Heliports

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A designated area where helicopters can land and take off, often equipped with facilities for refueling and maintenance
2. A small airport specifically intended for rotorcraft, typically located in urban environments to facilitate travel
3. An operational site for helicopters that may be on buildings, ships, or open land, serving both private and commercial aviation needs

Etymology: "Heliports" is simply the plural of "heliport," so its history is the history of the single word. "Heliport" is a blend of "helicopter" and "port," built on the model of "airport," which had already set the pattern of an aircraft facility named with "port." The first half comes from "helicopter," itself formed from Greek "helix" (spiral) and "pteron" (wing), a reference to the rotor blades that spin in a spiral to lift the craft. The second half, "port," is the older element, going back to Latin "portus" (harbour, haven), which English had long used for places where ships docked. Aviation adopted the word for its landing grounds, so a facility for flying machines naturally took on the same ending. "Heliport" follows that pattern, with the helicopter standing in for the aircraft and the port serving as its landing place.

Synonyms: helipads