Story ID: 320
Dallas Heli-Expo Venue Has a Unique Twist
By: Samantha Cartaino
Caption: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center features a Heliport/Vertiport that is dedicated to demos and tours during Heli-Expo.
Word Count: 692
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including Heli-Expo’s convention center. While past locations in Louisville, Orlando, Las Vegas and Anaheim each had their own perks, Dallas stands out because of the Dallas Executive Airport Heliport/Vertiport. Adjacent to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, the Vertiport plays a unique role in this year’s Heli-Expo, as it is reserved for rotorcraft demos and public tours.

Opened in the mid-1990s, the heliport/vertiport features a 169,000-sq-ft flight deck, conference rooms and a pilots’ waiting area. It is different from other heliports because it is elevated and was designed for rotorcraft and tiltrotors such as Bell’s Osprey V-22. Up to two tiltrotors and three helicopters can use the facility at the same time. Anyone who operates a rotorcraft may fly into the vertiport, but it is mainly used by law enforcement, traffic watch, private charters and media helicopters. Darrel Phillips, the manager of the vertiport, told AIN that approximately 900 to 1,000 flights take off from the facility annually.

Phillips has been working there since April 2014. However, he grew up in the Dallas area and knew of the vertiport for years before coming on board. He, along with the vertiport staff, help pilots flying into the facility use all of its services, including parking and local transportation. Ultimately, it is Phillips’s job to ensure that everything in the vertiport is working safely and appropriately, since there is often a high amount of traffic. For this reason, he also pays close attention to the impact the rotorcraft have on the environment.

The vertiport follows strict environmental regulations to ensure the helicopters do not disturb the surrounding neighborhoods. For example, the vertiport will see high volumes of helicopter activity during the week before and during Heli-Expo. Besides sending out public notices, workers scheduled special routes for flights (such as along the adjacent freeways) to keep noise away from residential areas. Phillips explained, “We are very concerned with the public and public input on noise, so we do monitor noise. It is very important for us to make sure we’re a good neighbor at all times.”

Some rotorcraft scheduled for display during Heli-Expo began arriving at Dallas Executive Airport approximately one week before the show. The helicopters were then flown to a pad loading area adjacent to the convention center where Phillips and his team set up time slots to movethem into the convention center in an organized and timely manner. This year, more than 60 aircraft flew into the vertiport for the static display and exhibit area.

During the show, the vertiport is dedicated to manufacturers for demo rides in their rotorcraft. Parking is not available, but the area is be open for dropping off and picking up Heli-Expo attendees. For the most part, the vertiport operates this year as it did during the 2012 show, the last time it was held in Dallas. Those attending Heli-Expo can stop by Booth 12138 in the convention center to book a tour of the vertiport. Attendees may stop by the booth any time during show hours, because tours are operating on an as-needed basis.

Looking forward, Phillips sees big plans for the vertiport. There is currently a request for proposal to provide fuel services, which currently are not available. Once approved, fuel could be available before the end of 2017. Phillips said the fuel service could help the vertiport become a full-service facility that would be open full time during the day and offer self-service fuel at night. Phillips also says the military has shown interested in a contract with the vertiport if the fuel facility comes through.

“It’s an amazing facility,” Phillips told AIN. “It’s something that a lot of communities—a lot of cities—do not have. It’s one of the largest in the country. It’s something the city of Dallas should be proud of, something we need to utilize and put into service. It will definitely be of great service for the city of Dallas through [future] economic development and…any type of emergency situations as well.”