This proposal is for a Permanent change to the notified airspace design, and the change level is 3.
Portland Heliport is an ex-military establishment and has been operated by
HeliOperations Ltd since 2017 and their current focus is to deliver flying training of Search and Rescue Pilots to the
Federal German Navy in Sea King Mark 5 aircraft.
The Heliport is utilised 5 days a week, with occasional weekend activity, for flying training and supports the UK MOD
including the Royal Navy and Joint Helicopter Force whilst they conduct operations, including those within the Portland
Danger Area complex, which can often be at short notice, or out of hours. At present, a workstream is underway to
transition Portland Heliport from MAA to the CAA regulatory oversight and includes the provision of upgrading the existing
Air-Ground Service to Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS).
Due to the nature of the flying training operations at the Heliport, and to improve safety during the critical stages of flight
for aircraft with significant wake vortex, HeliOperations Ltd wish to establish an Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ) to assist in
protecting the aerodrome traffic on the manoeuvring area and air traffic in the immediate vicinity of the Heliport during
landing/take-off. In addition, the establishment of an associated Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) of the same dimensions as
the proposed ATZ would also enhance safety for other airspace users within the vicinity of the aerodrome and further
protect users of the aerodrome during the critical stages of flight.
Both the ATZ and FRZ coupled with an AFIS would reduce the potential for an incident in the vicinity of the aerodrome as
pilots and operators would be able to obtain information from Portland Heliport to enable their flights to be conducted
safely within the Zone. Furthermore, there would be an increase in situational awareness of known traffic in close
proximity to the heliport by those transiting by maintaining a listening watch.
