London Heliport

London Heliport
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Reuben Brothers
Operator The London Airport Ltd.
Location London, SW11
United Kingdom
Elevation AMSL 18 ft / 5 m
Coordinates 51°28′12″N 000°10′46″W / 51.47000°N 0.17944°W / 51.47000; -0.17944Coordinates: 51°28′12″N 000°10′46″W / 51.47000°N 0.17944°W / 51.47000; -0.17944
Website www.londonheliport.co.uk
Map
EGLW
Location in Greater London
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
02/20 38 × 16 125 × 52 Concrete
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]

London Heliport (ICAO: EGLW), previously called Battersea Heliport and currently known officially as the NetJets London Heliport for sponsorship reasons, is London's only licensed heliport. The facility, which was built by W. & C. French and opened on 23 April 1959,[2] is located in Battersea on the south bank of the River Thames, 3 NM (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) southwest of Westminster Bridge and between Wandsworth Bridge and Battersea Railway Bridge.[1]

The heliport, once owned by Westland and then Harrods, is a very small site, making use of a jetty to provide a helipad for take-off and landing, and onshore parking for three to four aircraft, depending upon their size. The heliport provides landing, parking and refuelling services between 08:00 and 21:00 (flights are permitted between 07:00 and 23:00), albeit parking is normally restricted to smaller helicopter categories.[3]

A Sikorsky S-76 landing at London Heliport. Battersea Railway Bridge is seen in the background.

Flight conditions and procedures at the heliport prescribe a circuit height 1,000 ft (305 m) above the Thames, in an extended figure-of-eight over the water, to seek to minimise noise pollution for residents in the area and to constrain flight operations to over the river, away from the built-up area. Ground running of rotors is restricted to a maximum of five minutes for the same reason.[4]

In 2003 London Heliport was acquired by Weston Homes.[5] In 2012 it was bought by the Reuben Brothers, who also own Oxford Airport,[6] for £35 million. In 2016, the heliport's official name became the NetJets London Heliport, after the private jet company signed a branding deal with the owners.[7]

The nearest main line railway station is Clapham Junction and the nearest London Underground station is Fulham Broadway.

Accidents and incidents

On 16 January 2013 a helicopter diverting to London Heliport in adverse weather collided with a construction crane and then crashed into the street, killing the pilot and one person on the ground. This was the first fatal helicopter crash anywhere near the heliport since records began in 1976.[8]

London Heliport has a fully licensed rescue and firefighting service who are on duty for all aircraft movements at the port as well as providing an emergency response to any helicopter incident within the London area. The Heliports Fire Service also conducts regular training alongside their colleagues in the London Fire Brigade and RNLI and offer training in helicopter emergencies to any emergency service.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "London Heliport - EGLW". NATS (Services) Limited. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  2. ↑ "Westland Heliport Opening" (PDF). British Universities Film and Video Council. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Fees and charges" (PDF). London Heliport. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Conditions of use" (PDF). London Heliport. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rosier Future for London Heliport?". AIN on line. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Reuben Brothers buy London Heliport in Battersea". BBC News. 23 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "NetJets Partners with London Heliport". Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  8. ↑ "London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident". BBC. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "London helicopter crash: What are the rules for pilots?". BBC News. BBC. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
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