Helicopter Landign Pad

a piece of ground, an area on a building or a vessel, and so on, which is equipped for the takeoff, landing, and servicing of helicopters. Landing pads are distinguished by their location (on the ground, on rooftops, on board ships, on the platforms of trucks, and so forth) and their period of use (permanent and temporary).

Ground landing pads for permanent use, as well as rooftop pads, have reinforced-concrete or asphalt landing areas and taxiways and are equipped with the necessary facilities for the use of helicopters (containers for fuel and lubricants, electrical-energy sources, meteorological and radio technical apparatus for flight security, and so forth). Ground landing pads for seasonal use, such as for carrying on farm work with the aid of helicopters (topdressing of crops and combating pests and diseases of farm crops) are constructed more simply. They are made of reinforced-concrete slabs and are equipped with wind direction and wind speed indicators and a shed to store ground equipment, instruments, and pesticides. Fuel and lubricants are delivered to the landing pad in barrels.

Permanent landing pads on board ships may be classified as individual and collective bases. In the latter instance there are several landing pads placed on the deck of the helicopter carrier for simultaneous use by a number of helicopters.

In the USSR during the 1950’s mobile landing pads for the Ka-10 helicopter were built on the platforms of trucks, which carried the needed supply of fuel and lubrication, as well as boxes for equipment, instruments, and spare parts. The mobile pad allows takeoff and landing of the helicopter both while parked and while moving.