Helicopter Review
How to Taxi a Helicopter
Air Taxi or Hover Taxi...what does this mean??
Air taxi is when a helicopter pilot request to go expeditously from one point to another on the airfield usually at 20 knots and below 100 feet AGL. Air-taxi is the preferred method for helicopter movements on airports provided ground operations/conditions permit. Air taxi authorizes the pilot to proceed above the surface either via hover-taxi or flight at speeds more than 20 knots. Unless otherwise requested or instructed, the pilot is expected to remain below 100 feet AGL. The pilot is solely responsible for selecting a safe airspeed for the altitude/operation being conducted.
Hover Taxi
Hover taxi is when a helicopter proceeds at a slow speed above the surface, normally below 20 knots and in ground effect to get to another point on the field. Hover-taxiing consumes fuel at a high burn rate, and helicopter downwash turbulence (produced in ground effect) increases significantly with larger and heavier helicopters.
Wheeled Helicopters
Helicopters which are wheeled and request taxi the same phraseology used for a fixed wing aircraft shall be used for a wheeled helicopter when issuing taxi instructions.
Air Taxi Phraseology
AIR-TAXI:
VIA (direct, as requested, or specified route)
TO (location, heliport, helipad, operating/movement area, active/inactive runway).
AVOID (aircraft/vehicles/personnel).
If required,
REMAIN AT OR BELOW (altitude).
CAUTION (wake turbulence or other reasons).
LAND AND CONTACT TOWER,
or
HOLD FOR (reason- takeoff clearance, release, landing/taxiing aircraft, etc.).
Examples:
Air Taxi to Helipad 1, Land and Contact Tower.
Helipad 8, Air Taxi via Alph, Bravo, Bravo4, Avoid maintenance crew on Alpha, Land and Contact Tower
Hover Taxi Phraseology
HOVER-TAXI (supplemented by normal fixed wing aircraft taxi phraseology)
CAUTION (Danger Present)
Examples:
Helipad 6 Hover taxi via Alpha, Alpha2.
Hover Taxi to rwy 36R
Clearing a Helicopter to Take Off
Issue takeoff clearance from movement areas other than active runways, or in diverse directions from active runways, with additional instructions, as necessary. Whenever possible, issue takeoff clearance in lieu of extended hover-taxi or air-taxi operations.
Take Off from A Movement Area
(Present position, taxiway, helipad, numbers) MAKE RIGHT/LEFT TURN FOR (direction, points of compass, heading, NAVAID radial) DEPARTURE/DEPARTURE ROUTE (number, name, or code), AVOID (aircraft/ vehicles/personnel),
or
REMAIN (direction) OF (active runways, parking areas, passenger terminals, etc.).
CAUTION (power lines, unlighted obstructions, trees, wake turbulence, etc.).
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.
Examples:
Winds 010@ 10 kts Remain clear of RWY 36L and 36R Cleared for Take off.
Winds Calm, Taxi Way Juliet Make Left Turn For a Northern Departure, Cleared For Take Off.
Take Off from NONmovement Areas (i.e. a ramp)
If takeoff is requested from nonmovement areas and, in your judgment, the operation appears to be reasonable, use the following phraseology instead of the takeoff clearance discussed above:
PROCEED AS REQUESTED, USE CAUTION (reason and additional instructions, as appropriate).
Notice the word "Cleared" is not used.
If takeoff is requested from an area not visible, an area not authorized for helicopter use, an unlighted nonmovement area at night, or an area off the airport, and traffic is not a factor, use the following phraseology:
DEPARTURE FROM (requested location) WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK (reason and additional instructions, as necessary).
Notice the word "Cleared" is not used.
Helicopter Departure Seperation
Separate a departing helicopter from other helicopters by ensuring that it does not takeoff until one of the following conditions exists:
A. A preceding, departing helicopter has left the takeoff area.
B. A preceding, arriving helicopter has taxied off the landing area
Helicopter Arrival Seperation
Separate an arriving helicopter from other helicopters by ensuring that it does not land until one of the following conditions exists:
A. A preceding, arriving helicopter has come to a stop or taxied off the landing area.
B. A preceding, departing helicopter has left the landing area.
Landing Helicopters
Landing on Movement Areas
Issue landing clearance for helicopters to movement areas other than active runways, or from diverse directions to points on active runways, with additional instructions, as necessary. Whenever possible, issue landing clearance in lieu of extended hover-taxi or air-taxi operations.
MAKE APPROACH STRAIGHT-IN/CIRCLING LEFT/RIGHT TURN TO (location, runway, taxiway, helipad, Maltese cross) ARRIVAL/ARRIVAL ROUTE (number, name, or code).
HOLD SHORT OF (active runway, extended runway centerline, other).
REMAIN (direction/distance; e.g., 700 feet, 1 1/2 miles) FROM (runway, runway centerline, other helicopter/ aircraft).
CAUTION (power lines, unlighted obstructions, wake turbulence, etc.).
WINDS, CLEARED TO LAND.
CONTACT GROUND.
AIR TAXI TO RAMP.
Landing on NONmovement Areas
If landing is requested to nonmovement areas and, in your judgment, the operation appears to be reasonable, use the following phraseology instead of the landing clearance above.
WINDS, PROCEED AS REQUESTED, USE CAUTION (reason and additional instructions, as appropriate).
If landing is requested to an area not visible, an area not authorized for helicopter use, an unlighted nonmovement area at night, or an area off the airport, and traffic is not a factor, use the following phraseology.
WINDS, LANDING AT (requested location) WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK (reason and additional instructions, as necessary).
TRAFFIC (as applicable),
or
TRAFFIC NOT A FACTOR.
References: 3-11-1 thru 3-11-6 of the 7110.65
