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COPPERSTATE Helicopter Procedures

NOTE: Airspace within 4 nautical miles of the Casa Grande Municipal Airport, up to and including 2500' AGL, will be controlled by a temporary FAA control tower. Check NOTAMS before you depart & listen to ATIS on 132.7 for current information. This page is an excerpt, click here to see the entire Official FAA NOTAM and graphics.

Helicopter Procedures

All helicopter operators are encouraged to familiarize themselves with both helicopter and fixed-wing arrival/departure routes, and to utilize flight paths that do not conflict with the flow of fixed-wing traffic.

The marked helicopter pad on the main ramp, west-northwest of the terminal building, will be closed for the duration of the event. A temporary transient helicopter Landing Zone (LZ) has been designated north of the terminal building, just south of the parallel taxiway, at the east edge of the main ramp. Transient helicopter pilots should be alert for helicopter ride and air ambulance helicopters operating from the paved ramp area southeast of the terminal building via routes south of, and parallel to, the transient helicopter routes.

To avoid rotor-wash damage to persons and property on the ground, no helicopter operations are permitted over aircraft parking areas, vendor exhibit areas, etc. Helicopters should fly a safe arrival/departure that does not cause debris from the dirt/grass area north or east of the temporary LZ to blow onto airport ramps, taxiways, buildings or facilities. Helicopters must not overfly airport buildings/facilities unless necessary for safety of flight.

NOTE: Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, air ambulance and ride helicopters should CONTACT COPPERSTATE Tower on 119.8 prior to departure, or when ten miles from the airport on arrival, and should plan to ingress/egress directly to or from their normal LZ. Air ambulance helicopter operations will remain operational throughout the COPPERSTATE event and will receive priority handling over other traffic.

Transient Helicopter Arrivals

Obtain arrival information via ATIS on 132.7.
CONTACT COPPERSTATE Tower on 119.8, ten miles from the airport, for arrival instructions. Unless otherwise instructed, pilots should use the Helicopter Arrival Route (see below).
If so directed by COPPERSTATE Tower, CONTACT HELO OPS on frequency 128.4.
Look for ground support personnel to provide hand signal guidance to your assigned LZ.

Transient Helicopter Arrival Route (see graphic below)

Unless otherwise instructed by the tower, all helicopters will ingress to the LZ from the east, from over the red roofed buildings located east of Arizona Highway 387. Helicopters arriving from the west, north, or south should circumnavigate the airport (at least three miles from the airport), at 500’ AGL, so they will approach the red roofed buildings from the east. From over the red roofed buildings, helicopters will proceed westbound to the LZ. Helicopters should not overfly houses east of the airport.

Transient Helicopter Departures

Obtain departure information via ATIS on 132.7.
Receive clearance to start from ground support personnel or HELO OPS on 128.4.
When ready for departure and released by HELO OPS, CONTACT COPPERSTATE Tower on 119.8 for departure instructions. Unless otherwise instructed, pilots should use the Helicopter Departure Route (see below).

Transient Helicopter Departure Route (see graphic below)

Unless otherwise instructed by the tower, all helicopter departures will egress from the LZ to the east, passing north or south of the red roofed buildings. Northbound departures should continue eastbound for two miles before turning north, maintaining at or below 300’ AGL until clear of the runway extended centerline. Southbound departures may turn southbound after passing the red roofed buildings AND the housing development, maintaining at or below 300’ AGL until clear of the flow of fixed wing traffic. Helicopters should not overfly houses east of the airport.