London Heliport

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London Heliport (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGLW) at Battersea, London is the capital's main and busiest heliport. The facility is located on the south bank of the River Thames, 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) southwest of Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster, between Wandsworth Bridge and Battersea Railway Bridge.

The heliport, once owned by Westland and then Harrods, is a very small site, making use of a jetty to provide a helipad for take-off and landing, and onshore parking for between three and four aircraft, depending upon size. The heliport provides landing, parking and refuelling services between 08:00 and 21:00 (flights are permitted between 07:00 and 23:00), albeit parking is normally restricted to smaller helicopter categories.

A Sikorsky S-76A landing on London Heliport's helipad jetty on the River Thames, Battersea Railway Bridge in the background

Flight conditions and procedures at the heliport prescribe a circuit height 1000 feet above the Thames, in an extended figure-of-eight over the water, to seek to minimise noise pollution for residents in the area and to constrain flight operations to over the river, away from the built-up area. Ground running of rotors is restricted to a maxiumum of five minutes for the same reason.

In December 2003, the heliport was acquired by Weston Homes. Landing fees in April 2006 were from £90 to £1075 depending upon the helicopter type; additional costs accrue for parking, early or late flights, and flights in evening peak times.

In February 2007 the heliport site was acquired by Von Essen Hotels with PremiAir awarded the exclusive contract to operate the heliport. The acquisition deal also includes an exclusive new luxury hotel development under construction adjacent to the heliport site that will also house the heliport’s new terminal, executive lounge and business meeting room areas.

[edit] References

• United Kingdom AIP

[edit] External links

• London Heliport website
• EGLW at Helipad.co.uk