Office of Insurance, Loss Control & Claims
Helicopters & Hot Air Balloons
Indiana University occasionally receives requests for helicopter and hot air balloon landings and take-offs on our campuses.
While campus input is critical when a request is received, it is imperative that certain offices are involved in the decision making process as there are many safety factors to consider. The risks surrounding the request will be evaluated by a cross-section of various offices, including INLOCC, IUPD, Public Safety (Emergency Management and Environmental Health & Safety Management), Facility Operations, University Events, and Athletics.
All requests for helicopter and hot air balloon landings and take-offs should be directed to the helo list serv helo-request-l@list.iu.edu. Please provide all relevant details of the request, including those identified below. Also, please include any other office in your email that will be party to answering the request.
Potential landing/take-off sites for helicopters, and take-off sites for Hot Air Balloons, have been identified with the Purple Lot on the corner of SR 45/46 Bypass and Dunn St being the primary location, and the field between Tulip Tree and Campus View Apartments as the secondary site. PLEASE NOTE: NO TAKE-OFFS OR LANDINGS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE HELO-REQUEST COMMITTEE. ANY UNAUTHORIZED TAKE-OFFS OR LANDINGS WILL RESULT IN DENIAL OF ALL FUTURE REQUESTS.
Considerations for approval will include:
- What is the purpose of the landing/use? Is this for an IU event?
- What are the safety zone plans? The safety zone plan must be included with the request.
- If this is a balloon request:
- FAA regulations require tethered balloons to have rapid deflation device. Will this one?
- To what height will the balloon be tethered to?
- What is the height of the balloon?
- What is the size of the safety zone?
- Please include the safety zone plan with the request.
- If this is for an IU event, who is the vendor providing the hot air balloon?
- If this request is for a hot air balloon take-off that is not for an IU event, why does the take-off need to occur on IU property?
- Aircraft owner must provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance (COI) evidencing $1 million combined single limit (CSL), including passengers, per occurrence. COI must name the Trustees of Indiana University as additional insureds. Aircraft owner’s policy must be primary over any other incidental coverage that Indiana University may have to protect itself.
- Will waivers be signed by participants?