CHAPTER 727
Helicopters and Helistops

727.01   Definitions.

727.02   Landing helicopter prohibited other than at helistop.

727.03   Minimum helistop specifications.

727.04   Rooftop or elevated helistop.

727.05   Submission of plans.

727.06   Approval of helistop.

727.07   Helicopter and helistop operation.

727.08   Emergencies.

727.99   Penalty.

727.01 DEFINITIONS.

   As used in this chapter:

   (a)   "Helicopter" means an airborne vehicle used for the transportation of persons or material whose support in the air is normally derived from the vertical lift or force produced by airfoils or wings mechanically rotated about an approximately vertical axis.

   (b)   "Helistop" means an area which is used for the landing, loading and taking off of helicopters, not including facilities for maintenance, fueling or storage of helicopters.

   (c)    "Heliport" means a building or place for storage, repair or maintenance and is prohibited within the City. (Ord. 1972-143. Passed 12-18-72.)

727.02 LANDING HELICOPTER PROHIBITED OTHER THAN AT HELISTOP.

   No person shall land, discharge, load or take off in a helicopter at any place except at a helistop, the location and construction of which have been approved by the Safety Director and such approval confirmed by Council, and which conform to the specifications and requirements of this chapter. The Director, may, however, approve the landing or take off of a helicopter at a different location approved by him or his designated representative on an individual basis in cases of emergency, public ceremony or other public necessity.

(Ord. 1972-143. Passed 12-18-72.)

727.03 MINIMUM HELISTOP SPECIFICATIONS.

   Every location for a helistop shall be within 500 feet of a City boundary line. The approach path to a landing location shall be, insofar as possible, over open land, designed so as not to endanger surrounding property, on a plan to be approved. No helistop shall be permitted within 500 feet of residential zoning or residence use.

   No approach path shall be used and no helicopter shall be flown at an elevation of less than 500 feet over a residence building, school or other public building, or closer than 200 feet to any other building, structure, tree or public highways, except for the purpose of landing or taking off from an approved helistop.

   No fueling, repairing or maintenance of helicopters shall be performed at such helistop, except in case of emergency, and no fuel shall be stored. (Ord. 1972-143. Passed 12-18-72.)

727.04 ROOFTOP OR ELEVATED HELISTOP.

   Every rooftop or platform helistop shall be constructed of noncombustible material having a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours, supported by a building or structure of equivalent fire resistance rating. Openings in the roof or platform shall not be permitted in the immediate landing area. At least two approved means of egress, remote from each other shall be provided from each rooftop landing area. Each means of egress shall be by enclosed stairways at least equal in fire resistance rating to that required by the Building Code for the specific occupancy of the building.

   Fire extinguishing systems consisting of dry mechanical portable extinguishers, building standpipe systems or other sources of water supply, and at least two hose stations remote from each other, shall be provided subject to detailed specifications prescribed by the Fire Chief.

(Ord. 1972-143. Passed 12-18-72.)

727.05 SUBMISSION OF PLANS.

   Every person, firm or corporation intending to establish and use a helistop within the City shall first submit plans for approval to the Safety Director, consisting of the following:

   (a)   A statement as to the intended use of the helistop, whether public or private, commercial or otherwise, the identity and financial responsibility of the management, frequency of flights, size, type and manufacture of equipment intended to be used, and hours of operation.

   (b)    A plan of the proposed site showing dimensions of the entire usable areas, dimensions of actual landing and take-off areas, all obstructions within 1, 000 feet of the helistop indicating their heights, and drawings of flight and approach paths within 1,000 feet of the helistop, and lighting, access and drainage plans.

   (c)    A report by a professional engineer approved by the Inspector of Buildings showing that the roof structure or platform is designed to support concentrated loads on any one square foot equivalent to three-fourths gross weight of the largest helicopter to be accommodated, assuming that the load is concentrated only at the points of contact under each main landing gear.

      (Ord. 1972-143. Passed 12-18-72.)