London Heliport

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London Heliport

IATA: N/A - ICAO: EGLW
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Weston (Aviation) Ltd.
Serves		London
Elevation AMSL		18 ft (5 m)
Coordinates		51°28′12″N, 000°10′46″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
03/21	125 X 52	38 X 16	Concrete

London Heliport (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGLW) at Battersea, London is the capital's main and busiest heliport. The facility is located on the south bank of the River Thames, 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) southwest of Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster, between Wandsworth Bridge and Battersea Railway Bridge.

The heliport, once owned by Westland and then Harrods, is a very small site, making use of a jetty to provide a helipad for take-off and landing, and onshore parking for between three and four aircraft, depending upon size. The heliport provides landing, parking and refuelling services between 08:00 and 21:00 (flights are permitted between 07:00 and 23:00), albeit parking is normally restricted to smaller helicopter categories.

A Sikorsky S-76A landing on London Heliport's helipad jetty on the River Thames, Battersea Railway Bridge in the background

Flight conditions and procedures at the heliport prescribe a circuit height 1000 feet above the Thames, in an extended figure-of-eight over the water, to seek to minimise noise pollution for residents in the area and to constrain flight operations to over the river, away from the built-up area. Ground running of rotors is restricted to a maxiumum of five minutes for the same reason.

In December 2003, the heliport was acquired by Weston Homes. Landing fees in April 2006 were from £90 to £1075 depending upon the helicopter type; additional costs accrue for parking, early or late flights, and flights in evening peak times.