Helicopters already in heavy demand

Even though Battersea is a long way across London from the Olympic Park, the only CAA-licensed heliport serving the city can expect to be very busy during the Games.

Neil Gibson, who was director of charter and management at PremiAir Aviation Services, which runs the heliport at the time this article was written, says there was limited demand for fixed-wing services for the Olympic period as of December, but reports that half the group’s helicopter capacity was already sold out.

Gibson points out that spectators will be heading not just to the main Olympic site in east London, but to many other events such as the rowing at Windsor and the sailing on the south coast.

Clients arriving into airports such as Luton and Farnborough may therefore require helicopter transfer to Battersea, and PremiAir can shuttle them there by Sikorsky S-76 or Twin Squirrel.

The heliport, located on the River Thames between Battersea and Wandsworth bridges, has changed hands several times in recent years. Weston Aviation acquired it from the Harrods organisation in 2003 and four years later sold it on to Von Essen Hotels. Von Essen’s founder and owner, Andrew Davis, formed a separate business, Von Essen Aviation, with the acquisition of the heliport and PremiAir, which was awarded the operating contract there.

Von Essen Hotels went into administration in April 2011. The new 70-bedroom Hotel Verta, directly adjoining the heliport, was separately owned but followed into administration in July and was sold in September. Davis is under pressure to sell London Heliport and two offers are thought to be on the table.

Permitted opening hours at the heliport are 0700 to 2300 seven days a week (standard operating hours are 0730 to 1930 Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1800 on weekends and holidays, but early and late extensions can be negotiated). Christopher Forrest, operations director at the heliport and group operations director of PremiAir, believes that if it were necessary to further extend these hours for the opening and closing ceremonies, Wandsworth Council would be agreeable. Both the council and local residents have been supportive of the heliport thanks to its own redevelopment and the construction of the hotel, which shields some of the noise from residential areas.

The heliport opened a new passenger terminal in 2010 with a soundproofed, air-conditioned VIP passenger departure lounge and improved crew facilities. Parking space has increased to accommodate four helicopters of S-76 size with rotors turning, and there is also additional static parking.

Although the facility is in London’s prohibited zone, it has special exemption because of its importance in feeding business traffic into London. Forrest was still awaiting details of increased restrictions as EVA went to press, but he anticipates enhanced security for the Olympics, with the authorities demanding more information pre-arrival on operators, crew and passengers.

But he challenges the notion that incoming visitors will suffer additional inconvenience compared with previous Olympics. There have been many restrictions at previous Games in the US, China and Greece. “If anything, London will be less restricted. Perhaps we’ll be able to improve on expectations,” he says.

One way of arriving at the Olympic Park in genuine style could be by boat down the Thames. London Heliport is in discussion with a boat operator that would offer departures on demand.

A pier exists at Battersea, just a few metres from the arrivals area. The facilities are not currently in use and would need some upgrading, Forrest says, but if the idea goes ahead he says a river shuttle could transport visitors to the River Lee, alongside the main stadium, in around 25 minutes.