HELIPAD CONSTRUCTION & APPROVALS
Build It Right.
Get It Approved.
First Time.
Most helipad projects in India fail at the approval stage — not because the owner lacked intent, but because construction began before an aviation expert assessed whether the site, the design and the approach paths would satisfy DGCA requirements. Airlogic provides the aviation expertise, the CAR-compliant design and the DGCA liaison that prevents that outcome.
WHAT AIRLOGIC PROVIDES
The Aviation Expertise Your Project Needs.
Before a Single Brick is Laid.
Airlogic is not a civil construction contractor. We are the aviation specialists who determine what needs to be built, where it needs to be built, and what is required to obtain DGCA approval. Your civil contractor builds to our specification. We handle everything that requires an aviation licence to understand.
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FEASIBILITY & DESIGN
Site Feasibility Assessment & CAR-Compliant Design
Site visit and assessment to evaluate obstacle clearance, approach and departure paths, wind analysis and airspace classification. If the site is viable, Airlogic produces a helipad design to DGCA CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements) standards — correct FATO/TLOF dimensions, surface specification, gradient limits and marking layout. Your contractor builds to this drawing.
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DGCA & AAI LIAISON
Complete Approval Process Management
Airlogic manages the entire DGCA approval process on your behalf — initial NOC application, site clearance submission, coordination with Airports Authority of India where required, and final helipad approval. This is the most complex and most commonly mishandled part of any helipad project. We have done it before. We handle it end to end.
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MARKINGS & LIGHTING
Aviation-Specification Surface Markings & Lighting
Supply and installation coordination of all required aviation markings — TLOF circle, H symbol, perimeter markings and aircraft weight limit designation to ICAO and DGCA standards. Perimeter lighting, touchdown point lights, obstacle lights and windsock supply and positioning. Every element to the specification that DGCA will inspect.
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EQUIPMENT SUPPLY
Safety Equipment & Operational Fit-Out
Supply of all mandatory helipad safety equipment: fire extinguishers (CO2 and dry powder to DGCA requirement), first aid kit, safety signage, access control barriers and operational documentation. For helipads with fuel facilities, Airlogic advises on storage requirements and compliance. Complete fit-out for DGCA inspection readiness.
What Goes Wrong Without Aviation Expertise
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Construction completed to wrong dimensions — DGCA rejects the application and requires demolition or expensive rework
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Approach path obstructed by a tree, wall or building that no one identified before construction — the helipad cannot be approved in that configuration
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Wrong surface material or gradient — does not meet CAR specification, requires resurfacing at additional cost
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DGCA application submitted without correct drawings, NOC from relevant authorities or site clearance — rejected, timeline extended by months
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Markings and lighting installed to the wrong standard — fails DGCA inspection, requires reinstallation
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Total additional cost: often ₹10–30 lakh in rework, plus months of delay
THE RIGHT APPROACH
Feasibility Before Foundation.
The most expensive mistake in helipad development is starting civil construction before an aviation expert has confirmed that the proposed site, orientation and design will satisfy DGCA requirements. This happens regularly in India — because civil contractors do not know aviation regulations and owners do not know what they do not know.
Airlogic’s first engagement with any helipad project is a feasibility assessment — before any design work, before any application, before any construction. We tell you whether your proposed site is viable, what constraints exist, and what the approval pathway looks like. If it is not viable, we tell you that too — saving you the cost of finding out after construction.
If it is viable, Airlogic produces a compliant design, manages the DGCA process, and ensures your contractor builds to a specification that will pass inspection.
HELIPAD TYPES
Three Types. Different Requirements.
Same Need for Expert Guidance.
Each helipad type has distinct structural, regulatory and siting requirements. Airlogic provides feasibility assessment, CAR-compliant design and approval management for all three.
TYPE 1
Ground-Level Helipad
Typical sites
Farmhouse, resort, industrial, hospital campus
FATO minimum
As per helicopter type — typically 15–18m
Surface
Concrete or asphalt to specified bearing strength
Slope
Max 2% on TLOF, 3% on FATO
Approach paths
Two clear approach/departure paths minimum
Key approval
DGCA site clearance + AAI NOC where applicable
Structurally the most straightforward helipad type. Primary challenges are obstacle clearance, approach path assessment and airspace classification for the location.
TYPE 2
Rooftop Helipad
Typical sites
Hospital, hotel, corporate headquarters
Structural load
Must be engineered for helicopter dynamic load
Fire protection
Mandatory foam/powder system for rooftop
Access
Dedicated stairwell or lift access required
Obstacle survey
360° obstacle assessment from rooftop elevation
Key approval
DGCA + structural engineer NOC + municipal
Rooftop helipads require a structural engineer to certify load capacity before DGCA will consider the application. Airlogic coordinates the aviation elements; your structural engineer addresses the building side.
TYPE 3
Temporary Helipad
Typical use
Wedding, event, VIP visit, remote site
Surface
Prepared firm ground, marked to CAR standard
Setup time
1–2 days with correct preparation
Duration
Single event or short-term operational period
Approval
DGCA permission for temporary operation
Key factor
Site must still meet obstacle and path criteria
A temporary helipad still requires DGCA permission and must meet the same obstacle clearance and approach path criteria as a permanent installation. ‘Temporary’ does not mean unapproved.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Four Client Profiles. One Common Requirement.
Helipad requirements span private estates, corporate campuses, medical facilities and event venues. The aviation and regulatory requirements are the same for all — what changes is the context and the specific constraints of each site.
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Private Estates & Farmhouses
A helipad on your private property gives you direct helicopter access without ground transfer delays — particularly valuable for properties in areas with poor road connectivity or heavy traffic. Airlogic handles the full approval process including landowner NOC requirements, local authority coordination and DGCA site clearance. We have assisted with private helipad projects across North India.
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Resorts, Hotels & Hospitality
A helipad transforms a property’s accessibility and prestige. For hill stations, heritage properties and remote resorts, helicopter access is increasingly a genuine guest expectation at the premium end of the market. Airlogic assesses site viability, manages the approval process and ensures the installation meets the standard that DGCA-licensed operators require before they will operate to your pad.
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Hospitals & Medical Facilities
A hospital rooftop helipad can be the difference between a survivable and unsurvivable outcome for a trauma patient. Airlogic understands both the clinical urgency and the aviation regulatory requirements. We assess rooftop load feasibility, coordinate the structural engineering requirement, design to DGCA standard and manage the approval to ensure the facility is ready when it is needed.
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Corporate Campuses & Events
Large corporate campuses benefit from helicopter access for VIP arrivals and executive movement. Event venues — from stadium inaugurations to political rallies to destination weddings — increasingly require temporary helipad permissions for specific events. Airlogic handles permanent corporate installations and temporary event permissions with equal rigour.
THE PROCESS
From First Enquiry to
DGCA-Approved Helipad
A well-managed helipad project typically takes 3–6 months from feasibility to DGCA approval, depending on site complexity and approving authority response times. Here is what each stage involves.
1
Initial Enquiry & Site Information
You provide basic site details: location, property type, intended helicopter type and usage frequency. Airlogic assesses whether a site visit is required or whether a desk review of satellite imagery and airspace data is sufficient for an initial feasibility opinion. We respond within 48 hours on initial viability.
2
Site Feasibility Assessment
Physical site visit by Airlogic to assess obstacle clearance, approach and departure path viability, surface condition, drainage, wind patterns and proximity to controlled airspace. Output: a written feasibility report confirming viability (or identifying constraints), with preliminary design parameters and an estimated approval timeline.
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CAR-Compliant Design & Drawing Production
If the site is viable, Airlogic produces a helipad design to DGCA CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements) standards. This includes dimensioned layout drawings for the FATO and TLOF, surface specification, marking layout, lighting positions, obstacle clearance surfaces and any site-specific requirements. Your civil contractor builds to this drawing. Airlogic reviews construction progress at key stages.
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DGCA & AAI Application Management
Airlogic prepares and submits the complete DGCA approval application: site clearance request, NOC from relevant authorities, design drawings, obstacle limitation surface documentation and all required supporting information. We manage all correspondence with DGCA and AAI, respond to queries and track the application to approval. You receive regular status updates.
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Markings, Lighting, Equipment & Inspection Readiness
On construction completion, Airlogic supplies and coordinates installation of all aviation markings, lighting and safety equipment to the specification required for DGCA inspection. We conduct a pre-inspection walkthrough to confirm everything meets the standard, accompany the DGCA inspector if required, and ensure your helipad receives its final approval without additional rework.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What Clients Ask Before Starting a Helipad Project
Practical answers about approvals, timelines, dimensions and what Airlogic’s scope actually covers.
Do I need DGCA approval for a helipad on my private property?
Yes. Any helipad in India — including on private property — requires DGCA approval before helicopter operations can legally take place. This applies to permanent installations and to temporary helipads for specific events. Operating a helicopter from an unapproved site is a DGCA violation that affects the aircraft operator’s licence, not only the landowner. No reputable operator will land at an unapproved location.
How long does DGCA approval take?
Timeline varies by site complexity and the workload of the approving regional DGCA office. As a general guide: simple ground-level helipads in non-controlled airspace typically take 2–4 months from application to approval. Rooftop helipads or sites near controlled airspace may take longer due to additional coordination with AAI. Temporary event permissions can sometimes be obtained in 2–4 weeks for straightforward cases.
What is the minimum land area required for a helipad?
The minimum dimensions depend on the type of helicopter intended to use the helipad. For a light helicopter (Bell 407 class), the FATO requires a minimum diameter of approximately 1.5 times the overall length of the helicopter — typically 15–20 metres. For larger helicopters, this increases proportionally. Additionally, approach and departure paths must be clear of obstacles to specified surfaces — which may require significantly more clear space beyond the pad itself.
Can I build a helipad on my farmhouse or agricultural land?
Yes, subject to site viability. Agricultural land can accommodate a ground-level helipad provided the approach paths are clear of obstacles, the airspace is suitable for the operation and local authority NOC requirements are met. Airlogic has experience with private estate and farmhouse helipad projects. A site feasibility assessment is the correct first step.
What is the difference between FATO and TLOF?
FATO (Final Approach and Take-Off Area) is the larger defined area within which the helicopter completes its approach manoeuvre and initiates the take-off manoeuvre. TLOF (Touchdown and Lift-Off Area) is the load-bearing surface within the FATO where the helicopter actually touches down. DGCA CAR specifies minimum dimensions and surface requirements for both. Your civil contractor builds the surface; Airlogic specifies the correct dimensions for your helicopter type.
Do you manage the construction as well?
No. Airlogic does not undertake civil construction. We provide the feasibility assessment, CAR-compliant design drawings, DGCA approval management, and supply of aviation markings, lighting and safety equipment. You appoint your own civil contractor who builds to our drawings. This keeps the construction cost under your direct control and allows you to use a contractor you trust for the civil work.
What does a helipad project typically cost?
Civil construction cost depends entirely on the type of helipad, surface area, location and existing ground conditions — this is your civil contractor’s scope. Airlogic’s scope (feasibility, design, DGCA liaison, markings, lighting and equipment) varies by project complexity. We provide a fixed-fee proposal after the initial feasibility assessment, so you know the full cost before committing to the project.
Request a Site Assessment
The right starting point for any helipad project is a feasibility assessment — before any design work, before any application, before any construction. Tell us where your site is and what you want to build. We will tell you whether it is viable and what the path to approval looks like.
What to Share With Us
1
Location — city, district, state
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Property type — farmhouse, hospital, hotel, resort or other
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Helipad type — ground, rooftop or temporary
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Helicopter type if known — or intended use category
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Your project timeline and any known constraints
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