chemgeek
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- Dec 5, 2009
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chemgeek
I'm hoping someone here can point me to the correct documentation to make a recommendation to our airport management.
Background: We had taxi markings (yellow centerline stripe) to assist a private owner to taxi a turbine aircraft from the ramp to his personal hangar. The personal hangar is in the opposite direction from the runway and taxiways and proceeds under a set of existing high tension lines and (previously) an overhead wire from a power pole to the maintenance hangar. These wires are not a factor for taxiing aircraft.
Incident: An intinterant helicopter attempted to follow the taxi markings from the ramp to air taxi and take off, aborting takeoff when noticing the wires. Subsequently, the airport management removed all the taxi lines from the ramp and those leading to the private hangar, and the (unused) overhead wire from the pole to the hangar.
Question: What are the expectations for helicopter takeoff operations (I'm not a helo pilot), and are there specific obstruction clearance expectations for helicopters following taxi markings? The AIM and PHAK are not specifically helpful, but the NBAA best practices document recommends air-taxiing toward the runway for takeoff operations. The helo pilot in questions suggested that the taxiway line guaranteed obstruction clearance for air-taxi and takeoff. (Doesn't sound right to me, but then again I don't fly helos.)
Second question: What kind of markings (if any) would be appropriate to provide taxi guidance for the private hangar owner without suggesting this is a usable taxi and takeoff area?
Hopefully, someone here actually knows the TERPS or whatever regs are relevant.
Background: We had taxi markings (yellow centerline stripe) to assist a private owner to taxi a turbine aircraft from the ramp to his personal hangar. The personal hangar is in the opposite direction from the runway and taxiways and proceeds under a set of existing high tension lines and (previously) an overhead wire from a power pole to the maintenance hangar. These wires are not a factor for taxiing aircraft.
Incident: An intinterant helicopter attempted to follow the taxi markings from the ramp to air taxi and take off, aborting takeoff when noticing the wires. Subsequently, the airport management removed all the taxi lines from the ramp and those leading to the private hangar, and the (unused) overhead wire from the pole to the hangar.
Question: What are the expectations for helicopter takeoff operations (I'm not a helo pilot), and are there specific obstruction clearance expectations for helicopters following taxi markings? The AIM and PHAK are not specifically helpful, but the NBAA best practices document recommends air-taxiing toward the runway for takeoff operations. The helo pilot in questions suggested that the taxiway line guaranteed obstruction clearance for air-taxi and takeoff. (Doesn't sound right to me, but then again I don't fly helos.)
Second question: What kind of markings (if any) would be appropriate to provide taxi guidance for the private hangar owner without suggesting this is a usable taxi and takeoff area?
Hopefully, someone here actually knows the TERPS or whatever regs are relevant.