A public-use heliport serving
the Downtown St. Louis business and tourist community

Open daily during daylight hours (prior coordination required)

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The St. Louis Downtown Heliport is a public-use helicopter landing site located on top of a 175 by 54 ft. deck barge moored on the Mississippi River levee 50 feet north of the Gateway Arch.  The heliport is the only FAA-approved floating heliport located on an inland waterway.  The heliport is available during daylight hours under visual flight rules.  The heliport will accommodate two helicopters simultaneously, therefore prior coordination is required before operating to or from the heliport. Landing and parking fees apply. (Long-term parking and services are available 3-miles SE at St. Louis Downtown Airport--CPS.)

Heliport ID:  MO7 (That's the letters M & O and the numeral seven)
Air Traffic Control:  "Downtown Tower" on 120.9 MHz (The heliport lies within St. Louis Downtown Airport's Class D airspace and contact with the control tower is mandatory.)
St. Louis Area Discrete Helicopter Frequency: 123.025 for additional communications as needed
Location:  N 38°37.52'  W 090°10.98' -- A 175' X 54' deck barge moored 50' north of the Gateway Arch
Elevation:  385 feet MSL, subject to Mississippi River level changes
Services:  None. The heliport is normally unattended October through March. Fuel, maintenance, long-term parking, and other services are available 3 miles SE at St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS)
Prior Coordination Required:  Due to limited capacity and the sensitivity of air operations near a national monument, advance coordination is required. Submit coordination requests via fax to 618-337-1597 with the following information: Operator's name, phone number or other contact information, date and time of operation requested, aircraft type, registration number, pilot’s name, number of passengers, lead passenger’s name, services requested, and method of payment. [CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REQUEST FORM IN .PDF FORMAT.] Operations requested before 9 am or after 5 pm must be requested at least one day in advance. Confirm your approval to operate before landing via telephone at 618-337-6060 or via e-mail at rmcdaniel@stlouisdowntownairport.com.
Special Operating Procedures Apply: Do not overfly any portion of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (the National Park grounds include the land surrounding the arch and old courthouse.) For noise abatement, avoid overflight of the Soulard and Benton Park neighborhoods to the south. (Click here for a map of those neighborhoods.)

The Heliport has characteristics that require additional knowledge and specific operational procedures.

a. All normal approaches should be made from either the East or South. Approaches and departures should NOT be made to or from the west to avoid overflight of the the National Park grounds and people and vehicles on the levee.approach or departure be made to or from the west.

b. Flight paths for take-off and landing should be parallel to the shoreline for emergency landing areas. Routine approaches/departures perpendicular to the river channel should be avoided for safety reasons.

c. During times of high west winds, additional attention to the flight path on final approach is needed due to the Arch and buildings creating unusual wind currents that may require large power adjustments during approach.

d. Flight under bridges should be avoided during normal operations. (During an emergency, flight under a bridge may be the safest option--use it if needed! If you fly under a bridge, be prepared to provide detailed written documentation of the situation, if requested.)

e. The pilot should not lift off until they have been “cleared” by the “thumbs up” sign from the heliport attendant, if present.

f. The heliport is to be used for passenger/cargo loading/unloading only, due to the limited number of parking spots. Long-term and overnight parking and other services are available nearby at the St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS).

g. No unauthorized persons will be allowed on the flight deck and all passengers must be escorted to and from the aircraft by the pilot or heliport personnel.

h. Don't forget to contact "Downtown Tower" on 120.9 and DO NOT FLY OVER THE ARCH GROUNDS!

Landing/Parking Fees:  $50.00. The heliport is intended for passenger/cargo loading and unloading and short-term parking only. Helicopters must not be left unattended.
Sponsor:  Owned and managed by METRO.

For more information, contact the following:
- St. Louis Downtown Airport, 618-337-6060 or via e-mail at rmcdaniel@stlouisdowntownairport.com for heliport management issues
- Tara Creamer, 314-923-3047 or via e-mail at Tara Creamer at tcreamer@gatewayarch.com for media inquiries