Policy framework for Heliport Certification and Safety Management Systems

All definitions exist in either current ICAO or CAA documentation. We do not propose any definition changes for the purpose of this consultation:

• Heliport: ICAO Annex 14 Volume II defines as “an aerodrome or a defined area on a structure intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of helicopters.”
• Vertiport: Currently defined by the CAA as “an aerodrome or a defined area on a structure intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of Powered-Lift aircraft.”
• Certification: A formal process by which a heliport is assessed and approved to meet regulatory standards, including infrastructure, safety procedures, and operational oversight.
• Safety Management System (SMS): ICAO Annex 19 defines as “A systematic approach to managing safety, including organisational structures, accountabilities, policies, and procedures.
• Point in Space (PinS) Approach: ICAO Doc 8168 Volume I defines as “An approach procedure designed for helicopters only that includes both a visual and an instrument segment.”
• Point-in-space (PinS) Departure: ICAO Doc 8168 Volume I defines as “A departure procedure designed for helicopters only that includes both a visual and an instrument segment.”
• Helicopter: A heavier-than-air aircraft supported in flight chiefly by the reactions of the air on one or more power-driven rotors on substantially vertical axes
• Powered-Lift: Currently defined by the CAA as “a heavier-than-air aircraft capable of vertical take-off, vertical landing, and low-speed flight, which depends principally on engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for the lift during these flight regimes and on non-rotating aerofoil(s) for lift during horizontal flight.”
• Non Conventional Helicopter (NCH): Currently defined by the CAA as “a helicopter that is not capable of autorotation or equivalent alternative in the event or power failure or depletion”
• Remotely Piloted Helicopter (RPH): A helicopter that also meets the ICAO definition within Annex 2 for Remotely Piloted Aircraft: “an unmanned aircraft that is piloted from a remote pilot station”