A U.S. Army helicopter rises above the fence surrounding a newly-opened helipad at Youngsan Garrison, South Korea, after Monday’s opening ceremony. The helipad replaces Yongsan’s older one, which was closed when the land was given back to South Korea for use as an entrance to a new museum. (Courtesy of U.S. Army)
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — A new heliport sitting in the midst of military housing officially opened Monday morning.
The new pad, near Collier Field House on South Post, replaces a larger one near the 121st General Hospital. That landing pad closed because the United States transferred 2.6 acres of the land back to South Korea to use as an entrance for their new national museum.
The new site allows for just one helicopter to land at a time, said Chief Warrant Office James Griner, a 17th Aviation Brigade safety officer.
The former site had six landing pads.
For the past three to four weeks, the 17th Aviation Brigade has been practicing landing routes on the pad, Griner said. None of the neighbors have complained about the noise, he said Monday morning just before a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“But it’s early yet,” he said, smiling.
Griner said a 20-foot high, 24-inch thick wall surrounds the heliport to act as a sound barrier. On typical days, helicopters will land and take off about six times, he said. The largest helicopter that can land there is a UH-60 Blackhawk.
The houses nearest the pad will be soundproofed, Griner said.
Both U.S. and Republic of Korea aviation units will use the pad, according to officials. The Krime Construction Co., a South Korean outfit, built the new site.
“This is a great day,” said Col. David Abramowitz, 17th Aviation commander.
Crews have had to move some overhead wiring and make other adjustments in the past few months to prepare for the new flight path. The smaller-sized heliport will allow for less air travel to and from Yongsan, officials have said.
A U.S. Army helicopter rises above the fence surrounding a newly-opened helipad at Youngsan Garrison, South Korea, after Monday’s opening ceremony. The helipad replaces Yongsan’s older one, which was closed when the land was given back to South Korea for use as an entrance to a new museum. (Courtesy of U.S. Army)
Col. David Abramowitz, commander of the 17th Aviation Brigade, speaks Monday before the official opening of the new heliport at Yongsan Garrison. (Teri Weaver / Stars and Stripes)
