 The London Heliport takes any environmental issues, such as noise pollution, very seriously and operates a “Fly Neighbourly” policy. ’The following pages contain information on helicopter operations over London and at the London Heliport. The intention is to inform those who would like to know more about such operations and it is hoped that the answers will be found here. Should you have any concerns please go to the links at the end of these pages.
The London Control Zones
The London Heliport strives to ensure that any environmental impact on its local area is kept to a minimum. In order to achieve this all helicopter operators require a thorough briefing on the "do's and don'ts" when using the Heliport and their behaviour is closely monitored. However, the airspace surrounding the Heliport and over London generally does not belong to the Heliport but to the London Control Zone (known as the London CTR) in the west and, to the east, London/City Control Zone (know as the London/City CTR). The primary controlling authorities are Heathrow Radar and Thames Radar respectively. A chart showing the two Control Zones can be downloaded here. You will see that The London Heliport is located at the east end of the London Control Zone.
Helicopter Routes within the Zones
Within the Zones are helicopter routes designated H3, H4, H5, H7, H9 and H10. These routes were established many years ago with a primary reason to keep single engine helicopters over open ground or the River Thames and away from Heathrow Airport traffic. With the advent of twin engine helicopters, traffic that doesn’t conflict with Heathrow Airport is allowed to fly off a designated helicopter route but under the positive control of one of the air traffic services that provides radar and at a height of not less than 1000 feet above the ground or less if they have a specific permission to do so from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Police and Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) helicopters have this permission. On the designated helicopter routes the standard lowest permitted height is 500 feet above the ground, except when landing or taking off in accordance with normal aviation practice. It may be of interest to know that some single engine helicopters are permitted to fly off the prescribed helicopter routes providing they satisfy the rules and regulations and, again, hold a specific permission from the CAA.
 The London Heliport Air Traffic Zone
The London Heliport has airspace assigned to it which covers the area of a circle with a diameter of 2 nautical miles with the heliport being the centre of that circle, called an Air Traffic Zone (ATZ). The vertical airspace varies but the area to the west (up stream) of the lines designated as being “10 to 6”, if using a conventional clock face, has a maximum height of 1000 feet and the area to the east of the clock’s hands (down stream), a maximum height of 1500 feet. These maxima are imposed by the required vertical separation distance (for enhanced safety) between helicopters landing at or passing by the heliport and aircraft landing at Heathrow. Click here for a diagram of the London Heliport ATZ.
Heliport Approaches
Helicopters are legally permitted to fly anywhere within this ATZ and, if making an approach to or taking off from the heliport, they could be below 500 feet although in reality this is most unlikely – except when over the river or, perhaps, if a police or HEMS helicopter. Whenever possible helicopters operating to or from the heliport will fly over the centre of the river and be at the highest possible safe altitude whilst making an approach or departure. However, there may be circumstances when safety considerations over-ride all others and the helicopter will be told to fly off river in order to provide adequate separation from another helicopter. This means that both helicopters may fly over populated areas but they will be at a safe height and they will pass over as quickly as possible.
 Helicopter Safety
The belief that an engine failure will cause a helicopter to fall uncontrollably like a brick is a common misconception and whereas the failure of the power unit in a single engine helicopter will cause it to descend fairly quickly, the resulting airflow passing through the rotor blades not only slows down the descent but also keeps the blades turning so that the inertia retained by the blades can be used to brake the descent and enable a controlled landing. The advantage of a helicopter over an aeroplane in the same situation is that the helicopter does not require a large area on which to land – so it is in fact safer! If the helicopter has two engines, the take off and landing profiles are designed to ensure that in the unlikely event of an engine failure the helicopter can land back safely or, once at flying speed, can climb away and fly to an alternative landing area.
Helicopter Noise
Wind, temperature, air density and the helicopter's weight and speed influences the helicopter’s take off, landing profiles and resulting noise. If there is a nose wind, less power is required to keep the helicopter airborne and therefore a steeper approach/departure angle can be achieved. Occasionally, when air density and temperature are at a particular level, noise from a helicopter’s main rotor can be perceived as being impulsive in nature; this phenomenon is known as “blade slap”. Blade slap may also occur when the helicopter slows down to descend or turn and this will cause an increase in perceived noise. It is sometimes possible to reduce the speed and/or the turn and descent angle to reduce blade slap but it is not always achievable – however the pilot will try.
Questions and Answers
| Approaches and Departures |
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I have been told that helicopters approaching to land at the heliport or departing from it must do so with a 15º offset to the landing platform alignment. Is this so? |
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This offset is not mandatory but advisory and recommended only. The offset encourages helicopters to stay over the middle of the river for as long as possible. |
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I am told that it is mandatory for all helicopters to fly over the middle of the river but sometimes they fly over the built-up areas on both sides. Is this allowed? |
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Pilots are encouraged to fly over the middle of the river and will do so unless they have been told to “fly on the north (south) side” by air traffic control. This instruction will be given if there is conflicting air traffic and it is to ensure a safe separation distance between aircraft. When flying on the north or south side, over the built-up areas, the aircraft should be at 1000 feet above the ground unless they are approaching to land at or take off from the heliport, in which case they can be lower. |
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I saw a helicopter fly across the river from the heliport before turning to follow the river. This appears to be very dangerous so why does it happen? |
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It is not a dangerous manoeuvre and if the wind is strong and from a northerly direction, with a smaller helicopter, it is often safer to leave the heliport into wind and, having reached its safe flying speed, for it to turn and follow the river whilst climbing at the same time. However, air traffic must give permission for this direction of departure.
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| Operations at the Heliport |
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Helicopters are not supposed to be running for more than 5 minutes at the heliport are they? |
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This is correct. However, occasionally and particularly if Heathrow’s and London City Airport’s landing and take-off direction is to the east, conflicting traffic may cause a delay in the departure clearance for a helicopter and this may also cause the 5 minutes to be exceeded. Occasionally, it may be that several helicopters are given clearance to start during a 5 minute period giving the impression that the limit is being exceeded by an individual helicopter. Please note that fuel is a precious commodity and often critical to a flight so pilots are not keen to burn fuel by unnecessary ground running before a departure. |
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Does the heliport have its own rescue and fire fighting service? |
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Yes. The rescue and fire fighting team is on duty throughout the heliport’s operating hours. The team is made up of highly trained professional fire fighters who undertake regular training which sometimes involves live fire and rescue scenarios (although live fire training does not take place at the London Heliport). In support of this team are the local emergency services and joint training exercises take place regularly.
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Every so often there seems to be a constant stream of helicopters landing and taking off from the heliport. Is this allowed? |
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There are several notable special events that take place each year, particularly at week-ends which inevitably cause an increased concentration of arrivals and departures. However, apart from Farnborough Air Show which is in July every other year, these movements must conform within the restrictions laid down under the planning consent – 12,000 non-exempt movements per year; 80 movements per day except for a) 160 per day on a maximum of 5 days per year and 130 per day on other days until the total of a) and b) reaches 1000 movements – these special events include: The Cheltenham Festival in March; A1 Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in April; the Derby meeting at Epsom and Royal Ascot in June; Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July and various others. |
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| Other Helicopter Operations over London |
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We were woken in the middle of the night by a helicopter which seems to be going to or from the heliport. Are there no controls over the operating hours? |
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It is most likely that it was a police helicopter that interrupted your night although the airspace over London is available 24 hours per day. The heliport’s permitted operating hours are 0700 – 2300 each day although if a life or death situation arises, helicopters from the emergency services may use the heliport at any time. |
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Military helicopters seem to fly over London a lot. Are they going to the heliport and why do they always seem to fly so low? |
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If military helicopters are arriving at or departing from the heliport, they are under the control of the heliport’s air traffic services and they will have been briefed on and should comply with the procedures. When they are away from the heliport they will be in contact with the air traffic service for the London Control Zone. Whereas they are encouraged to fly as high as possible this doesn’t always happen because their base unit has authorised them to fly lower than that permitted by civilian helicopters. Very few military helicopters actually use the heliport and the London Heliport has no jurisdiction over those. Furthermore, the very large military helicopters may only use the heliport with specific permission from the heliport’s senior management and this is only given for those flights that are considered to be essential. The only exception to this would be in the case of an emergency. |
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Helicopters have been seen to land at other sites near the London Heliport. Is this allowed? |
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Subject to written permission from the Civil Aviation Authority and any necessary planning permissions from the appropriate authority, yes. However if you are concerned it is suggested that you contact these organisations to confirm. |
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If I think a helicopter has been flown dangerously or has been ignoring the rules, to whom can I make a complaint? |
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If the offending helicopter has been associated with operations to or from the London Heliport you should contact the heliport, either by telephone – 0207 228 0181 (available during normal operating hours 0800 - 2000) or by using the link at the bottom of page and the complaint will be thoroughly investigated.
All complaints are reported to the London Heliport Consultative Group and will be included in the minutes of the Group’s meetings.
 Please click here for The Wandsworth Council Website
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At the moment there is no formal complaints procedure in place for helicopters flying within the London Control Zone that are not operating at the London Heliport. However, this is being addressed by the London Assembly and Defra but in the interim the Civil Aviation Authority (Director of Airspace Policy) has a remit to investigate any such complaints. You can contact The Directorate of Airspace by telephone on 020 7453 6524/5 or by writing to:
Consultation Secretary
Directorate of Airspace Policy
CAA House K6
45 – 59 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6TE
Alternatively, please email ian.wrathall@dap.caa.co.uk
For complaints concerning Military helicopters telephone the MOD complaints line: 02072186020
Please click here for The London Heliport Complaints form
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