Regional Helicopter Plan 2005
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MARYLAND AVIATION ADMINISTRATION METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS REGIONAL HELICOPTER SYSTEM PLAN For the Maryland and Metropolitan Washington Area JUNE 2005 – FINAL REPORT Police and Fire Government Agencies Military Air Ambulance Commercial Operators EDWARDS AND KELCEY In Association With KM Chang Environmental HNTB Corporation ARP, Inc. FINAL REPORT REGIONAL HELICOPTER SYSTEM PLAN Maryland Aviation Administration MAA-SV-01-007 Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments COG-02-024 Prepared by: Edwards and Kelcey, Inc. In association with: HNTB Corporation KM Chng Environmental ARP Consulting June 2005 Maryland Metropolitan Washington Contents REGIONAL HELICOPTER SYSTEM PLAN Maryland Aviation Administration TABLE OF CONTENTS Metropolitan Washington Council of 1. SUMMARY Governments 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Existing Heliport Facilities (including airports).......................................................... 1-2 1.3 Existing Helicopter Activity....................................................................................... 1-3 1.4 Current Helicopter Missions..................................................................................... 1-4 1.5 Economic and Social Benefits of Helicopter Activity ................................................ 1-6 1.6 Forecast of Future Activity ....................................................................................... 1-8 1.7 System Goals........................................................................................................... 1-9 1.8 Heliport Facility Recommendations........................................................................ 1-10 1.9 Environmental Issues and Recommendations....................................................... 1-12 1.10 Airspace Issues and Recommendations................................................................ 1-12 1.11 Policy and Program Recommendations................................................................. 1-13 1.12 Facility Development.............................................................................................. 1-14 2. SYSTEM INVENTORY 2.1 Historical Background .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Landing Sites And Support Facilities ....................................................................... 2-6 2.2.1 Landing Sites in Maryland........................................................................... 2-9 2.2.2 Helicopter Operators in Maryland.............................................................. 2-13 2.2.3 Landing Sites In Metropolitan Washington................................................ 2-16 2.2.4 Helicopter Operators in Metropolitan Washington..................................... 2-18 2.3 Existing Based Helicopters and Activity................................................................. 2-20 2.3.1 Based Helicopters in Maryland.................................................................. 2-20 2.3.2 Based Helicopters in Metropolitan Washington......................................... 2-22 2.3.3 Helicopter Activity in Maryland and Metropolitan Washington................... 2-23 2.4 Primary Uses of Helicopters................................................................................... 2-26 2.5 Definition of Catchment Area ................................................................................. 2-29 2.6 Airspace, Air Traffic Control, and Navigation Aids ................................................. 2-33 2.6.1 National Airspace System Overview ......................................................... 2-34 2.6.2 Flight Rules and Weather Conditions........................................................ 2-34 FINAL REPORT ii JUNE 2005 Maryland Metropolitan Washington Contents REGIONAL HELICOPTER SYSTEM PLAN Maryland Aviation Administration 2.6.3 FAA Classification of Airspace .................................................................. 2-35 Metropolitan 2.6.4 Navigation Aids ......................................................................................... 2-38 Washington Council of 2.6.5 Helicopter Routes and Procedures............................................................ 2-40 Governments 2.6.6 September 11, 2001 Airspace/ATC Impacts ............................................. 2-44 2.6.7 Baltimore-Washington Helicopter Route Chart.......................................... 2-47 2.6.8 Police Zones.............................................................................................. 2-54 2.6.9 Transponder Codes................................................................................... 2-54 2.6.10 Special Use Airspace .............................................................................. 2-55 2.6.11 Helicopter Operations at Primary Airports............................................... 2-55 2.6.12 Northeast CORRIDOR IFR Routes ......................................................... 2-57 2.6.13 Potomac Airspace Redesign ................................................................... 2-58 2.6.14 Airspace/ATC Summary.......................................................................... 2-58 2.7 Land Use, Zoning Ordinances, & Permitting Procedures....................................... 2-59 2.7.1 Methodology.............................................................................................. 2-59 2.7.2 Findings..................................................................................................... 2-59 3. FORECASTS OF DEMAND 3.1 Background.............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Status Quo Forecast Scenario................................................................................. 3-7 3.3 Unconstrained Forecast Scenario.......................................................................... 3-10 4. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF HELICOPTER ACTIVITY 4.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Helicopter Activity in the Study Area........................................................................ 4-1 4.3 Traditional Economic Impacts of Helicopter Activity................................................. 4-2 4.4 Helicopters and the Regional Economy ................................................................... 4-4 4.4.1 Overview of the Maryland and Washington Metropolitan Economies ......... 4-5 4.4.2 Summary of Heliport Activity ....................................................................... 4-7 4.5 Benefits of Helicopter Use........................................................................................ 4-8 4.5.1 Air Medical Services.................................................................................. 4-10 4.5.2 Corporate/Air Taxi Service ........................................................................ 4-13 4.5.3 Public Service............................................................................................ 4-18 4.5.4 Agriculture/Forestry/Wildlife Preservation ................................................. 4-21 FINAL REPORT iii JUNE 2005 Maryland Metropolitan Washington Contents REGIONAL HELICOPTER SYSTEM PLAN Maryland Aviation Administration 4.5.5 Electronic/News Media.............................................................................. 4-22 Metropolitan 4.5.6 Regional Economic Development ............................................................. 4-22 Washington Council of 4.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 4-25 Governments 5. HELIPORT FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Synopsis .................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Characteristics of the Existing Heliport System........................................................ 5-2 5.2.1 Existing Heliport Facilities ........................................................................... 5-4 5.3 Forecast Demand .................................................................................................... 5-6 5.4 The Recommended Heliport System ....................................................................... 5-9 5.4.1 Operator and Market Needs...................................................................... 5-10 5.4.2 Facility Requirements................................................................................ 5-11 5.5 Helistop and Heliport Design Standards ................................................................ 5-13 5.5.1 Landing Area............................................................................................. 5-13 5.5.2 Airspace .................................................................................................... 5-14 5.5.3 Support Facilities and Aids........................................................................ 5-17 5.5.4 Land Requirements................................................................................... 5-18 5.6 Private-Use Hospital Heliport Recommendations .................................................. 5-18 5.6.1 Existing System of Private-Use Hospital Heliports.................................... 5-18 5.6.2 Private-Use Hospital Heliport Siting Criteria.............................................. 5-20