Narrative:

While parked and running at the east 60TH st heliport (6NH), I requested an IFR clearance to avp. WX conditions at the time were 300 ft scattered and 1 mi visibility at lga airport, approximately 4 mi away. I was issued an IFR clearance and told that the only way to pick up my clearance was to depart the heliport SVFR and call once airborne. After departing SVFR I realized it would be difficult to remain clear of clouds, so I requested a climb clearance as soon as possible. I was informed to proceed toward lga airport for radar identify. In order to remain clear of clouds, I had to fly at what I consider a dangerously low altitude because no procedure exists to depart the heliport IFR that I'm aware of. I feel there should be a procedure to depart the heliport on an IFR clearance without having to fly dangerously low and one that would allow for an unrestricted climb. I feel the lack of this procedure will result in a serious accident if not corrected soon. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that he and several other pilots in the corporation have tried to determine what kind of procedure could be developed. None can, it appears. Some pilots remember that others had tried to create an IFR departure procedure and it did not work out. Lga is not going to give up the airspace needed so that helicopters can get into the IFR system.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI DEPARTS SVFR BUT MUST REMAIN LOW UNTIL RADAR IDENT.

Narrative: WHILE PARKED AND RUNNING AT THE E 60TH ST HELIPORT (6NH), I REQUESTED AN IFR CLRNC TO AVP. WX CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE 300 FT SCATTERED AND 1 MI VISIBILITY AT LGA ARPT, APPROX 4 MI AWAY. I WAS ISSUED AN IFR CLRNC AND TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PICK UP MY CLRNC WAS TO DEPART THE HELIPORT SVFR AND CALL ONCE AIRBORNE. AFTER DEPARTING SVFR I REALIZED IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS, SO I REQUESTED A CLB CLRNC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS INFORMED TO PROCEED TOWARD LGA ARPT FOR RADAR IDENT. IN ORDER TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS, I HAD TO FLY AT WHAT I CONSIDER A DANGEROUSLY LOW ALT BECAUSE NO PROC EXISTS TO DEPART THE HELIPORT IFR THAT I'M AWARE OF. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A PROC TO DEPART THE HELIPORT ON AN IFR CLRNC WITHOUT HAVING TO FLY DANGEROUSLY LOW AND ONE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR AN UNRESTRICTED CLB. I FEEL THE LACK OF THIS PROC WILL RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF NOT CORRECTED SOON. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT HE AND SEVERAL OTHER PLTS IN THE CORPORATION HAVE TRIED TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF PROC COULD BE DEVELOPED. NONE CAN, IT APPEARS. SOME PLTS REMEMBER THAT OTHERS HAD TRIED TO CREATE AN IFR DEP PROC AND IT DID NOT WORK OUT. LGA IS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP THE AIRSPACE NEEDED SO THAT HELIS CAN GET INTO THE IFR SYS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.