List of heliports in Washington, D.C.

Helicopters at Bolling Air Force Base

There are 13 heliports within Washington, D.C., the federal capital district of the United States, as of 2021.[1][2] As of 2002, there are also 32 others in the Washington metropolitan area.[3] Of this total, 22 belong to hospitals, 12 to other corporations or private owners, 10 government, three military, and one public.[3]

No active facilities for fixed-wing aircraft exist within the geographically small and densely populated city. The district has not had any such facilities since 1962, when NAS Anacostia and Bolling AFB demolished their runways and abolished their seaplane base on the Potomac River. Airports associated with DC (such as Dulles, Reagan, or Baltimore/Washington) are instead located nearby in Virginia or Maryland.

The White House does not have its own heliport, but uses the South Lawn, with portable communications equipment brought out for Marine One arrivals and departures.[4]

Heliports in D.C.

FAA IATA ICAO Name[1] Owner / Operator[1] Coordinates[1]
Public Use
09W South Capitol Street Heliport South Capitol Street Heliport, LLC 38°52′07″N 77°00′27″W / 38.868723°N 77.007476°W / 38.868723; -77.007476
Military
JPN JPN KJPN Pentagon Army Heliport[a] United States Army 38°52′27″N 77°03′27″W / 38.8740556°N 77.0575000°W / 38.8740556; -77.0575000
BOF BOF KBOF Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling[a] United States Navy & United States Air Force 38°50′34″N 77°00′58″W / 38.842891°N 77.016087°W / 38.842891; -77.016087
Private
DC17 Children's National Medical Center Children's National Medical Center 38°55′39″N 77°00′52″W / 38.927635°N 77.014389°W / 38.927635; -77.014389
DC09 Georgetown University Hospital Georgetown University 38°54′38″N 77°04′40″W / 38.910495°N 77.077644°W / 38.910495; -77.077644
24DC George Washington University Hospital Universal Health Services 38°54′03″N 77°03′04″W / 38.900938°N 77.051125°W / 38.900938; -77.051125
DC06 MPD 2nd District Metropolitan Police Department 38°56′05″N 77°04′29″W / 38.934824°N 77.074835°W / 38.934824; -77.074835
DC16 MPD 3rd District Metropolitan Police Department 38°55′04″N 77°02′17″W / 38.917896°N 77.038108°W / 38.917896; -77.038108
DC07 MPD 5th District Metropolitan Police Department 38°54′54″N 76°58′24″W / 38.915111°N 76.973308°W / 38.915111; -76.973308
DC52 Sibley Memorial Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital 38°56′13″N 77°06′38″W / 38.936928°N 77.110557°W / 38.936928; -77.110557
DC04 Spirit of Washington Heliport Spirit of Washington 38°52′27″N 77°01′17″W / 38.874279°N 77.021366°W / 38.874279; -77.021366
DC03 US Park Police Eagle's Nest National Park Service 38°51′59″N 76°59′34″W / 38.866501°N 76.992753°W / 38.866501; -76.992753
DC08 MedStar Washington Hospital Center MedStar Health 38°55′44″N 77°01′00″W / 38.928861°N 77.016639°W / 38.928861; -77.016639

South Capitol Street Heliport

Until 1996, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC) operated eight helicopters, including three MD-500s and five Bell OH-58s.[5] The MPDC had heliports in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th police districts.[1] The helicopters were sold after budget cuts; the MPDC used National Park Service helicopters as needed. In 2001, the MPDC obtained a new Eurocopter AS350,[5] and flies it from the South Capitol Street Heliport at Buzzard Point.[6]

From 1998 until the September 11 attacks, Air Pegasus operated helicopter sightseeing and other transportation services out of the South Capitol Street Heliport, but the federal government has not allowed it to resume operations due to security concerns.[7][8][9] WTTG Fox-5 also used the heliport from 1999 to 2001, then moved its operations elsewhere.[6] On November 10, 2010, District of Columbia Congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton asked the TSA to allow the South Capitol Street Heliport to reopen for non-governmental use.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Airport Facilities Data". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  2. ^ "Airport Data & Contact Information". www.faa.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  3. ^ a b Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (November 2004). "Regional Helicopter System Plan Draft Final Report" (Microsoft Word). Arlington County Civic Federation. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
  4. ^ Patterson, Bradley Hawkes (2008). To Serve the President: Continuity and Innovation in the White House Staff. Brookings Institution Press. p. 377. ISBN 978-0-8157-6954-5.
  5. ^ a b Stephens, Ernie (2004-07-01). "The $1.5 Million Police Car". Rotor & Wing Magazine. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
  6. ^ a b "Future bleak for public-use heliport". The Washington Times. 2002-06-10. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
  7. ^ a b Banks, Kathy (2010-11-10). "Support for D.C. Heliport Takes Off". NBC4. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  8. ^ Lowe, Paul (2002-04-01). "Security curbs ops at D.C. heliport". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
  9. ^ "Air Pegasus of DC Inc v. United States". Open Jurist. 2005-09-21. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
  1. ^ a b Not included in above count

Further reading