GTC-05/197/ED ECS FOR MULTI-PURPOSE ADMINISTRATION COMPLEX-RAS LAFFAN

PARTICULAR SPECIFICATION
SECTION E5 – HELIPAD

SECTION E5

HELIPAD

1 General

1.1 Generally

• The WORK under this CONTRACT shall include the design, supply and
installation of helipad for the Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) Complex in Qatar.

1.2 Background

• Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) is situated along the northeast coast of Qatar,
covering an area of 106 square kilometres. With the expansion proposed for the
next 20 years, RLIC is expected to become the world’s largest energy-related
industrial base.
• As part of the developments covered in the Master Plan, a ground-level
helicopter landing pad has been proposed at the south end of the Multipurpose
Administration Complex.
• The proposed helicopter landing pad is anticipated for occasional uses such as
med-evac and VIP access, and hence is considered as a General Aviation (GA)
heliport according to Advisory Circular No: 150/5390-2B issued by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

1.3 Design guidelines

• Design of the flight route, helipad and its supporting facilities is based on Advisory
Circular (AC) No. 150/5390-2B, Heliport Design, issued by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) of U.S. Department of Transportation.

2 Performance requirements and tolerances

2.1 Flight path and helipad location

2.1.1 Visual flight rule (VFR) approach/departure paths

• When determining VFR approach/ departure paths for a helipad, three
criteria should be considered:
• Directions of predominant wind;
• Obstructions in the vicinity of the proposed helipad; and
• Noise-sensitive receivers (NSRs)
• (Non-Instrument) VFR approach/departure path should, to the extent
feasible, align with the predominant wind direction so that downwind
operations can be avoided and crosswind operations can be minimized,
according to paragraph 204a of AC No. 150/5390-2B issued by FAA of the

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U.S. Department of Transportation.

• For operational safety concern, the two flight paths are separated by at
least 135 degrees.
• VFR approach/departure paths under the condition of strong wind from
the prevailing wind direction.
• Based on the information provided, direction of prevailing wind varies
from NW to NNW, with a maximum gust velocity of 100km/h.
Accordingly, a flight route as shown in Figure 2.1 along the NW and SE
direction shall be followed. However, one of the proposed flight paths
along the wind direction would encroach onto the airspace of the
surrounding developments, and hence restriction will be imposed on
the height of the following developments:
• Medical Centre - restricted to a height of approximately 18m above
the elevation of helipad.
• Emergency Operation Centre - restricted to a height of
approximately 25m above the elevation of helipad.
• Gate Security Building - restricted to a height of approximately 25m
above the elevation of helipad.
• Based on the Master Layout Plan with marked up levels for building
height (see Figure 2.5), the concerned buildings including Medical
Centre (11.0m high) and Emergency Operation Centre(12.2m high)
would not encroach into the flight path.
• VFR approach/departure paths under the condition of normal weather.
• Figure 2.2 shows the proposed takeoff path orientated in an eastward
direction with bearing of 85o 14′ 46.3˝, while the landing flight path is
orientated in a southwest direction with bearing of 220o 14′ 46.3˝.
Based on the proposed approach/ departure flight paths, height
restriction shall be imposed on the following developments so that
penetration of transitional surfaces can be avoided:
• Future expansion at the south end of the proposed Corporate
Records Centre should be restricted to a maximum height of 30m
above ground level of the proposed helipad.
• The Guard Booth located southeast of the Medical Centre shall not
exceed 25m above the elevation of the proposed helipad.
• Recommendations
• There shall be two flight paths to be used, one for normal weather and
one for conditions of strong wind from the prevailing wind direction.
2.1.2 VFR approach/departure surfaces

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• An approach/ departure surface is an imaginary plane centered on each

approach/ departure flight path as shown in Figure 2.3
• The approach/ departure surface of each flight path begins at the edge of
the FATO, sloping upward at a gradient of 8:1 (8 units horizontal to 1 unit
vertical) for a distance of 1219m, where the width is 152m at a height of
152m above the elevation of the helipad.
• Immediately adjacent to an approach/ departure surface are two
imaginary surfaces called the transitional surfaces as shown in Figure 2.3.
These surfaces start from the edges of FATO and extend sideward at a
gradient of 2:1 for distance of 76m away from the centerline of a flight
path. Running parallel to the centerline of a flight path, the transitional
surfaces also extends to the end of the approach/ departure surface, i.e.
1219m away from the FATO.
• The approach/departure surface defines an obstacle limitation surface,
into which no object shall penetrate. Any penetration of the transitional
surface should be considered a hazard unless aeronautical study
determines that the penetration will not contribute any substantial effect
upon the safety and efficient use of the airspace.
2.1.3 Proposed location of Helipad
• The helipad shall be sited at the south end of the Multipurpose
Administration Complex, with its centre positioned at coordinates
(222748153.978E, 463370105.728N).
• The location of the proposed helipad and its layout are shown in Figure
2.2 and Figure 2.4 respectively.
2.1.4 Figures
• Figure 2.1
• Figure 2.2
• Figure 2.3 - VFR Heliport Approach/ Departure and Transitional Surfaces

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PARTICULAR SPECIFICATION
SECTION E5 – HELIPAD

• Figure 2.4 - Layout of Proposed Helipad

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PARTICULAR SPECIFICATION
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• Figure 2.5

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PARTICULAR SPECIFICATION
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• Figure 3.1 – Paved TLOF/paved FATO markings

Notes:
• The perimeter of the TLOF and/or the FATO should be marked.
• Paved or hard surfaced TLOF perimeters should be defined with a continuous,
12-inch-wide (30 cm), white line.
• The perimeter of a paved FATO should be defined with a 12-inch-wide (30 cm)
dashed white line (See detail A).
• Rotor diameter and weight limitation markings are not shown for simplicity.

• Figure 3.2 - Standard Helicopter Identification Symbol, TLOF Size, and

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PARTICULAR SPECIFICATION
SECTION E5 – HELIPAD

Weight Limitation

0.66A

0.07A
0.02A

See Detail A
A

0.14A

Letter Height (A)

is the Lesser of
0.6 TLOF Length
1.2 TLOF Width

No weight limit
Takeoff weight of
design helicoptor

5" [12.7cm]

9'-0" [2.8m]

Maximum Rotor Diameter

6'-9" [2.0m]

Alternate marking with no weight restrictions

Detail A TLOF size/weight limitation 'box'

Notes:

1. See Appendix 3 for the form and proportion of the numbers used in the "TLOF Size and Limitation Box"

2. The "H" should be located in the center of the TLOF and orientated on the axis of the preferred
approach/departure path,

3. The height of the "H" is limited to 60 ft [18.3m] for Public Use General Aviation Heliports. For PPR heliports
the "H" may be limited to 10ft [3m].

4. "12" indicates the maximum takeoff weight (12,000 pounds) of the TLOF design helicopter, in units of thousands of pounds.

5. "44" indicates the rotor diameter of the largest helicopter (44 foot rotor diameter) for which the TLOF is designed.

2.2 Helipad design

2.2.1 Helicopter data

• The helipad shall be used by three (3) types of helicopters:

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• Bell 412
• Sikorsky S92
• Agusta Bell AB139S
• Sizing of a helipad solely depends on rotor diameter (RD) and overall
length (OL) of the design helicopter. Table 2.2 below summarizes key
dimensions of the 3 helicopter models designated for the helipad.

Table 2.2 Key Dimensions of Designated Helicopters for Sizing of

Helipad

MODEL OF DESIGNATED HELICOPTERS

DIMENSIONS Bell 412 Sikorsky S-92 Agusta Bell

AB139s

Rotor Diameter (RD) 14.02 m 17.17 m 13.80 m

Overall Length (OL) 17.11 m 20.88 m 16.65 m

Maximum Take-off Weight 5,398kg 12,837kg 6,000 kg

2.2.2 Sizing of helipad

• The proposed helipad consists of a touchdown and lift-off area (TLOF)
surrounded by a final approach and takeoff area (FATO), and a safety
area will be provided around the FATO as shown on Figure 2.4. The TLOF
is a paved load-bearing area centered in the FATO on which a helicopter
lands or takes off. The FATO is a defined area over which the final phase
of the approach to a hover, or a landing is completed, and from which a
take off is initiated.
• As per para. 201a) of AC No. 150/5390-2B of the FAA, a ground-level
TLOF shall be designed with a minimum dimension (length, width, or
diameter) of 1.0 times the rotor diameter (RD) of the design helicopter.
Based on the figures listed in Table 2.2, a circular paved TLOF with a
diameter of 18.0m shall be proposed for the helipad of this project.
• The entire TLOF of the helipad shall be concrete-paved in order to
minimize potential rutting under the wheels or skids of a parked helicopter
in the case where TLOF surface is paved with asphalt.
• The TLOF and any supporting TLOF structure shall be designed for the
dynamic loads of the designated helicopter. According to para. 806b) of
AC No. 150/5390-2B of the FAA, dynamics loads are assumed at 150% of
the takeoff weight of the designated helicopter. To cater for the dynamic

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load for Sikorsky S-92, the TLOF shall be designed to sustain 19.3 tonne
loading.
• The minimum width, length, or diameter of the FATO shall be at least 1.5
times the overall length (OL) of the designated helicopter. In addition, the
minimum distance between the TLOF perimeter and the FATO perimeter
should not be less than the distance [0.5 x (1.5 OL – 1RD)]. Having
considered the above requirements, a circular-shaped FATO with a
diameter of 32.0m is proposed.
• A VFR Safety Area surrounding a FATO is requisite for operational safety
with the intention to reduce risk of damage to helicopters accidentally
deviating from the FATO during takeoffs and landings. Since the helipad
proposed under this project would include TLOF perimeter markings,
FATO perimeter markings, and a standard H marking at the centre of the
TLOF, the minimum width of VFR Safety Area shall be 1/3 RD but not less
than 6.0m as per Table 2-1 of AC No. 150/5390-2B issued by the FAA.
• Based on the RD of the designated helicopter, the width of the VFR
Safety Area is proposed to be 6.0m.
• It should be noted that since the VFR Safety Area needs not to be marked,
the VFR Safety Area can be in any shape as long as the minimum
recommended width (6m from the perimeter of the FATO) is provided, and
within which no fixed object should be located.
2.2.3 Markers and marking on helipad
• Surface markings may be paint, reflective paint, reflective markers, or
preformed material. Lines/markings shall be outlined with a 15cm line of a
contrasting colour to enhance conspicuity.
• Markings on the perimeter of both the TLOF and FATO are recommended.
The perimeter of the TLOF shall be outlined with a continuous, 30cm,
white line as illustrated in Figure 3.1. Perimeter of the FATO shall be
defined with a 30cm wide dashed white line, with corners of the FATA
clearly defined. Segments of the dashed lines should be 1.5m in length,
and spaced at an interval of 1.5m.
• A standard helipad identification symbol on the TLOF is proposed with the
intention to identify the location as a helipad and to provide visual cues to
pilots. The symbol shall be a white H marking with a contrasting border,
marked at the centre of the TLOF and orientated on the axis of the
preferred approach/departure path. The proposed H marking shall be
based on the various dimensions as shown in Figure 3.2.
• According to Figure 3.2, the proposed TLOF should be marked with the

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rotor diameter and weight of the largest helicopter for which it is designed
for, i.e. the Sikorsky S-92. The maximum rotor diameter and takeoff
weight of the Sikorsky S-92 are 56′4˝ (17.2m) and 28,300lb (12.9ton),
respectively. Metric equivalents should not be used.
2.2.4 Windsock
• A windsock conforming to AC No. 1450/5345-27D issued by the FAA of
the U.S. Department of Transportation shall be installed in the vicinity of
the proposed helipad to show the direction and magnitude of surface
wind.
• Windsock shall be erected at a location outside the Safety Area where it is
clearly visible to pilots from the TLOF and on the approach path when
helicopters are at a distance of 152m away from the TLOF. It should be
noted that the windsock, under any circumstance, shall not penetrate the
approach/departure or transitional surfaces.
• Windsock shall be either internally lighted or externally illuminated to
ensure that it is clearly visible during nighttime.
• From practicality point of view, an internally-lighted L-806 windsock would
be suitable for the proposed helipad. The L-806 is the type of wind cone
assembly which is mounted on low-mass support, and designed for easy
installation and maintenance.
• Tentative location of the windsock is shown on Figure 2.4.

2.3 Rescue and fire fighting services

• Fire fighting facilities including a fire hydrant within 100m of the helipad,
and Fire Hose reel as well and storage for 45kg of dry chemical powder
shall be required. These facilities shall be accommodated by a small
service building, incorporating switch room located 30m or more away
from the TLOF.
• The location of the services building is shown in Figure 2.4. and
indicated on the master plan layout drawing It shall be 30m away from the
TLOF.

3 Materials and system components (to be provided before final submission)

4 Workmanship (to be provided before final submission)

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