The vast majority of the nation’s heliports epitomize the “normalization of deviance,” according to Rex Alexander, a vertical flight infrastructure expert and the CEO of consultancy Five Alpha. “Just because somebody painted an ‘H’ in a parking lot does not mean that it meets any standard, anywhere,” Alexander counseled during a Helicopter Association International (HAI) webinar in January. The session occurred mere days after the FAA released its latest advisory circular (AC) on heliport design (see sidebar).
Alexander noted that most of the nation’s heliports have design, lighting, marking, and airspace issues related to size, obstructions, and approach slopes and are antiquated. He also said that pilots have received no training or poor training on what constitutes a proper heliport/helipad. At the heart of the problem is the lack of proper regulation and the voluntary nature of heliport standards, he added.
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