Thu, Aug 18, 2005
First Heliport In Netherlands
OK, let's play word association: Holland. Airfoils. Rotating.
Got it?
If you guessed "windmills," you're not exactly wrong, because
the Dutch are proud to have been using alternative power since
before it was "alternative," but since this is Aero-News, you know
we have to be talking about rotorcraft.
The first Dutch Heliport opened August 3rd in Amsterdam. It
features quick access to ground transport, a VIP passenger lounge,
and offers Jet A1 fuel and limited parking and overnight hangarage
for transient helicopters.
As the image (courtesy Amsterdam Heliport) shows, it's clean and
tidy in stereotypical Dutch fashion. If you've ever been
sandblasted by rotor wash in an untidy helicopter landing zone, you
know why this is a good thing.
Where did Dutch helicopters land before there were heliports?
Well, like anybody else's, they used private property, with the
owner's permission, or public-access airports. Using airports,
though, eliminates one of the greatest advantages of the
helicopter: its ability to land closer to the ultimate destination
than a runway-dependent airplane.
The Amsterdam Heliport should be welcome indeed to executives
traveling into the city; unlike Schipol, the principal commercial
airport in Amsterdam, the Heliport is only ten minutes from the
city's financial center. It is also a welcome facility for medical
evacuation helicopters; the first copter to land at the new
facility was indeed an EMS aircraft (see photo).
The heliport is ICAO-compliant, and will appear on future
charts. Meanwhile you can waypoint it at N 52� 24.88' E
004� 48.29'.
More News
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Altitude Readout An aircraft’s altitude, transmitted via the Mode C transponder feature, that is visually displayed in 100-foot increments on a radar scope having readout cap>[...]
Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
"The need for innovation at speed and scale is greater than ever. The X-62A VISTA is a crucial platform in our efforts to develop, test and integrate AI, as well as to establish AI>[...]