Helo Landing Feedback

Then you might think about a much larger boat.

Give these guys a call. http://www.heliriviera.com/welcome.html

Im with Marmot. I only have experience with helos in a military setting and 80' seems small. But ask the experts they would no much better that me.

If it's just a touch down and drop off pad, you could make one fit, but if the helo is going to stay with you, forget about it. Keeping a helo on deck on such a small boat is going to guaranty you a maintenance nightmare on the helo in the form of corrossion. Boats that keep helos onboard tend to have climate controlled hangars. Also make sure you treat it well with ACR. Also consider the stability implications of where that 5000lbs is in any kind of seaway. I'm running a 110' boat and the owner has a Bell 407, and there's no safe way to operate it off of this boat. Then there is the issue of dynamic rollover in the transition to landing and take off. The smaller the boat, the more and jerkier the motion. That motion when light on a skid can cause dynamic roll over, and IIRC that helo has a fully articulated rotor head, and if it does you're also suceptible to ground resonance effects. So as you can see, you'll be very limited in the functionality and usefulness of a helo onboard. Basically it will only be able to serve you as a taxi to the boat at dock (if allowed by local authority which it often isn't) or in a very calm anchorage.

Hi,

Having worked on 3 yachts that were Helo equipped I am yet to serve on one with a hanger.

I am not sure what the USCG or Canadians would have to say about your plans but imagine they have a similar set of rules.

The current regs re Helo Pads on Yachts which the LY2 Refers to are covered by a CAA Document CAP 437.

You can have a read of it here: http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=detail&id=523

For what it’s worth, a couple built a custom Benford 55 foot Coaster. He is a pilot and they carry a Robinson R22 helo on the boat deck. You might check with Jay Benford’s office and see if they can put you in contact with the owners, John & Teddi Holzemer.

Benford Design - http://www.benford.us/

Here is a PDF that gives an overview of their boat with a few photos and drawings. Probably not the style you are interested, but still a 55 foot boat that handles a helo in a similar space.

http://www.benford.us/pdf/55TeddiBear.pdf

Helipad Design

My general comment is that you need a smaller helicopter or larger boat.

pad size should be diagonally the same as the rotor diameter.

landing design impact load factor is 1.5 to 2.5x of MWOT.

It should make for some interesting vessal movement.....