Helipad vs. Heliport — What's the Difference?

Helipads are specific areas designed for helicopters to land and take off. These can be simple, marked flat surfaces located on the ground, atop buildings, or on platforms at sea. Helipads focus on the basic necessity of providing a safe landing and takeoff space for helicopters without necessarily offering additional services or facilities. Heliports are more complex installations that not only provide space for helicopters to land and take off but also include facilities for refueling, maintenance, storage, and sometimes even passenger processing. Heliports serve as bases for helicopter operations, accommodating multiple helicopters and offering comprehensive services to support helicopter and passenger needs.

A helipad can be part of a heliport, the term "heliport" implies a larger, more equipped facility dedicated to helicopter operations. This distinction is similar to the difference between a simple parking spot and a full-service garage. Helipads are about the immediate need for landing and takeoff, whereas heliports address the broader requirements of helicopter services and operations.

Helipads are often found in locations where space is limited or where there is a specific need for helicopter access, such as hospitals, remote areas, or oil rigs. Heliports are typically located in areas where helicopter traffic is higher and more services are required, such as near airports, in urban centers, or in industrial zones.

This distinction highlights the functional differences between the two: a helipad is essentially a helicopter parking spot, while a heliport is a comprehensive service center for helicopters. Whether a helicopter operation requires a simple helipad or a full heliport depends on the nature and frequency of the helicopter activities involved.