Narrative:

This event is not particular to this specific flight but for all flights out of las. I felt a report was the best way to get the information to all involved parties. The problem is with the close proximity of helicopter tour operations along the extended centerline of runway 25R at las. These operations are very frequent and occur at all hours. Helicopters operate below the departure path for runway 25L/right at las. I have frequently had TA (TCAS traffic advisories) for helicopters operating approximately 3 miles from the der for runway 25R. I assume the controlling agencies (FAA tower and RAPCON) have de-conflicted these operations primarily using altitude; as the helicopters operate below our usual altitudes. I am concerned however that in the event of an engine failure; the helicopter operations would pose a threat to the airline passengers and crew; as the departing aircraft would be at a much lower altitude. The helicopters are on a separate frequency as well; making direct time critical communication impossible. At a critical phase; while dealing with an engine failure; the airline crew might have to maneuver to avoid the helicopter traffic. I believe that the safest solution would be to have the helicopters turn to the west before the extended centerline of runway 25R and not enter the lateral limits of the departure corridor. I don't think this would unreasonably constrict their ability to give tours of 'the strip' and would eliminate a potentially grave threat to air safety in las.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO REPORTS POTENTIAL CONFLICT BETWEEN TOUR HELICOPTERS UNDER THE DEPARTURE CORRIDOR FOR RWY 25R AND ACFT WITH ENGINE FAILURES USING THAT RWY.

Narrative: THIS EVENT IS NOT PARTICULAR TO THIS SPECIFIC FLIGHT BUT FOR ALL FLIGHTS OUT OF LAS. I FELT A REPORT WAS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE INFO TO ALL INVOLVED PARTIES. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF HELICOPTER TOUR OPERATIONS ALONG THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 25R AT LAS. THESE OPERATIONS ARE VERY FREQUENT AND OCCUR AT ALL HOURS. HELICOPTERS OPERATE BELOW THE DEPARTURE PATH FOR RWY 25L/R AT LAS. I HAVE FREQUENTLY HAD TA (TCAS TRAFFIC ADVISORIES) FOR HELICOPTERS OPERATING APPROX 3 MILES FROM THE DER FOR RWY 25R. I ASSUME THE CONTROLLING AGENCIES (FAA TOWER AND RAPCON) HAVE DE-CONFLICTED THESE OPERATIONS PRIMARILY USING ALTITUDE; AS THE HELICOPTERS OPERATE BELOW OUR USUAL ALTITUDES. I AM CONCERNED HOWEVER THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE FAILURE; THE HELICOPTER OPERATIONS WOULD POSE A THREAT TO THE AIRLINE PASSENGERS AND CREW; AS THE DEPARTING AIRCRAFT WOULD BE AT A MUCH LOWER ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTERS ARE ON A SEPARATE FREQUENCY AS WELL; MAKING DIRECT TIME CRITICAL COMMUNICATION IMPOSSIBLE. AT A CRITICAL PHASE; WHILE DEALING WITH AN ENGINE FAILURE; THE AIRLINE CREW MIGHT HAVE TO MANEUVER TO AVOID THE HELICOPTER TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAFEST SOLUTION WOULD BE TO HAVE THE HELICOPTERS TURN TO THE WEST BEFORE THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 25R AND NOT ENTER THE LATERAL LIMITS OF THE DEPARTURE CORRIDOR. I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD UNREASONABLY CONSTRICT THEIR ABILITY TO GIVE TOURS OF 'THE STRIP' AND WOULD ELIMINATE A POTENTIALLY GRAVE THREAT TO AIR SAFETY IN LAS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.