A new draft Advisory Circular from the FAA is prompting industry concerns with regard to the viability of some existing heliports and the ability to expand/improve them or build new ones, particularly in urban areas. Concerned stakeholders will have the opportunity to meet with the FAA to discuss the heliport design AC (No. 150/5390-2C) at a two-day meeting at the Helicopter Association International (HAI) headquarters Alexandria, Va. The July 12-13 meeting is just two weeks before the comment period on the 198-page document closes on July 30. To date, efforts by HAI and other groups to get the comment period extended have not been successful.
HAI president Matt Zuccaro said his association’s heliports committee worked with the FAA on the document and assumed it would contain just minor revisions. “This turned into a much bigger revision with greater impact on all the various heliports. It is an all-encompassing document that has some potential for unintended consequences,” he warned. Zuccaro said HAI is currently collecting and tabulating written comments from its members and will present them to the FAA before the July meeting.
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