but they are private and you need to know the owner to land there.

Re: Anybody know of any cool public use heliports?
 

Try out the advanced search page of airnav.com. (Pick heliports of course!)
Then, once you've found a good one, click on the 'virtual earth' link. Once there, check out the 'bird's eye view' if it's available.
It's great... and a bit spooky... I found my condo comes in a little too clear... :suspect:

Anyway, here's the Haverstraw (I think) heliport that LGNYC mentioned.
Some more (public/private):
Prov, RI Rooftop
Dynasty Heliport, NH S-58?
Sherborn, MA Enstrom?
WN01, WA

-Tom

$100 hamburgers
 

seach the web for:
$100 hamburgers
you get a pretty good list of fly in resturants, heck they even have a book.
It seems the hovering impared are always hungry and know where to go:
http://forums.aopa.org/forumdisplay....e=2&order=desc