chucksweet Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 (edited) This weekend I flew to the Indianapolis Heliport and walked a couple of blocks to our hotel. It got me remembering years ago, before I had my certificate that I was at a hotel in Georgia that had a windsock. While we there a helicopter landed and stayed for several days. Obviously, the hotel endorsed the landing. I am now looking for places to fly to and land. Are the hotels in the Eastern or Southern United States that are "cool" with helicopters? Is there a list anywhere? How do you find them? ThanksChuck Edited March 22, 2009 by chucksweet Quote
Darren Hughes Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 I think that book "$100 Hamburger" has a list of fly in restaurants, or restaurants that have airports nearby. Maybe there's a section for helicopter pads near restaurants or hotels. Quote
HelliBoy Posted March 24, 2009 Posted March 24, 2009 You wont find a list I dont think. I'd say most hotels are cool with it. So are most restaurants, if they have the land. They're typically more than happy to have a gizillionaire helicopter thingy guy staying or eating at their place. You just call and ask, mention your insurance coverage, chat them up a little bit, and voila- you have the permission of the land owner. In most places if there is a town ordinance against it they will just give you a warning and tell you not to come back. I'm talking about mom and pop places- the manager of a motel six or denny's probably wont feel they have the authority to OK it. DO A VERY THOUROUGH RECON!!! Jimbob at Jimbob's Inn probably doesnt know what it takes to land a helicopter safely. He'll tell you there are no wires but forget about the four 150' cell towers that surround his property. Have fun and to hell with the airport! Quote
Goldy Posted March 24, 2009 Posted March 24, 2009 Don't try it anywhere within the LA City limits or you'll get more than a warning ! Goldy Quote
Justin DBC Posted March 24, 2009 Posted March 24, 2009 Don't try it anywhere within the LA City limits or you'll get more than a warning ! Goldy "My clutch light came on so I figured, 'Hell, I'm on the ground anyways... Why not get some Sushi?!' Everything looks fine now though, officer, so I'll just go ahead and get this bad boy off of PCH for you." Quote
HelliBoy Posted March 24, 2009 Posted March 24, 2009 yeah, did I mention I live in the middle of nowhere? Quote
DeLtaFoxY Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Laughlin NV...Riverside Hotel/Casino has a helipad...not sure if they ever let anyone beside Don Laughlin [the owner] use it Quote
airBeater Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Instead of finding a hotel to land at, why not just land your hotel!?!?!? ***CLICK*** --- Quote
Regan Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Saw that on gizmodo a few days ago. That would be awesome if it was real, haha! Quote
chucksweet Posted March 30, 2009 Author Posted March 30, 2009 You wont find a list I dont think. I'd say most hotels are cool with it. So are most restaurants, if they have the land. They're typically more than happy to have a gizillionaire helicopter thingy guy staying or eating at their place. You just call and ask, mention your insurance coverage, chat them up a little bit, and voila- you have the permission of the land owner. ... Have fun and to hell with the airport! ThanksYes, I have done this many time at restaurants and plenty of high schools (my son is in a marching band). They almost always say yes. I am looking specifically for hotels that we know allow helicopters or that people have landed at. I stayed at one several years ago North of Atlanta that had a windsock and a helicopter came in while I was there. Surely, there must be others??? ThanksChuck Quote
Darren Hughes Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Saw that on gizmodo a few days ago. That would be awesome if it was real, haha! Here is the Gizmodo article. That is the dumbest thing I've have ever seen. Why the hell would you want to stay in a hotel that is constantly vibrating? Now if they got rid of that big stupid looking fuselage and put a big belly tank in its place, that would be a completely different story! Quote
thrilsekr Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Harris Ranch - Restaurant and Hotel in Coalinga, CA. Not southern or eastern, but it is a hotel with a landing strip. Have not stayed at the hotel, but the food is most excellent. Renowned for their steaks. Airport InfoHarris Ranch Website Quote
delorean Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 For the Midwest...... The Hilton in Chicago has a roof top helipad (Michigan Ave across from Grant Park.) I asked about it one time and seems like you have to be the a VVVIP to use it. But Chicago does have more "helistops" close to restaurants and hotels outside of the city. The Holiday Inn in Springfield, IL has a heliport. There used to be a casino somewhere on the west border of IL that had a helipad. Quad Cities? Quincy? I cannot recall. In St. Louis, the old Clarion (now Millennium hotel) used to have a area on the parking garage. And the Holiday Inn at Westport had small spot in the parking lot. Quote
MLH Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 "Laughlin NV...Riverside Hotel/Casino has a helipad...not sure if they ever let anyone beside Don Laughlin [the owner] use it" Even Don Laughlin may have second thoughts about using it, especially on windy days: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=2...02192&key=1 Mike Quote
FlyNHighNFast Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 That is the dumbest thing I've have ever seen. Why the hell would you want to stay in a hotel that is constantly vibrating? Think of how many quarters you will save... Quote
JDHelicopterPilot Posted March 31, 2009 Posted March 31, 2009 "Laughlin NV...Riverside Hotel/Casino has a helipad...not sure if they ever let anyone beside Don Laughlin [the owner] use it" Even Don Laughlin may have second thoughts about using it, especially on windy days: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=2...02192&key=1 Mike Well that is what you get for starting a helicopter with a strong tailwind. Let alone one that has already been shown to prone to tail strikes in windy conditions with a tailwind. JD Quote
deerock Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 that's pretty wild that they actually blamed it on the manufacturer though...instead of on the pilot, with the 'known conditions' hmmm. good to think about for every startup any way Quote
chucksweet Posted April 3, 2009 Author Posted April 3, 2009 For the Midwest...... The Hilton in Chicago has a roof top helipad (Michigan Ave across from Grant Park.) I asked about it one time and seems like you have to be the a VVVIP to use it. But Chicago does have more "helistops" close to restaurants and hotels outside of the city. The Holiday Inn in Springfield, IL has a heliport. There used to be a casino somewhere on the west border of IL that had a helipad. Quad Cities? Quincy? I cannot recall. In St. Louis, the old Clarion (now Millennium hotel) used to have a area on the parking garage. And the Holiday Inn at Westport had small spot in the parking lot. This is cool..this is the kind of specific information I am looking for. Thanks Quote
West Coaster Posted April 4, 2009 Posted April 4, 2009 The Aerie Resort on Vancouver Island has it's own helipad, large enough to land a medium on too. Bear Mountain Golf Resort, also on Vancouver Island, is in the process of building a helipad large enough for our S-61. Quote
TLJ Posted April 7, 2009 Posted April 7, 2009 Here is one at the Holiday Inn Clarksville IN, South of Indy near Louisville. http://www.airnav.com/airport/1I6 Quote
Goldy Posted April 8, 2009 Posted April 8, 2009 that's pretty wild that they actually blamed it on the manufacturer though...instead of on the pilot, with the 'known conditions' hmmm. good to think about for every startup any way Have to wonder if a little forward cyclic would have helped the situation.... Quote
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