Helicopter Rejected Takeoff Airspace Requirements (Final Report)

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Helicopter Rejected Takeoff Airspace Requirements (Final Report)

E. D. Mcconkey / R. J. Hawley / R. K. Anoll

An analysis is given of performance data for helicopters that are certified for one engine inoperative (OEI) performance. It relates rejected takeoff and OEI capability to airspace requirements for heliports intended to support Category A operations. The current FAA regulation defining protected airspace and the imaginary surfaces associated with heliports does not take into consideration emergency situations involving engine failures during takeoff and landing operations. That is, the air and ground space defined by this regulation provides no margin of safety for acceleration or stopping distance for a rejected takeoff. Furthermore, it defines departure paths (climbout angles) that are too steep for many helicopters' OEI climbout capability. Suggested here is a more flexible airspace system, based on helicopter performance, that should apply to protected airspace at heliports supporting Category A operations.