A Look at Heliport Design
By Leah Murphy, FAA Safety Team Representative
Heliports are valuable infrastructure that allow vertical lift aircraft to access areas typically inaccessible to non-vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. These are vital in helicopter air ambulance services, urban air mobility, and other specialized operations. Prior to using a heliport, it is important for the pilot to be familiar with and understand the design of their landing zone. Some questions a pilot should be asking themselves include: am I allowed to land here, is the area suitable for my aircraft, and if at night, is the heliport intended for night operations? The most comprehensive FAA resource regarding heliports is Advisory Circular 150/5390–2D, which can help in finding these answers. While the FAA does not certify heliports, this AC provides comprehensive guidance for safe and efficient airspace use.
There are three key features for each heliport: touchdown and liftoff area (TLOF), final approach and takeoff area (FATO), and safety area.
- The TLOF is a load-bearing area on which the helicopter lands and takes off, normally centered within the FATO. The TLOF can be identified by a painted “H” in the center, which will be surrounded by a yellow circle. The yellow circle is the touchdown/positioning circle (TDPC), which provides guidance to allow a pilot to touch down in a specific position. To properly use the TDPC, the pilot’s seat is intended to be over the marking and the undercarriage will be inside the load-bearing area. The dimensions and design of a TLOF vary based on the location and use of the heliport, with requirements differing from general aviation, transport, and hospital. To know if an aircraft is suitable for the heliport, the pilot needs to reference the TLOF size/weight limitation box. This box is at least five square feet divided into two sections, upper and lower. The upper section indicates a weight limit in thousands of pounds (if there is a diagonal line in lieu of a number, there is no weight limit), and the lower section indicates the controlling dimension of the largest helicopter for which it is designed in feet.
2. A heliport has at least one FATO, a defined area over which the pilot completes the final phase of the approach to a hover or a landing and from which the pilot initiates takeoff. Not all FATOs are load bearing, rather they provide guidance and clearance for the helicopter to reach the load bearing TLOF. For those that are load bearing and equipped for night operations, they will typically have green perimeter lights.
3. The safety area is a defined area on a heliport surrounding the FATO intended to reduce the risk of damage to helicopters accidentally deviating from the intended flight path and diverging from the FATO.
All three areas must be free of vertical obstructions to provide clear space for safe operations. The design standards provided also assume that there will never be more than one helicopter within the safety area and FATO at a time.
With the evolving industry, the emergence of vertiports is integrating into heliports. On Dec. 27, 2024, the FAA issued Engineering Brief (EB) No. 105A, Vertiport Design (PDF download), to supplement AC 150/5390–2D. This EB clarifies that vertiports are a subclass of heliports and their design takes into consideration aircraft with three or more propulsors, compared to the typical heliport design which was established for single, tandem, or dual-rotor aircraft. They will be identifiable by the letters “VTL” on the TLOF, while still having the traditional “H” in the center.
By understanding the design features and operational requirements outlined in AC 150/5390–2D and EB150A, pilots should be able to confidently utilize heliports in their intended manner.
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Leah Murphy is a dual-rated flight instructor and helicopter air ambulance pilot. She is also an FAA Safety Team Representative in Cleveland, Ohio.
