Riverwalk Helicopter Pad

[blfair]

Anyone know the story behind the helicopter pad that the north bank riverwalk zags around by the Time Union building?

Why the heck is it there? I tell myself it can't be considered active, crowded in as it is, but then theres a windsock a few yards away.

Google maps link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=32202&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Jacksonville,+Florida+32202&ll=30.322994,-81.668339&spn=0.000887,0.001206&t=h&z=20

[fieldafm]

Wasn't that Carl Cannon's helo pad?  Much like Bill Foley has his private dock facility at the Fidelity campus, and Preston Haskell(who has a beautiful Huckins) has the private dock facility at his campus?

[Ernest Street]

That helo pad would probably have been put there for life-flights for large scale public events that surround the river..like July 4Th.
BUT..it might be privately maintained and leased from the land owner.
Has anyone seen anything land or take off?.Oh well, It can still be used in an emergency...I don't think the owner would complain.

[spuwho]

The pad resides on T-U property.

Details on the pad, which has to be registered like an airport can be found here:

http://www.city-data.com/airports/Fpc-Heliport-Jacksonville-Florida.html

[Coolyfett]

TU chopper?

[spuwho]

TU chopper?

Says the pad was activated in 1984, which happens to be the same year Morris purchased Florida Publishing (former owners). The pad is still registered to Florida Publishing.

Morris must still use it for something or they wouldn't keep renewing the heliport registration (ZCJ). The inspection is listed as "mail-in" for private use.

[blfair]

Good info -- I should've thought to look for a heliport registration... I guess I figured there wasn't enough there to qualify, but sure enough... it's as advertised, complete with "Wind direction indicator".

I wonder about the last time a helicopter touched down there... seems its mostly just a shortcut for bicyclists flying down the riverwalk ramp.

Anyone have a helicopter? You could have the fastest paper route...