Heli Decks

Good question. As a casual observer I've wondered the same thing since watching Big Eagle's repeatedly taking off and landing in the middle of the Lauderdale boat show year's ago. I've a feeling that the record may be pretty good though. Curious to see the stats, especially as it seems people are thinking of putting them on smaller and smaller yachts..

So let me get this straight. You are asking if it would be OK to build a helicopter pad, that does not meet the minimum safety requirements, for a helicopter pad? I hope I'm reading this wrong, because where else are you going to cut corners?

Although I'm no kind of helicopter expert, as someone who spends a lot of time on boats I can attest to the fact that there is seldom little or no swell (all you need is a sportfish going by to end any calm), and you can seldom count on no wind gusts over 15 kts. Anybody who ever docked a small boat knows they always pop up at just the wrong time. Plus, very few high powered people aren't going to tell their pilot to push the envelope 'just a little' rather than them being inconvenienced. I'd certainly push for over-built rather than under. But I'm still curious about the stats. There's some good pilots flying, so I have a feeling that the stats won't back up my concerns.

Funny, I thought he was asking if a commercially certified helicopter pad on a yacht that will only use it in fair weather is appreciably safer. Even large yachts have limited space and capacity. If a commercially certified helicopter pad is not required and no safer I would probably opt for something smaller too.

Have you tried contacting marine insurers of large yachts and ships? I would think they if anybody would have that kind of information. Also try contacting the NTSB perhaps.

It occurs to me that these stats probably don't exist yet as putting helipads and helicopters on smaller yachts is a relatively new and very costly phenomenon. I only know of 3 crashes and none involved the yachts being hit nor resulted in serious injuries. Maybe when more are put on 90' to 150' yachts there will be more info. My guess though is that this is one of those fads of the rich trying to act like the super rich that will fade away after several good yachts are ruined.

I doubt it, they have a legit use and an are an unfounded concern in most cases. If you look at the shady operations helicopters operate in on a daily basis on land, these non certified pads are far more than adequate, and the pilot involved is responsible for deeming it so, in the United States anyways.

You guys would cringe at the logging and life flight operations around this country.

Define Landing....

Depends on what and how it is used. But I would get some baseline Yacht related data as to what has been allowed by the insurance companies. Preferably not directly from them.

Structure is the easy part. Complete Operating instructions, ground crew training, etc get to be important quickly.

Most of my direct experience is in Offshore platforms of various types, with guidelines from the API and State of Louisiana and ABS. But I have done some logging and other temporary design work as well.

Hi,
Oceaneer, As I believe it was you who once wrote to me thanking me for my record keeping on a boat I had left 10 yrs previously having gained my e mail address through a mutual acquaintance please drop me a PM with your current e mail addy.

I will put you in contact with the first pilot/engineer to land on the pad of the boat we have a connection with.

He is happy to help others, our common colleague will know he and has a wealth of knowledge and realtime experience on boats, rigs, logs , heavy lift and fires while PIC and Engineer on the ground for the same machines.

He is currently on the 3rd Boat for the same Owner so he must do something right.

Man on man, I remember the tiny Helipad at Bimini Big Game about 15 years ago, right next to the fuel pumps and palm trees. I saw a guy land and take off back then and he had inches to spare......