Public Use Heliport

I still don't see how this ends up being anywhere but the top of a building or an airport. Have any of you actually been with a couple hundred feet of a helicopter taking off? The rotor wash is real and intense. Any quantity of sand, snow, or other debris will be up in the air at high velocity, and that's no good for anyone....

I just don't see any advantages to NOT putting it on top of a building (or at the airport).

Sure, maybe you could put it out on a pier in the harbor, but if you havent noticed those are pretty expensive real estate these days...
 
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Semass said:
This is an interesting puzzle. I wonder about the structure that appears to be a former drydock behind the Harborlights/Blue Hills Bank pavilion. It seems that Massport owned land would be an advantage over private or city owned since it is a transportation agency. It also seems that being on the waterfront would be a way for Massport to capture the proposed seaplane market to NYC. The Seaport has good access, parking and, not that it is needed, public transit. It is close to logan, Black Falcon, Conley, and other Massport infrastructure.
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I really like the idea of some proximity of the heliport with a sea plane terminal.
 
The concept you're describing is called an airport
 
How about they build a heliport on top of the new Patriots stadium I heard they're building in the Seaport?
 
So builders are restricted according to FAA safety restrictions for buildings over 600ft++due to Radar safety--- but now we are going to have helicopters now flying above these buildings in Downtown/Seaport.

At this point I should buy myself a helicopter to fly around in. Would solve sitting in traffic problem
 
TheRifleman said:
So builders are restricted according to FAA safety restrictions for buildings over 600ft++due to Radar safety--- but now we are going to have helicopters now flying above these buildings in Downtown/Seaport.

At this point I should buy myself a helicopter to fly around in. Would solve sitting in traffic problem
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A Helicopter crashing is a problem, even a problem that may kill a few people who were unlucky enough (and unaware enough) to be on the ground where it hits. But it isn't a problem that is going to kill a thousand people.

In contrast, a loaded 747 having problems after takeoff and slamming into some office building that was built too tall is absolutely going to cause those kind of massive death tolls.
 
TheRifleman said:
So builders are restricted according to FAA safety restrictions for buildings over 600ft++due to Radar safety--- but now we are going to have helicopters now flying above these buildings in Downtown/Seaport.

At this point I should buy myself a helicopter to fly around in. Would solve sitting in traffic problem
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Ahhh, no, we won't. Believe it or not, there are actually FAA regulations that govern where the helicopters can fly. There are limited corridors NOT above the buildings. This is part of the reason why siting the helipad is challenging.
 
To be clear, there are two FAA 'issues' with respect building height in Boston.

1.) To the south and southwest of the airport, a building above a certain height may be determined to be a hazard because a plane experiencing loss of power from one engine on takeoff might hit it (because of the height). Insurers will not insure such a building.

2.) For a much more limited geographic area, the FAA has determined that a building(s) over a certain height will interfere with its radar coverage of aircraft approaching Logan from the west.
 
I want to know when we're going to get our public-use hovercraft port.

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You aren't a true world-class city if you don't have a hovercraft port.
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JeffDowntown said:
Still a really hard location to get to for the ground transportation side of the equation.

Once you land, you still need your limo to pick you up!
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If you are flying in on a helicopter, I don't think that's a problem.
 
Mongo said:
If you are flying in on a helicopter, I don't think that's a problem.
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I am pointing out that road access to Parcel 27 is a problem. It is virtually non-existent. And the parcel is surrounded by highway ramps and tunnels.

So yes, even the uber rich cannot levitate their limos. They need roads.
 
stellarfun said:
The only way in and out is through a parking lot off Kneeland St; don't know who owns the lot, but i believe this lot is to be re-developed.

https://goo.gl/maps/ytC7oD5aBYo
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Looks like there must be some easement for an access road. There is an overpass and a road. But yes, it doesn't appear to be a public road currently. Still seems like one of the best possible locations.
 
tangent said:
Looks like there must be some easement for an access road. There is an overpass and a road. But yes, it doesn't appear to be a public road currently. Still seems like one of the best possible locations.
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I am not sure that is actually an easement. All that land is owned by MassDOT. And since they are the only ones who need access today, they are just driving on their land. (That driveway is on Parcel 26.)

MassDOT Parcels 25 and 26 are about to go out to bid for development. BRA and MassDOT guidelines have been issued. See:
http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=5193&page=6

That solicitation also allows bidders to include Parcel 27 (the potential helipad parcel), if they like (not required). Bidders are supposed to provide a plan for some kind of (unspecified) access to Parcel 27 as well. Also the development solicitation means that hopefully soon there will be 300 ft. buildings right next to that site.
 
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