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London Heliport Layout
Note: Below is the Heliport Plan showing the current temporary TLOF layout on the manoeuvring area (detailed in the UK IAIP on the NATS AIS website) during redevelopment of heliport facilities. The perimeter to the south and east of the site is bounded by a 3 metre high temporary hoarding screening new building development).
Reproduced with the kind permission of the CAA
Approved Pilots
Only approved pilots may use The London Heliport. All pilots wishing to use the heliport must have conducted a familiarisation flight to the heliport with a previously approved pilot. The heliport procedures must always be complied with and, to be approved, all new pilots must have signed the acknowledgement slip of the current edition of the Conditions of Use which has also been counter-signed by the approving pilot.
ATC permission/Marshalled Assistance
Permission is required for all manoeuvres, engine starts, rotor starts / stops. All inbound and outbound ground taxiing and hovering is carried out with marshalled assistance. Pilots are to ensure that they are familiar with standard marshalling signals (refer to the CAP 393 ANO Section 2: Rules of the Air Regulations, Rules 62 & 63 and also CAP 637 Visual Aids Handbook for illustrations).
Whilst the heliport will always try to comply with operations and services as requested by an operator at the time of slot booking, there may be occasions when, due to the confined space available at the heliport, alternate actions or manoeuvres are requested of aircrew either by ATC or the RFF/Handling service for either safety reasons or in order to expedite operations at the time. Aircrew are encouraged to discuss these requested actions should they have any concerns or reservations about carrying them out so that an alternative can be discussed and agreed upon. Similarly aircrew are asked to attend to any “Slow-Down” or “Stop” marshalling signals given by handling staff arising out of any safety concerns they may have about any manoeuvres during taxiing on the heliport apron or manoeuvring area.
Apron/ Manoeuvring Area Access
All airside access is subject to permission from heliport staff. Only persons wearing high-visibility clothing will be permitted unescorted/ unattended airside access (in the case of aircrew or contractors). All other airside access (to persons not wearing high-visibility clothing) will only be permitted with a heliport-staff escort (who will be wearing high visibility clothing) or with approval of heliport handling and/or operational staff (in the case of passengers embarking or disembarking from an aircraft).
These steps are necessary for compliance with current airport safety management policy. We shall appreciate your assistance and co-operation in implementing this policy and work with you to ensure that it does not slow-down the safe movement of people across the manoeuvring area.
Embarkation/Disembarkation of Passengers
This is only to be carried out with the assistance of the heliport ground crew. Aircrew are to ensure that heliport handlers are present before proceeding airside with passengers and also to brief passengers on arrival to remain in side the aircraft until handlers are present to assist with escorted disembarkation.
Aircraft Without (or with unserviceable) Rotor-brakes
Owners/operators using helicopters not equipped with a rotor-brake (or unserviceable rotor-brake) must advise operations at the time of booking. Due to time constraints during busy periods, start-ups and shutdowns for such aircraft may be delayed due to blade-sail hazard from the down-draft of other aircraft. Aircrew on such aircraft should not disembark from the aircraft or leave it unattended until the rotors have ceased turning.
Overdue Action
All operators/pilots are required to keep the heliport informed of early or late arrivals. Overdue action will be instigated 15 minutes after ETA. If aircraft are overdue by more than 45 minutes, search and rescue action will have been commenced in accordance with our Manual of Air Traffic Services. Any subsequent charges incurred will be passed on directly to the owner / operator.
Mobile Telephones
For safety reasons mobile telephones are not to be used and should remain switched off at all times when airside. Air crew are asked to brief passengers on arrival at the heliport before disembarkation.
Refuelling
All passengers in transit must disembark from aircraft during re-fuelling operations.
Dangerous Goods
Operators/pilots must advise Heliport Operations in advance of any dangerous goods (e.g. ammunition) to be carried on flights. Please refer to CAA publication CAP 675 for details.
Flight Procedures
Special helicopter procedures within the London CTR - refer to the UK AIP AD 2.22 (EGLL) for details.
Radio Contact
Inbound helicopters must establish radio contact with the heliport ATC before entering the ATZ. They should advise POB and any fuel requirements on initial contact.
Circuit Height
Circuit height is 1000ft a.m.s.l.
The traffic pattern is non-standard and flown over the river.
All turns should be made, as far as is practical over the river above 500ft See map below for details.
- Normal circuit pattern - between Battersea (road) Bridge and Wandsworth (road) Bridge.
- Extended circuit pattern - between Chelsea (road) Bridge and Putney (railway) bridge (not to be used without permission from ATC – due to co-ordination with SVFR/Thames Radar).
N.B. Take Off, Climb and Approach Profile - is offset by 15 degrees away from shoreline (so as to remain over the centre of the river for as long as is safe so to do).
Reproduced with the kind permission of the CAA
Arrivals and departures
All arrivals and departures must be via the flight platform. Aircraft must not over fly any shipping that is within 100m of the platform.
Non-standard take-off requests
Non-standard take-off requests including Group A / Helipad / Class 1 or Running shall be made to ATC on start up. Permission will be subject to other heliport or ATC operational requirements.
Radio Failure
Inbound helicopters with a radio failure should hold on the North side of the river and await visual light signals from the ATC tower.
Landing Clearances
If a landing clearance is not received by the final 200m of landing, a go-around must be carried out. The go-around procedure is:
03 TURN LEFT – 21 TURN RIGHT…
…and then fly over the north bank of the river, climb to 500ft, join the circuit until further instructions are issued by ATC.
Flight Plans
Should be faxed to the heliport (ATC Fax: 020 7924 1022) with a minimum of 1 hours notice, prior to arrival at the heliport.
Start-up/Shut-down & Manoeuvres
ATC permission is required for engine (and rotor) start-up/shut-downs and all manoeuvres, including hover and taxi (which should be at a brisk walking pace).
Noise Abatement Procedures
In order to reduce the overall noise footprint and to alleviate the common causes of complaints and concerns from the local community (e.g. approaches carried out too early, passing too close to tall buildings, low manoeuvres in the approach or climb-out phase) The London Heliport operates a “Fly Neighbourly” policy as follows:
- Always fly as high as possible subject to any ATC clearances and or the cloud-base.
- Maintain circuit height (1000ft a.m.s.l.) until final approach. After departure, climb to circuit height as soon as possible.
- All approaches and departures (offset 15 degrees) to be carried out over the river.
- Climb out should be at the best safe vertical speed in order to reach circuit height.
- No manoeuvres below 500ft are permitted for all departing and arriving helicopters.
- All turns in the circuit (dumbbell pattern) should be made over the river. The direction of turn (left or right) is the pilot’s decision but where possible should be initiated towards the windward direction in order to reduce the diameter of the turn. Turns should not be made until reaching Battersea or Wandsworth road bridges at circuit height in order to avoid overflying tall buildings on either bank of the river.
- When directed by ATC for separation purposes pilots will fly north- or south-side of the River Thames. All turns are to be completed over the centre of the river and must not cut the corner of the river bends in either direction.
- Helicopters will not be permitted to start-up in advance of arrival of passenger(s) and overall ground-running of rotors/engines is limited to a maximum of 5 minutes.
- If “Start-Up” permission is granted and it subsequently emerges that not all passengers are on board or in attendance, then the pilot will be instructed to shut down until all passengers are on board or ready to board.
Notes:
- The exceptions to the above are when safety is likely to be compromised or when directed to do otherwise by Air Traffic Control. Rules 5 and 6 of the Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 apply.
- Approvals to use the London Heliport will be withdrawn if pilots disregard these local rules.
FATO Wind turbulence/variance
The erection of new buildings to the North and South of the heliport has increased the probability of turbulence and variance of wind direction away from that indicated or passed by ATC.
This may be particularly experienced during periods of stronger prevailing or gusting winds and can affect landing, take-off, hover and ground/air taxiing manoeuvres. Aircrew are therefore advised to exercise extreme caution at all times.
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TLH Conditions of Use – Issue 1.4, 1 October 2010