Helicopter Operations

New York ARTCC

Helicopter Operations

Rev. 3 — Revised: 2026-03-27

Purpose

Helicopters have different operational and procedural characteristics than fixed-wing aircraft. The purpose of this document is to provide controllers with information and procedures to be used when controlling helicopters. The guidance herein is to be used as specified for controllers across all facilities within ZNY. The procedures described herein are supplemental to the New York ARTCC Standard Operating Procedures and FAA Order JO 7110.65.

Distribution

This order is distributed to all New York ARTCC personnel.

Procedural Deviations

Exceptional or unusual requirements may dictate procedural deviations or supplementary procedures to this order. A situation may arise that is not adequately covered herein; in such an event use good judgment to adequately resolve the problem.

Helicopter VFR Clearance

Due to their impressively different performance characteristics when compared to fixed wing, VFR helicopters are treated differently than their fixed winged counter-parts.

1. If the departure airport is located in the New York Class Bravo Airspace, the pilot must be cleared utilizing the standard VFR Helicopter clearance method located as defined in the VFR Operations document.
   1. VFR Class Bravo requirements
      1. Clearance to enter/operate in the Class Bravo
      2. Two-way radio communications
      3. Discrete Transponder Code
   2. Services
      1. Separation between all aircraft
      2. Sequencing for all aircraft

PHRASEOLOGY
Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot, Cleared to enter Bravo Airspace, maintain VFR at or below 1000, squawk XXXX (Appropriate VFR Subset).

Helipad Location and Classification

Example: BB Helipad at LGA

1. Published helipads located on an Airport Chart are classified as Movement Areas.
2. Normally, if a fixed-wing aircraft were to load up the simulator located on an active taxiway, this pilot would be contacted and asked to relocate to a gate. In the case of helicopters, it is not recommended, but acceptable to load their simulator on an helipad.

Taxi Instructions (issued by GND controller)

1. Ground-Taxi
   1. Ground-taxiing uses less fuel than hover-taxiing and minimizes air turbulence. However, only wheeled helicopters are able to utilize ground-taxi maneuvers.
   2. You can instruct wheeled helicopters to taxi utilizing the standard taxi instruction phraseology.
   3. PHRASEOLOGY
      Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot, Helipad Bravo Bravo, taxi via Bravo Bravo.

1. Hover-Taxi
   1. Used when a helicopter requests to proceed at a slow speed above the surface, normally below 20 knots and in ground effect.
   2. PHRASEOLOGY
      Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot, Helipad Bravo Bravo, Hover-taxi via Bravo Bravo.

1. Air-Taxi
   1. Used when a helicopter requests to proceed expeditiously from one point to another, normally below 100 ft. AGL and at airspeeds above 20 knots.
   2. This is the preferred method for helicopter movements.
   3. PHRASEOLOGY
      AIR-TAXI VIA (direct, as requested, or specified route) TO (location, heliport, helipad, operating/movement area, active/inactive runway),
      AVOID (aircraft/vehicles/personnel),
      REMAIN AT OR BELOW (altitude),
      CAUTION (wake turbulence or other reasons),
      LAND AND CONTACT TOWER.

Helicopter Takeoff Clearance (issued by TWR controller)

1. Issue Takeoff clearance from Movement areas other than active runways, or in diverse directions from active runways, with additional instructions as necessary. Whenever possible, issue takeoff clearance in lieu of extended hover-taxi or air-taxi operations.
2. PHRASEOLOGY
   Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot, (Present Position, taxiway, helipad, numbers)
   MAKE RIGHT/LEFT TURN FOR (direction, points of compass, heading, NAVIAD radial)
   DEPARTURE/DEPARTURE ROUTE (number, name, or code)
   AVOID (aircraft/vehicles/personnel)
   REMAIN (direction) OF (active runways, parking areas, passenger terminals, etc.)
   CAUTION (power lines, unlighted obstructions, trees, wake turbulence, ect.).
   CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.

1. If takeoff is requested from Non-Movement areas, or not visible from the tower and, in your judgement, the operation appears to be reasonable, use the following phraseology instead of the takeoff clearance in Section 4a.
2. PHRASEOLOGY
   Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot,
   DEPARTURE FROM (requested location) WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK (additional instructions, as necessary).,
   USE CAUTION (reason and additional instructions, as appropriate).

1. If takeoff is requested from an area not visible, an area not authorized for helicopter use, an unlighted Non-Movement area at night, or an area off the airport, and traffic is NOT a factor, use the following phraseology.
2. PHRASEOLOGY
   Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot,
   DEPARTURE FROM (requested location) WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK (reason and additional instructions, as necessary).

Helicopter Departure Separation

1. Separate a departing helicopter from other helicopters by ensuring that it does not takeoff until one of the following conditions exist:
   1. A preceding, departing helicopter has left the takeoff area.
   2. A preceding, arriving helicopter has taxied off the landing area.

Helicopter Arrival Separation

1. Separate an arriving helicopter from other helicopters by ensuring that it does not land until one of the following conditions exists:
   1. A preceding, arriving helicopter has come to a stop or taxied off the landing area.
   2. A preceding, departing helicopter has left the landing area.

NOTE: A helicopters build and unique aerodynamics combined with its light weight makes them more susceptible to wake turbulence. Use caution when helicopters operate near larger airplanes, as jet engines can produce severe wake for helicopters even during the taxing phase. You should provide wake turbulence advisories to these helicopters as you deem appropriate. Additionally, helicopters produce more wake turbulence than you may imagine- even the small ones. Use caution with helicopters taxiing in the vicinity of smaller aircraft, as even the smallest of them can produce less-than-ideal wake for smaller GA aircraft.

Simultaneous Helicopter Landings and Takeoffs

1. Authorize helicopters to conduct simultaneous landings or takeoffs if the distance between the landing or takeoff points is at least 200 feet and the courses to be flown do not conflict.

Pattern work

1. Like their fixed-wing counterparts, helicopters can request pattern work. You can use all of the same rules you use with fixed-wing pattern traffic.
2. A helicopter will operate in the pattern at 500 feet AGL. This is 500' below the fixed-wing requirement.

Helicopter Landing Clearance

1. Issue landing clearance for helicopters to Movement areas other than active runways, or from diverse directions to points on active runways, with additional instructions, as necessary. Whenever possible, issue landing clearance in lieu of extended hover-taxi or air-taxi operations.
2. PHRASEOLOGY
   Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot,
   MAKE APPROACH STRAIGHT-IN/CIRCLING LEFT/RIGHT TURN TO (location, runway, taxiway, helipad,
   Maltese cross) ARRIVAL/ARRIVAL ROUTE (number, name or code)
   HOLD SHOT OF (active runway, extended runway centerline, other)
   REMAIN (direction/distance) FROM (runway, runway centerline, other helicopter aircraft)
   CAUTION (power lines, unlighted obstructions, wake turbulence, etc.)
   CLEARED TO LAND, CONTACT GROUND.

1. If landing is requested to non-movement areas and, in your judgement, the operation appears to be reasonable, use the following phraseology instead of the landing clearance in Section 8a.
2. PHRASEOLOGY
   Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot,
   PROCEED AS REQUESTED,
   USE CAUTION (reason and additional instructions, as appropriate).

1. If landing is requested to an area not visible, an area not authorized for helicopter use, an unlighted Non-movement area at night, or an area off the airport, and traffic is NOT a factor, use the following phraseology.
2. PHRASEOLOGY
   Helicopter Six Zero One Foxtrot,
   LANDING AT (requested location) WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK (reason and additional instructions, as necessary)
   TRAFFIC (as applicable)
   TRAFFIC NOT A FACTOR,
   CALL LANDING ASSURED

1. The phrase “Call Landing Assured” often is misinterpreted. This simply means to advise the controller when you are SURE you are going to land. Once the pilot calls “Landing Assured” you advise the pilot:
2. PHRASEOLOGY
   FREQUENCY CHANGE APPROVED.

VATSIM-isms

1. Since technically there is no place to hide on the radar scope, it makes it difficult to determine whether an area is “Visible” or “Non-Visible” from the tower. To make life easier, when on VATSIM:
   1. If an aircraft is located at the airport you are controlling, the aircraft is located in a VISIBLE area.
   2. If the aircraft is not located at the airport you are controlling, i.e. NY22, the aircraft is located in a NON-VISIBLE area.
2. When a pilot requests to takeoff or land on a non-movement area at your airport, and Helipads are vacant and available for use, simply ask the pilot if he can accept instructions to utilize the helipad. It is not against the rules to use a non-movement area at an airport for helicopter ops. However, on VATSIM, keeping things in order is paramount. Utilizing Helipads when available keeps things simple.