In ZBW, we don’t see that much helicopter traffic, save our vUSCG friends. However, considering that there are published helicopter VFR routes within the Boston metro area, I thought I would put something together.
Here is a link to a composite scan of one side of the Helicopter Route Chart. The other side is simply a more detailed version of downtown Boston. Since I don’t think this chart is published digitally (at least wasn’t able to locate it where the other NACO charts are available for purchase & download). Please excuse some of the discontinuities, as it’s a full size sectional chart, and I did the scanning on a regular sized flatbed scanner.
https://www.arcticspinnaker.net/vatsim/HeloRoutes.zip
*Note: You may notice that some of the information on the chart (eg: frequencies) are outdated. Helicopter Route Charts expire upon publication of a new edition. You can see here what the latest version is: (
https://naco.faa.gov/ecomp/Catalog.aspx?a=AERO+NOS+VISUAL+HEL) which is what these scans were based off of.
If you wish to match up the routes with the TAC, here is something I came up with:
https://www.arcticspinnaker.net/vatsim/HeloRoutes2.zip
Below is a summary of each route, how it “SHOULD” be filed (if filed), and their associated waypoints. I have the lat/lon of each of the waypoints, so in the next APP sector revision, we can add them, so you can bring them up with a simple .ff command.
Bay Route (BAAYE)
Waypoint - Name
VPBAY - Black Rock
Bay1 - Worlds End
Bay2 - Long Island Bridge
Fenway Route (FENWA)
Waypoint - Name
VPFEN - Conrail/I95 & I93
Fen1 - Forest Hills T Station
Fen2 - Fenway Turnpike Interchange
(Join Turnpike Route)
Fen3 - Mass Ave Bridge
Fen4 - Long Fellow Bridge
Fen5 - Museum of Science
VPCGS - Coast Guard Station
Fresh Pond Route (FRESH)
Waypoint - Name
VPFRE - Rte2/Watertown St
VPSPF - Spy Fresh Split
Fre1 - Fresh Pond
Fre2 - Harvard Stadium
Fre3 - Allston Toll Plaza
Fre4 - B U Bridge
Fre5 - Mass Ave Bridge
Fre6 - Long Fellow Bridge
Fre7 - Museum of Science
VPCGS - Coast Guard Station
Hampshire Route (HAMPS)
Waypoint - Name
VPHAM - I93 and Rte 128 (I95) Interchange
Ham1 - Mc Grath O’Brien
VPCGS - Coast Guard Station
Quarry Route (QUARE)
Waypoint - Name
VPQUA - Blue Hills I93 & Rte 24 Interchange
VPQUB - Armory & Rte 3
Qua1 - I93 & Rte 3
Qua2 - MILLT (LOM)
Qua3 - Mass Ave Interchange
Qua4 - Fort Pt Channel
Spy Pond Route (SPOND)
Waypoint Name
VPFRE - Rte 2/ Watertown St
VPSPF - Spy Fresh Split
Spy1 - Alewife T Station
Spy2 - Alewife Brook
Spy3 - Spy Pond/Rte 93 Interchange
Spy4 - Mc Grath O’Brien
VPCGS - Coast Guard Station
Tobin Route (TOBIN)
Waypoint - Name
VPTOB - I95 & Rte 1 Interchange
Tob1 - Circle/Theater Complex
Tob2 - Memorial Stadium
Tob3 - Tobin Bridge
Turnpike Route (PIKER)
Waypoint - Name
VPPIK - Weston Tolls
Pik1 - Allston Toll Plaza
Pik2 - B U Bridge
Pik3 - Mass Ave Bridge
Pik4 - Long Fellow Bridge
Pik5 - Museum of Science
VPCGS - Coast Guard Station
Each of these routes technically terminates at the charted Logan heliport. However a note on each route indicates that due to construction, Boston tower will identify the landing site.
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Usage:
Normally pilots will contact Boston Tower directly, unless they wish to transit OWD, BED, LWM, or BVY Class D at or above 2500’ MSL, in which case they will contact Boston Approach. If not already talking to approach for flight following, they will contact tower prior to the BOS 8DME (Class B).
These routes may be assigned by ATC, and feel free to ask if the pilots are familiar with the Boston Helicopter Routes if they haven’t filed the particular route.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
