What are the rules?

[Woodlouse2002]

As regards landing a helicopter. I know you don't have to go to and airport or helipad to land. Yet I also accept that you most likely arn't allowed to land in built up areas, multistory car parks etc. So what are the rules and what are the procedures of landing, i.e. calling up atc and telling them were and when you're going to land and whether you have to do it far in advance or not.


Just curious.

[Nexus]

My friend just calls the police and they will either tell him "OK" or "not OK"
He flies an R-22...tiny little thing.  :)
When he liftsoff from the airport he uses ATC off course, but landing in urban areas are off limits from the air space.

[Woodlouse2002]

So you can land in Urban areas? Can traffic wardens give helicopters tickets?

[Nexus]

You can land if the property isn't privately owned (if so, you need permission from the owner aswell)
But if it's a large park owned by the city etc...then give the police a call. That's what they said to us in ground school aswell  ;D

[ozzy72]

It depends on the country Woodie. Also permission is important. You can't just land in the High St. to do the shopping!
Basically if you're not using an authorised airfield or it isn't an emergency (e.g. an autorotation due to engine failure or something) then you NEED permission.

[Saitek]

WHich I would suppose is an exception rather than a rule?

[beaky]

So you can land in Urban areas? Can traffic wardens give helicopters tickets?

If you land any aircraft illegally, if there is a witness and they want to get you in trouble, they just phone in your registration number... that is why there's a legal limit on how small the numbers can be. I suppose they might bust you based on a description of the aircraft in the event they don't get the number.
The local civil aviation authorities would take it from there.

[Brett_Henderson]

I'll call my cousin to confirm specifics (Florida law enforcement helo pilot).. but I'm pretty sure the common sense and GA rules apply.

It would be pretty tough to just up and land a helicopter in a populated area without violating altitude and seperation minimums.

I'm not sure what the exceptions are.. as they apply to news helicopters. I do know that if my cousin needs to just "go" somewhere.. there's a squawk code that pretty much gives him free reign.

I'd imagine that if you plan to land someplace  other than "G" airspace (where you'd pretty much be an ultra-light, legally (take off and land at your discretion)).. It's a matter of prior permission from; local law, property owner, and/or ATC, if it might interfere with any controlled airspace.

[Chris_F]

A guy not far from he has two helocopters in his (large) garage.  He takes off from his alarmingly small backyard.  This is suburbia and there are lots of other houses and such around, so I'm suprised the neighbors haven't shut him down yet.  He's also quite close the KMHT, but I would assume he must be just outside the controlled airspace or something.

One curious thing is the telephone/electric lines around his home all wear high visibility orange globe things.  I wonder how he got those installed...

[Triple_7]

I would assume if you have permission to land somewhere you could.

Rules might have changed but when I was a kid we used to go to a Kmart in town (which is now closed and is a Harley shop) but there would ocasionaly be a helicopter in the parking lot (which isnt overly large).  Youd see what I assume was a husband and wife come out and hop in.  They would takeoff and probably head off to a private landing.  I have no idea why they would fly in to get things, but made for an interesting thing to watch.  Saw them there every couple weeks loading up on whatever.  Just hate to have to parallel park that thing

I figure they probably knew the store owner