HEIPORT VISUAL APPROACH AND DEPARTURE AIRSPACE TESTS. VOLUME 1. SUMMARY

Abstract : During the winter and spring of 1987 flight tests were conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center's Concepts Development and Demonstration Heliport at the Atlantic City International Airport, N.J. The purpose of these flights was to examine and validate the current heliport approach/departure surfaces criteria as defined in the heliport Design Guide and to recommend modifications to these surfaces, if appropriate. The flight activities were conducted using aircraft representative of those in the civilian world. Data were collected using approach surfaces of 7.125, 8.00, and 10.00 deg for straight as well as curved path procedures. Also, departure surfaces of 7.125, 10.00, and 12.00 deg for straight and curved path procedures were used. All maneuvers were tracked by ground based tracking systems. This report documents the results of this activity. It describes the flight test and evaluation methodology and addresses technical as well as operational issues. It provides statical and graphical analysis of pilot performance along with a discussion of pilot subjective opinions concerning the acceptability and perceived workload, safety, and control margins associated with the procedures flown. The results of this work will be considered in the future modifications of the FAA Heliport Design Advisory Circular, AC 150/5390-2.