HELICOPTER PROCEDURES
LONDON/LONDON CITY
Draft 2 – 30th August 2004
1 Introduction
1.1These notes cover the procedures for pilots and ATC for helicopters flying non-IFR in the London/London City Control Zones.
1.2SVFR procedures for the London/London City CTRs are published in a separate document.
1.3Non-IFR helicopters flying in the London CTR are normally restricted to flight at or below specified altitudes along defined routes, shown in Appendices 1 and 2. There are designed to provide maximum safety by avoiding built-up areas as much as possible. In the “specified area” over central London, single-engined helicopters may normally only fly along the River Thames, because of the need to be able to land clear in the event of engine failure.
1.4Detailed helicopter maps can be found in the AIP
- EGLL 3.2 Helicopter routes
- EGLL 4.1 Heathrow helicopter crossing operations
- EGLW London Heliport procedures and charts
2 Provision of ATC
2.1The London CTR is Class A airspace; all non-IFR traffic is subject to SVFR clearance. The London City CTR is Class D airspace; non-IFR traffic may fly VFR or SVFR as appropriate.
2.2ATC for SVFR/VFRoutside the Aerodrome Control Zones is provided by Thames Radar, or in its absence EGLL_N_APP (Heathrow Director). A separate Heathrow Radar/Special VFR is not currently operated on Vatsim.
2.3Within the London CTR visibility must be at least 1km for flights within the zone, and at least 2km at Heathrow for flights crossing over the airport, landing or taking off.
2.4Separation
Standard separation of 3nm or 1000ft is applied between IFR and Special VFR flights, and between all Special VFR flights. Traffic information will be passed on known VFR aircraft. (See also the SVFR procedures).
No separation can be provided between Special VFR flights flying in the access lanes and local flying areas for Denham (EGLD), White Waltham (EGLM) and Fairoaks (EGTF) aerodromes.
On published helicopter routes pilots may be asked to maintain visual separation from other helicopter traffic provided that
- Visibility is at least 6km
- There is agreement between the helicopters concerned
- The routes and SOAs are adhered to
- Appopriate traffic information is passed to the helicopter pilots
East of Kew Bridge, traffic which has been instructed to remain north of the River Thames and traffic which has been instructed to remain south of it can be considered to be adequately separated as long as all pilots are kept informed of relevant traffic.
2.4Altitude restrictions
Helicopters following published routes should be cleared to fly at “Standard Operating Altitudes” (see para. 3.2). Controllers should enter this in the datatag as “SOA” using the F8 key. Pilots who are unaware of the correct altitudes should be informed of them when the clearance is given, or instructed to report approaching the appropriate reporting point for the next altitude instruction. Pilots are to be at the lower altitude on arrival at the point at which the lower altitude applies.
Standard Operating Altitudes should be issued as “not above alt xxxx ft” except on H10 between Perivale and ChiswickBridge, which must be flown “at 1200ft” to ensure terrain clearance and separation from aircraft on the Heathrow ILS.
Helicopters not following published routes will be given altitude restrictions according to the relevant VFR/SVFR procedures.
3 Helicopter routes and restrictions (see Appendices 1 and 2)
3.1The Specified Area
Within the marked area single-engined helicopters may normally only fly along the River Thames because of the need to be able to land clear in the event of engine failure.
3.2Helicopter routes
There are seven published helicopter routes, designated by the letter H and a number. These are spoken as “Hotel two”, “Hotel three”, etc. Each section of a route has a specific altitude to be flown either “not below” or “at” xxxx ft. This ensures separation from IFR traffic. The Standard Operating Altitudes are listed in Appendix 1 and the routes and reporting points are shown on the map in Appendix 2.
Route H10 is separated from the ILS and SRA approaches to runways 27L and 27R at Heathrow.When runway 23 is in use some Standard Operating Altitudes are lower, and sections of H3 and H10 are not available. For restrictions when 09L/R are active see the next paragraph.
3.3Restrictions during easterly operations
When runways 09L/R are active, there is limited separation between some of the helicopter routes and the SIDS. The following restrictions apply:
- H3 is not available
- H9 between Oxshott and Bedfont is not separated from CPT, MAY, MID and SAM SIDS. EGLL_TWR should instruct aircraft on these SIDS to climb straight ahead to 1500ft before turning right.
- H9 holding point at Bedfont is separated from CPT departures as long as aircraft are not taken off the SID before 2 miles.
- H10 between Gutteridge and Kew is not separated from 09R departure via KILBA. Severe delays may occur. The SVFR controller will co-ordinate with EGLL_TWR to identify a suitable gap between northbound departures (a single-engined helicopter needs about 10 minutes to fly from Gutteridge to Kew), and will inform the Tower when the helicopter is clear of the departure route.
4 Direct routings
4.1London CTR is divided into three sections: East, Central and West (see map, Appendix 2).
Direct routings may be given as follows:
East section: twin-engined helicopters only
West section: all helicopters
Central section: helicopters departing or inbound to a site within the section shall be
cleared either
- to join or leave the nearest available helicopter route by the shortest possible route; or
- if more than 2 miles from a helicopter route, to join or leave the Control Zone by the shortest possible route
5Helicopter operations at London Heathrow
5.1Take-off and landing
The helicopter aiming point is on the taxiway area east of Link 43, just beyond the southwest end of runway 23. Caution must be exercised as this is a live taxiway. Vortex wake separation will be applied in respect of landing/departing helicopters and fixed wing operations on the adjacent runway.
Arrivals and departures will be routed via the holding area at Sipson or Bedfont as appropriate. Helicopters flying between Sipson and the helicopter aiming point must follow the runway crossing procedures detailed in para 5.2.
5.2Crossing procedures (see AIP chart EGLL-4-1)
Helicopters arriving from the north should be transferred to EGLL_TWR at Sipson, and from the south at Feltham. Helicopters holding at these positions are separated from fixed wing traffic using or carrying out a missed approach to any runway at Heathrow.
Helicopters are to transit the airport at an altitude of not less than 800ft. ATC will advise pilots of the departure and landing runways. Clearance to cross the landing runway will only be given where there is a suitable gap in the landing stream. If the helicopter pilot is visual with the arriving fixed wing aircraft, clearance will be given in the form “after the landing <aircraft type> cross runway <designation>”. The point of crossing may be included. The helicopter should cross as expeditiously as possible.
Runways 27L/R active
Helicopters should cross the departure runway downwind of the threshold. If the landing runway is to be crossed first, clearance may be given to cross both runways in a single instruction. When the departure runway is crossed first, the helicopter should hold at the departure runway side of a line drawn east-west between links 25 and 26. A separate clearance will be issued to cross the landing runway.
Runways 09L/R active
Crossing these runways will only be permitted when runway 09L is in use for landing and 09R for departure. In order to provide adequate separation from departing fixed wing traffic the crossing route is as follows:
Feltham – Bedfont – Duke of Northumberland River – West of runway 09R threshold – fuel farm (direct or as instructed by ATC) – Sipson; and vice versa.
While the helicopter is in transit between Bedfont and runway 09R threshold ATC will pass traffic information regarding fixed wing departures from 09R. When runway 09R is crossed first, the helicopter should hold south of a line drawn east-west through the fuel farm until clearance is given to cross runway 09L.
6Helicopter operations at London Heliport
London Heliport ATC is provided by BatterseaTower (freq 122.900) or in its absence Thames Radar. If neither is online ATC will be provided by EGLL_N_APP. Surface winds for the heliport are not available on Vatsim; the LondonCityAirport winds should be given instead e.g. “winds at City are 220 at 9 knots”.
Inbound or overflying traffic should be handed off to BatterseaTower as follows:
from the west: KewBridge, Teddington, or Caesar’s Camp
from the east: VauxhallBridge
Outbound traffic should remain in the circuit until accepted by Thames Radar. The circuit is dumb-bell shaped following the course of the river. Circuit altitude is 1000ft.
7Helicopter operations at LondonCityAirport
Helicopters are not permitted at LondonCity in the real world. However in Vatsim they may be accepted at the controllers discretion. The western end of the runway may be used as a helicopter aiming point. IFR helicopters may use the EGLC ILS to assist them in landing at sites in the vicinity such as London Heliport or the RoyalLondonHospital
8Uncontrolled sites in the London/London City CTR
Helicopters departing from uncontrolled sites should contact Thames radar for route clearance prior to take-off. Clearance for take-off and landing cannot be given, but the pilot should be informed of the surface wind at the nearest airport, and instructed to report “lifting” or “setting down”. Thames Radar will coordinate with EGLC_TWR regarding all helicopters using sites near LondonCityAirport.
Further sections to be written:
1 Police and HEMS operations
2 Appendix 2 – map of helicopter routes
Appendix 1 - Helicopter routes in the London and London City CTRs
Route / Reporting points / Standard Operating Altitude+
H2 / Iver – Airport Spur / 1000ft
H3 / Bagshot Mast – Junction 3 M3
Junction 3 M3 – Thorpe
Thorpe – Sunbury Lock
- Bagshot Mast – Sunbury Lock (if runway 23 in use)
- If runway 09L/R is in use, H3 is closed
1000ft
800ft
not available
1000ft
H4 / Isle of Dogs – ChelseaBridge
ChelseaBridge – Battersea / 2000ft
1500ft
H5 / Northwood – Uxbridge Common
- (if Heathrow runway 23 in use)
1000ft
H7 / Banstead – Sutton/Epsom railway
Sutton/Epsom railway – Morden
Morden – Battersea / 2000ft
1500ft
1000ft
H9 / Oxshot East/West – Esher Common
Esher Common – London/Woking railway London/Woking railway – Bedfont
Sipson – Hayes
Hayes – Gutteridge
Gutteridge – Northwood
- Hayes – Northwood (runway 23 in use)
1500ft
800ft
1000ft
1500ft
2000ft
1000ft
H10 / CTR boundary – Cookham
Cookham – Gutteridge
- Iver – Gutteridge (runway 23 in use)
Perivale – Brentford
- Gutteridge –KewBridge (runway 23 in use)
ChiswickBridge – Battersea / 2000ft
1500ft
1000ft
1200ft
at 1200ft
not available
at 750ft
1000ft