Helipad Windcone & Windsock

Helipad Windcone

Helipad Windcones have an important role in the safety of the heliports area. It is used as an equipment carrier for wind- socks, windsock illumination, obstruction lights, a beacon and other equipment required by the customer.

Be it basic or multi equipment options, Helipad windcone products are assured with high dynamic and mechanical strength, top material properties and are maintenance-free. All our products are manufactured as per the standards of International Civil Aviation Organization.

A Helipad windcone is a carefully designed fabric cone that is mounted on a metal frame. This metal frame is attached to a vertical pole via a swivel that allows the fabric cone to rotate freely. The fabric cone must be designed to provide relative wind speed indication. A fully extended windsock indicates a wind speed in excess of 15 knots. An illuminated windcone must be powered in some manner. Common methods are with 120VAC/240VAC or 6.6Amp circuitry. Recent advances in both LED and solar power technology have allowed for the creation of reliable and compliant solar powered LED windsock.

A Helipad windcone is among the most basic and the most important pieces of equipment for any airport, regardless of traffic volume or location.

The Helipad windcone presents visual information on wind speed an direction, and in a quick glance can give the pilot this crucial information. It can also provide essential information to pilots when technology fails or when landing at airports or airfields without ATC.

If an airport is planning on night operations, it is critically important that the windcone be illuminated.
An illuminated windcone can be either externally illuminated or internally illuminated.
An internally illuminated wind cone is generally regarded as being more visible for night operations.

Windcone Technology

Pilots have much more precise and technologically advanced ways of discovering wind speed and direction than looking at the windsock. But the windsock is still invaluable for the speed and accuracy of the information it can convey.

Estimating the Wind Speed

Windcone are made to orient against the wind when the wind speed reaches three knots (3.5 mph). At that wind speed, only the first segment of the windsock will extend. If the windsock extends to the northeast, the wind comes from the southwest or southwest.
The second segment of the sock extends when the wind speed has reached six knots; the third segment, nine knots; and the fourth segment, 12 knots. At a wind speed of 15 knots (17 mph) or more, the windsock will fully extend and point away from the direction from which the wind originates.

Windcone Colours

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifications, windsocks may not have marks or logos and may be colored
Orange, Yellow, White. However, the best wind speed indicators have alternate colors, such as orange and white, or have stripes at the key points.

Other Specifications

The FAA recommends either a length of eight feet and a throat diameter of 18 inches or a length of 12 feet and a throat diameter of three feet. The fabric must be water-repellant and colorfast.
The framework the windsock is attached to must be able to hold the throat of the fabric windsock fully open when there is no wind. And it must enable the windsock to pivot like a wind vane. The framework may include lighting for the windsock, or the windsock may be illuminated from within.
The windsock assembly must be able to operate correctly in a temperature range from -67 degrees Fahrenheit (-55 degrees Celsius) to 131 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius) and at a wind speed up to 75 knots (86 miles per hour).