Heliport / Helicopter

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Helicopter Pad, Helipad, Helicopter Rides, Helicopter Tours, Helicopter Transportation

Category

Transportation, Transport Facilities, Transport Modes, Travel, Tourism, Concessions

Message / Function

To indicate the location of a facility for helicopters or where transportation by helicopter is available

	Source	Description
	D/FW	Side view of helicopter with wheels
	ADV	Side view of helicopter with wheels
	O'72	Side view of helicopter with wheels
	PC	Side view of helicopter with landing pontoons
	AIGA	Side view of helicopter with landing pontoons
	DER	Side view of helicopter, horizontal line below
	Québec	Side view of small helicopter with landing pontoons
	SSRS	Side view of small helicopter with landing pontoons
	TAC	Side view of helicopter
	CNIS	Side view of helicopter
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Side view of helicopter
	ISO 7001	Side view of helicopter
	MDCT	Side view of helicopter
	SVI	Side view of helicopter
	Jalisco	Side view of helicopter
	Peru MST	Side view of helicopter
	SADC	Side view of helicopter
	Düsseldorf Airport	Side view of helicopter
	EJP	Side view of helicopter

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

Pictogram variants found generally show a side view of a helicopter. Often they only differ in detail: the size indicated for example by the number of windows, landing gear as wheels, skids or pontoons, or the way rotors are drawn.

A few studies present research covering several pictogram variants for this referent. These papers offer some useful information:

In her dissertation concerning optimization of pictograms, Skone (1977) examined a total of seven renderings of helicopters with varying level of detail, based on two different helicopter types. While displaying wheels seemed negligible for fast recognition of a helicopter, showing windows appeared to be more important. A pure outline version tested proved to be least effective.

In the Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation reached a comprehension score of 95.1, an almost perfect value (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). On the other hand, when Fiori (2008) examined an map symbol similar to the pictogram labeled DER in the table above, only 39.3 % of the respondents answered correctly. Answers like Flying Club, Air Taxi, etc. indicate that a higher percentage of the participants identified the helicopter as such. This study was conducted in Brazil.

Some information concerning comprehensibility of another pictogram is available from the Parks Canada Identity Program (2007), as all pictograms that failed comprehension testing in the corresponding research have been retired from use there: the Parks Canada pictogram No 6-3-005: Helicopter Transportation displayed above and labeled PC must have reached a comprehension rate of 80 % or higher, as this variant neither has the status Retired, nor does it have to be accompanied by a supportive text message.

Recommendation

Heliport

We recommend the use of a pictogram variant similar to the one of the Eco-Mo Foundation.

Tests of pictograms of referent Heliport / Helicopter

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.

Parks Canada (2007): Parks Canada Identity Program: Exterior Signage; Standards and Guidelines - Version 1. March 2007.

Skone, K. (1977): Erkennbarkeit von Symbolvarianten. Dissertation, Psychology Department, University of Vienna.