Helicopter lighting system

Helipad Lighting System - For a new pilot coming into the hospital helipad in Grand Forks, ND, the only real directions they receive is that the hospital is on the western side of the city. We have no radio navigation to the hospital, no lighted beacon on the hospital, no lighting on or around the helipad, and the only windsock we have hasn’t been placed yet because we don’t have the proper pole or bracket. The pad is not painted or marked at all, so pilots have confusion as where they should land if they have not been here before. As well, we’ve occasionally had people park their campers on the pad because it isn’t marked.

This study will determine the effectiveness of commercially available helipad lighting systems, from a human factors point of view. Well be questioning pilots as to the effectiveness and confidence in landing while using the lights, as well as initial identification of the helipad and confirmation of the three-mile minimum visibility requirement.