Narrative:

A small training helicopter departed runway 2 without a clearance. Most fixed wing traffic use our parallel runway 29 or 11. Runway 2/20 is a short runway; 3;600 ft at an airport with a field elevation of 5;673 ft. It is used primarily when we have strong sustained winds out of the north/south. Both helicopter schools are physically located on the north end of the airport. Our standard procedures devote the northern most 800 ft of runway 2/20 for helicopter use. It is a system that works well; keeping the helicopter students away from most fixed wing movements; both airborne and on the ground. When the helicopters depart runway 20 they make a 90 degree turn well north of the parallel runways. When they depart the northern most part of runway 2 they are already well north of the parallel runways. When they depart runway 2 there is considerable lag time between the clearance being issued and the helicopter actually getting airborne. It can; and usually does; take a couple; maybe a few; minutes to enter the runway; hover taxi south several hundred feet; turn around; and actually start departure roll. From past experience; I have learned that a significant time delay between the issuance of a clearance; and its actual implementation; can be hazardous. In several past errors the notable time delay between the clearance being given and its actual impact was a major factor. Though infrequent; both helicopter schools have departed without clearance before. ATC should provide a briefing that explains the difference between a controller movement area and an uncontrolled area. From a controlled area; the pilot must await the word 'cleared'. No other word authorizes and actual arrival or departure.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BJC Controller described an unsafe condition with regard to the time delays utilized by helicopters to cross runways and/or depart via a runway.

Narrative: A small training helicopter departed Runway 2 without a clearance. Most fixed wing traffic use our parallel Runway 29 or 11. Runway 2/20 is a short runway; 3;600 FT at an airport with a field elevation of 5;673 FT. It is used primarily when we have strong sustained winds out of the North/South. Both helicopter schools are physically located on the north end of the airport. Our standard procedures devote the northern most 800 FT of Runway 2/20 for helicopter use. It is a system that works well; keeping the helicopter students away from most fixed wing movements; both airborne and on the ground. When the helicopters depart Runway 20 they make a 90 degree turn well north of the parallel runways. When they depart the northern most part of Runway 2 they are already well north of the parallel runways. When they depart Runway 2 there is considerable lag time between the clearance being issued and the helicopter actually getting airborne. It can; and usually does; take a couple; maybe a few; minutes to enter the runway; hover taxi south several hundred feet; turn around; and actually start departure roll. From past experience; I have learned that a significant time delay between the issuance of a clearance; and its actual implementation; can be hazardous. In several past errors the notable time delay between the clearance being given and its actual impact was a major factor. Though infrequent; both helicopter schools have departed without clearance before. ATC should provide a briefing that explains the difference between a controller movement area and an uncontrolled area. From a controlled area; the pilot must await the word 'cleared'. No other word authorizes and actual arrival or departure.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.