If an aerodrome is used by both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, facilities provided for the exclusive use of helicopters must have specific markings in accordance with this Division.
8.115 Helicopter touchdown and lift-off area markings — non-runway type FATO area
(1) If a specific area, other than a runway or runway type final approach and take-off (FATO) area, is provided for helicopter touchdown and lift-off, the area must be marked by the following:
(a) a touchdown and lift-off area marking;
(b) an identification marking;
as shown in Figure 8.115 (1).
Note If a runway is used by both fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft, the runway does not require dedicated helicopter markings.
(2) The touchdown and lift-off area must be marked as a white circle with:
(a) a line thickness of at least 0.3 m and not more than 1 m; and
(b) a minimum inside radius of whichever of the following is the greater:
(i) 6 m;
(ii) 0.83 times the D value of the largest helicopter using the area.
(3) The touchdown and lift-off area must have a white “H” identification marking that is:
(a) located centrally within the touchdown and lift-off area circle; and
(b) aligned with the orientation of the primary helicopter landing direction; and
(c) either:
(i) 3 m high and 1.8 m wide, with a line thickness of 0.4 m; or
(ii) 6 m high and 3 m wide, with a line thickness of 1 m; or
(iii) of dimensions within the range constituted by subparagraphs (i) and (ii), provided the proportions are preserved as far as possible.
Helicopter touchdown and lift-off area marking based on touchdown and lift off area with a 6 m radius and the largest sized identification marking — non runway type Final Approach Take Off area including measurements.
Figure 8.115 (1) Helicopter touchdown and lift-off area marking based on touchdown and lift‑off area with a 6 m radius and the largest sized identification marking — non‑runway type FATO area (shows matters)
8.116 Helicopter touchdown and lift-off area markings — runway type FATO area
Note A runway type FATO area is described in ICAO Annex 14, Aerodromes, Volume II, Heliports. In Annex 14, the relevant markings are referred to as Helicopter FATO designation markings and heliport identification markings for a runway type FATO. For ICAO documents see section 1.07.
(1) If a runway type FATO area is provided for the touchdown and lift-off of helicopters on a sealed, asphalt or concrete surface, it must be marked with an identification marking.
Division Div 12 - Part 139 (Aerodromes) Manual of Standards 2019 - Helicopter areas on aerodromes | Zoe
(2) The identification marking must consist of a runway type FATO area designation marking, as shown in Figure 8.116 (2), that is:
(a) a white “H” marking, 9 m high and 5.4 m wide, with a line thickness of 1.2 m; and
(b) located 6 m from the commencement of the runway type FATO area; and
(c) in the form of a 2-digit number that is:
(i) derived from the magnetic bearing of the runway type FATO area when viewed from the direction of approach; and
(ii) rounded to the nearest 10 degrees.
(3) If a magnetic bearing becomes a single-digit number, a “0” must be placed before it.
(4) If a magnetic bearing becomes a 3-digit number, the last “0” digit must be omitted.
Note For example, a bearing of 353 degrees would be rounded to 350, and the 0 omitted.
(5) For this section:
(a) the letter H in the marking must be in accordance with paragraphs (2) (a) and (b); and
(b) the numbers in the marking must be:
(i) the same height as the letter H; and
(ii) the same line thickness as the letter H; and
(iii) as far as physically possible, drawn to reflect, in form and width, the same proportions as shown for the numbers in Figure 8.116 (5).
(6) If a runway type FATO area is provided for the touchdown and lift-off of helicopters in both directions, the identification marking must be provided for both directions as shown in Figure 8.116 (2).
Shows Helicopter Final Approach and Take Off designation marking and heliport identification marking for a runway type Final Approach and Take Off including measurements.
Figure 8.116 (2) Helicopter FATO designation marking and heliport identification marking for a runway type FATO (shows matters)
Shows Form and proportions of numbers and letters for helicopter landing and lift-off area marking — runway type Final Approach and Take Off area including measurements.
Figure 8.116 (5) Form and proportions of numbers and letters for helicopter landing and lift-off area marking — runway type FATO area (shows matters)
8.117 FATO area perimeter markings — non-runway type
(1) If a non-runway type FATO area is provided, the perimeter of the FATO area must:
(a) be defined with markings or markers on the edge of the FATO area; and
(b) if the FATO area is square or rectangular — have corners defined with markings or markers.
(2) On a sealed, asphalt or concrete surface, the non-runway type FATO area perimeter marking must be a rectangular, white stripe:
(a) that has a line thickness of 1 m; and
(b) whose length is whichever of the following is greater:
(i) 9 m;
(ii) 1/5 of the side of the FATO area which it defines.
(3) On a natural surface, non-runway type FATO area perimeter markers must consist of flush in-ground markers that:
(a) are 30 cm in width and 1.5 m in length; and
(b) have end-to-end spacing between the markers of not less than 1.5 m and not more than 2 m.
8.118 FATO area perimeter markings — runway type
Note A runway type FATO area is described in ICAO Annex 14, Aerodromes, Volume II, Heliports. For ICAO documents, see section 1.07.
(1) If a runway type FATO area is provided, the perimeter of the FATO area must be defined with either markings or markers on the edge of the area.
(2) Runway type FATO area markings and markers must be spaced at equal intervals of not more than 50 m with at least 3 markings or markers located on each side, including a marking or marker at each corner.
(3) On a sealed, concrete or asphalt surface, a runway FATO area perimeter marking must be a rectangular white stripe:
(a) that has a line thickness of 1 m; and
(b) whose length is whichever of the following is greater:
(i) 9 m;
(ii) 1/5 of the side of the FATO area which it defines.
(4) On a natural surface, runway type FATO area perimeter markers must consist of gable markers that are:
(a) 3 m long, 0.9 m wide, and 0.5 m high; and
(b) alternating white and red in transverse bands of colour with a width of 0.6 m each, as shown in Figure 8.118 (4).
Shows Runway type Final Approach and Take Off marker for a natural surface including measurements.
Figure 8.118 (4) Runway type FATO marker for a natural surface (shows matters)
8.119 Helicopter taxiway markings
Note If a taxiway is used by both fixed-wing and rotorcraft, it does not require dedicated helicopter markings.
(1) On a sealed, asphalt or concrete surface, dedicated helicopter taxiway markings must be the same as the taxiway markings for fixed-wing aircraft.
Note For the taxiway markings for fixed-wing aircraft, see Chapter 8, Division 4.
(2) On a natural surface, dedicated helicopter taxiway markings must be blue taxiway edge markers that are otherwise the same as for fixed-wing aircraft.
Note 1 For the taxiway edge markers for fixed-wing aircraft, see Chapter 8, Division 4.
Note 2 For example, “dirt” would be a natural surface.
8.120 Helicopter apron markings
Helicopter apron markings on a sealed, concrete or asphalt surface must be in 1 of the following forms:
(a) taxi guidelines;
(b) parking position designation markings;
(c) helicopter parking position markings.
8.121 Helicopter taxi guideline designations
(1) Helicopter taxi guideline designations must be provided if a taxi guideline leads to a parking position that is restricted to helicopters only.
(2) Markings for helicopter taxi guidelines must be the same as the markings for fixed-wing aircraft taxi guidelines.
Note For fixed-wing aircraft taxi guidelines, see Chapter 8, Division 4.
(3) If an apron contains both fixed-wing aircraft and dedicated helicopter parking positions, taxi guideline designations leading to dedicated helicopter parking positions must be marked with the prefix designator “H”, at their divergence from the aircraft taxi guideline, as shown in Figure 8.121 (3).
(4) For subsection (3), the prefix designator “H” must be 2 m high and yellow, with a line thickness of 0.3 m.
(5) When more than 1 helicopter parking position is provided on an aerodrome, each helicopter parking position number must be provided with:
(a) the prefix “H”; and
(b) a number in sequence with the numbers for any other parking positions.
Note In Figure 8.121 (3), only a single helicopter parking position is provided in conjunction with the final aircraft parking position designator. In this case, only the prefix would be required. If more than 1 helicopter parking position or another aircraft parking position is provided on the aerodrome, then the helicopter taxi guideline designation would be designated in this example as H7. This is because “7” is the next parking position in the sequence. Subsequent helicopter parking positions would then need to be marked H8, H9 and so on. Any subsequent aircraft parking positions would need to be numbered sequentially using the same number sequence but without using the “H” prefix.
(6) If a taxi guideline leads to multiple parking positions, the first and the last parking position in the range may be marked and separated with a dash, for example, H7 – H9.
(7) Helicopter taxi guideline designations must be located and oriented so that they can be seen 15 m away by an aircraft or helicopter on the taxi guideline.
Shows Helicopter taxi guideline designator to a single helicopter parking position (prefix only) including measurements.
Figure 8.121 (3) Helicopter taxi guideline designator to a single helicopter parking position (prefix only) (shows matters)
8.122 Helicopter parking position designation markings
(1) If a dedicated helicopter parking position is provided on a sealed, concrete or asphalt apron, the parking position must be designated.
(2) The parking position designator must be marked with the prefix letter “H”, yellow and 2 m in height with a line thickness of 0.3 m.
(3) If more than 1 helicopter parking position is provided, the prefix must include the parking position number in sequence with aircraft parking positions and helicopter taxi guidelines.
(4) The parking position designator must be located before the helicopter parking position marking, at
Note: a distance of 0.83 times the D value of the design helicopter
for which the aerodrome is designed (the design helicopter)
Note: ,
facing the approaching helicopter.
8.123 Helicopter parking position markings — shoulder-line type
(1) If a helicopter parking position requires no turn by the helicopter to enter and leave the parking position, then a shoulder-line type helicopter parking position marking must be provided.
(2) As shown in Figure 8.123 (2), a shoulder-line type helicopter parking position marking must be:
(a) a transverse yellow bar, marked at right angles to, and bisected by, the taxi guideline; and
(b) 0.5 m wide; and
(c) of a length that is 0.5 times the D value of the design helicopter.
(3) The transverse bar must be aligned with the position of the pilot’s shoulder when the design helicopter is correctly parked on the position.
(4) If it is necessary to restrict the size capacity of the helicopter parking position, a D value limit designator must also be marked:
(a) at a distance of 0.25 times the D value of the design helicopter before the shoulder bar marking on the side of the approaching helicopter; and
(b) with the left-hand edge of the required text aligned with the right-hand side of the shoulder bar; and
(ii) as far as physically possible, drawn to reflect, in form and width, the same proportions as shown for the letters and numbers in Figure 8.116 (5); and
(5) If it is necessary to restrict the weight capacity of the helicopter parking position, a weight limit designator must also be marked:
(a) at a distance of 0.25 times the D value of the design helicopter after the shoulder bar marking on the opposite side to the approaching helicopter; and
(b) with the right-hand edge of the required text aligned with the left-hand side of the shoulder bar; and
(ii) as far as physically possible, drawn to reflect, in form and width, the same proportions as shown for the letters and numbers in Figure 8.116 (5); and
Note If the helicopter parking position can also be accessed from the reciprocal direction, the shoulder-line type parking position can be marked as bi-directional by using 2 shoulder lines — 1 for each approach direction. If a bi-directional parking position is marked, CASA recommends that care should be taken to ensure any associated D value limit or weight limit markings for each shoulder line do not overlap with the markings for the reciprocal direction.
Shows Shoulder-line type helicopter parking position marking including measurements.
Figure 8.123 (2) Shoulder-line type helicopter parking position marking (shows matters)
8.124 Helicopter parking position markings — touchdown/positioning circle type
(1) If a helicopter parking position requires a turn by the helicopter to enter and leave the parking position, then a touchdown/positioning circle (T/PC) type helicopter parking position marking is required.
(2) A T/PC type helicopter parking position must be marked by a circle, as shown in Figure 8.124 (2):
(a) with a diameter of 0.5 times the D value of the design helicopter; and
(b) with a line thickness of 0.5 m; and
(c) whose centre is aligned with the centroid of the design helicopter when it is correctly parked on the position.
(3) If it is necessary to restrict the size of the T/PC helicopter parking position, a D value limit designator must also be marked:
(a) at a distance of 0.25 times the D value of the design helicopter before the T/PC marking on the side of the approaching helicopter; and
(b) with the left-hand edge of the required text aligned with the right-hand side of the T/PC; and
(ii) as far as physically possible, drawn to reflect, in form and width, the same proportions as shown for the letters and numbers in Figure 8.116 (5); and
(4) If it is necessary to restrict the weight capacity of the T/PC helicopter parking position, a weight limit designator must also be marked:
(a) at a distance of 0.25 times the D value of the design helicopter after the centroid of the T/PC circle marking on the opposite side of the approaching helicopter; and
(b) with the right-hand edge of the required text aligned with the left-hand side of the T/PC; and
(ii) as far as physically possible, drawn to reflect, in form and width, the same proportions as shown for the letters and numbers in Figure 8.116 (5); and
Shows Touchdown/positioning circle type helicopter parking position marking including measurements.
Figure 8.124 (2) Touchdown/positioning circle type helicopter parking position marking (shows matters)
8.125 Helicopter apron edge markings
(1) Apron edge markings must be provided if it is necessary to clearly define areas allocated specifically for helicopter parking.
(2) As shown in Figure 8.125 (2), on sealed, concrete or asphalt aprons, the edge marking must:
(a) consist of 2 continuous, light blue lines 0.15 m wide and 0.15 m apart; and
(b) include the words “HELICOPTER ONLY”:
(i) marked in yellow letters 0.5 m high along the edge of the marking, and 0.15 m outside the helicopter apron; and
(ii) legible to pilots of approaching aircraft; and
(iii) repeated at intervals not exceeding 50 m along the helicopter apron edge marking.
Shows Helicopter apron edge marking including measurements.